Good site for info on vintage Omega (is it real?)

[BMWChris]

Hi,

I was given a watch by a close friend before he was killed in an accident.

The watch is clearly old - I'd say 60's in style (but I know very little about watches). Very slim and is a mechanical wind-up. It says Omega and has the logo on the face but doesn't have anything on the back. I don't know where he got it from but he used to travel a lot, especially to S America and I always assumed he had bought it back from there. I has a patina that says it is old but, of course, it could be an old fake.

I'm getting married in a few weeks and would like to wear for the day but it but it keeps time badley - it looses a few minutes an hour so is pretty useless as a watch.

I called my local watch repairer to see about getting it fixed and said that I didn't know if it was real and he said that he would be "within his rights" to destroy it as a counterfit. Consequently I would like to find out if it is real or not first!

It has a blue face but shape / style wise, the nearest I can find is this one:

http://www.austinkaye.co.uk/Products/Pre-Owned-Wat...

Where would be a good place to look for information? I need pictures really.

[andy_s]

If you stick a few pictures up, front and back, that would help. Doubt it's a fake of that age though, and considering your story it seems most uncharitable of the watchmaker to threaten to confiscate it if it is. I think the omega website has a 'vintage' section also, if you take alook there too.

[BMWChris]

Will sort a few pics. Thanks.

Also, you have made me think: The repairer didn't know the story so I might try him again.

Cheers

[andy_s]

It doesn't have 'constellation' or 'seamaster' written on the dial I take it?

Or a bit like this but in gold?

Edited by andy_s on Thursday 25th March 14:13

[BMWChris]

Its looks very like that one - only in gold. I'll have a look when I get home as I'm at work at the moment.

[Odie]

You say it has no writing on the back but does it have any markings or symbols at all?

[BMWChris]

Ok. Am now home but don't have camera so will put pictures on tommorow.

However, It looks similar to the one above but substantially different too.

The body (forgive me if the terms are wrong - I mean the metal bit) is silver coloured. The glass comes closer to the edge so there is less metal. The hands don't have the cut outs at their base. The second hand's circle cuts the top off the 7 numeral (which doesn't seem very swiss to me) and it says "Swiss" not "Swiss made" (and this is only just readable as it it right on the edge of the dial and therefore distorted by the shoulder on the glass. The numberals are also in a slightly differnt font. The "Omega" is smaller. There are no markings at all on the back but there is an Omega symbol on the winder.

[Dominic H]

BMWChris said:

Hi,

I was given a watch by a close friend before he was killed in an accident.

The watch is clearly old - I'd say 60's in style (but I know very little about watches). Very slim and is a mechanical wind-up. It says Omega and has the logo on the face but doesn't have anything on the back. I don't know where he got it from but he used to travel a lot, especially to S America and I always assumed he had bought it back from there. I has a patina that says it is old but, of course, it could be an old fake.

I'm getting married in a few weeks and would like to wear for the day but it but it keeps time badley - it looses a few minutes an hour so is pretty useless as a watch.

I called my local watch repairer to see about getting it fixed and said that I didn't know if it was real and he said that he would be "within his rights" to destroy it as a counterfit. Consequently I would like to find out if it is real or not first!

It has a blue face but shape / style wise, the nearest I can find is this one:

http://www.austinkaye.co.uk/Products/Pre-Owned-Wat...

Where would be a good place to look for information? I need pictures really.

Hi Chris,

Do you have any images you can post of your watch, I'm sure there are plenty of chaps on here who could offer an experienced opinion with regards to authenticity.

Your watchmaker sounds like a right pr*ck. He is not 'in his rights' to destroy any of your property he thinks is fake. There are plenty of other helpful,professional watchmakers you can try to have your watch serviced. Try the British Horological Institue website to find your nearest member watchmaker...

http://www.bhi.co.uk/repairer.html

Post the pictures and I'm sure the forum will help...

Dom H

[Revs_Addiction]

Dominic H said:

Your watchmaker sounds like a right pr*ck. He is not 'in his rights' to destroy any of your property he thinks is fake. There are plenty of other helpful,professional watchmakers you can try to have your watch serviced. Try the British Horological Institue website to find your nearest member watchmaker...

http://www.bhi.co.uk/repairer.html

Dom H

100% agree with Dom here! What he's threatening is theft and criminal damage - what a complete knob. He's got no right whatsoever to destroy anything.

[BMWChris]

Having convinced myself that it was fake I've prized the back off with a kitchen knife. It says "Omega", "Swiss Made", "15 Jewels" so I'm confident it is real. It also has a lever that can move from A to R. It was all the way over to one so I've stuck it in the middle to see what happens to its time keeping.

[ShadownINja]

"Hm, this looks like a fake of a very rare, very expensive model. I'll put it in my safe and destroy it later when you've gone. Have a nice day."

[andy_s]

Good move Chris, I had a gander through the (incomplete) Omega vintage section and was hard pressed to find exactly what you describe but there were many variations in the 60's including dial colour, so wasn't able to pinpoint what your describing.
I'd be inclined to take it to a watchmaker with story attached and take things from there as I'm fairly confident it won't be a fake (only the more well known, valuable watches are faked in general).
Pics would be nice, out of interest, if you can be arsed, but there's obviously huge sentimental value which supercedes any monetary value; just the way watches should be.

[Odie]

BMWChris said:

Having convinced myself that it was fake I've prized the back off with a kitchen knife. It says "Omega", "Swiss Made", "15 Jewels" so I'm confident it is real. It also has a lever that can move from A to R. It was all the way over to one so I've stuck it in the middle to see what happens to its time keeping.

That was what i was going to suggest next, was their any numbers on the inside as you can email them to omega and see if they can help with model and manufacture dates etc I emailed my seamasters (its not vintage) serial number to them and got a nice email back with a nice amount of info and a picture.

I would suggest sending it too omega for a full service and a polish, ive no idea how much this would cost though.

[BMWChris]

Thanks for all the help and advice guys. It has really helped.

There is a serial number viable with the back off so I'll defo get in contact with Omega. Would be nice to know its age and model.

It is also keeping better time since I adjusted the lever - it is now measurable in tens of seconds per hour, rather than minutes per hour, so I will keep adjusting. It is already good enough to wear at the wedding.

Will try to post pics after weekend.

Thanks again.

Chris

[tubbystu]

BMWChris said:

Thanks for all the help and advice guys. It has really helped.

There is a serial number viable with the back off so I'll defo get in contact with Omega. Would be nice to know its age and model.

Omega sourced movement numbers listing which might point you in the right direction for its age.

HTH

[Dr JonboyG]

Dominic H said:

Your watchmaker sounds like a right pr*ck. He is not 'in his rights' to destroy any of your property he thinks is fake. There are plenty of other helpful,professional watchmakers you can try to have your watch serviced. Try the British Horological Institue website to find your nearest member watchmaker...

http://www.bhi.co.uk/repairer.html

Post the pictures and I'm sure the forum will help...

Dom H

Yeah, I'd tell that guy to go fk himself, definitely find a different watch repairers. What a cock.

[cyberface]

Dr JonboyG said:

Dominic H said:

Your watchmaker sounds like a right pr*ck. He is not 'in his rights' to destroy any of your property he thinks is fake. There are plenty of other helpful,professional watchmakers you can try to have your watch serviced. Try the British Horological Institue website to find your nearest member watchmaker...

http://www.bhi.co.uk/repairer.html

Post the pictures and I'm sure the forum will help...

Dom H

Yeah, I'd tell that guy to go fk himself, definitely find a different watch repairers. What a cock.

Quite. What a way to lose business, and what a lousy attitude. I'm surprised he's still in business (unless he's stealing people's watches by claiming they're fake and 'destroying' them, in which case he's just a criminal).

[BMWChris]

tubbystu said:

BMWChris said:

Thanks for all the help and advice guys. It has really helped.

There is a serial number viable with the back off so I'll defo get in contact with Omega. Would be nice to know its age and model.

Omega sourced movement numbers listing which might point you in the right direction for its age.

HTH

Number is 10874624 so it is 1945-7, I think.

[AlexC1981]

You can get more information from the below link to Omega's own vintage watch database. You have to register and give them some information about what sort of Omegas you like and if you are planning on buying one in the next 6 months etc, but that doesnt take long and it's a really good resource.

http://62.73.172.167/cu_vintage/index.php