Another fake or real thread

Twat-Badger

So first things first I know nothing about watches, never worn one don't know anything about them really. However reading the thread about the fella with the Rolex inspired me to go and dig out a watch that was given to me when I was a kid. It's supposedly an Omega but given that I've never known it to work and the strap is kinda crappy I've always just assumed it was a fake.

I did a bit of googling on it and I can't find anything to match up to it, was about to write it off as a nailed on fake but on a whim i got the back off of it and now I'm not so sure, so I'm looking for people with greater knowledge than I to see if its is indeed a fake.

Pics here:https://imgur.com/a/WFKfRgy

saccades

Looks like a 1940's WW2 military wristwatch.

And quite genuine.

Edit to say some v.similar on the bay for a chunk of cash.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-Rare-OMEGA-Military-huge-size-ref-2181-cal-30-T2-circa-1940/232959622856?hash=item363d79bec8:g:rPgAAOSwI3FbjAtk

For example.


Your dial is nice, lume is destroyed but can be replaced, was it over wound as a kid? Relatively easy fix. Keep the patina if you get it repaired.

Nice gift.

Wibbs

Looks 100% real to me. Omega hand wound 40s? Nice example. The winding crown looks like a later replacement, but finding the correct one should be handy enough. Military style watch, not military as it's not an issued piece. There's a difference and is usually reflected in the values hence ebay and other dealers sellers use the "military" tag to get more cash.

*EDIT& the luminous material is original and in good condition. Do NOT get it replaced or otherwise disturbed, it'll never be as good as an original dial and you'll take a large percentage of the value from it if you do. Plus a watch can't be "overwound". That's an old wives tale really, but commonly believed. Believed it myself for years TBH. Usually dirt stops the mechanism, or a broken part, often the balance staff breaks from a fall, or a jewel cracks. Both easily sortable for something like an Omega. Lots of parts about for the 30 calibre.

Anthracite

It looks genuine for sure, but don't get too excited by that mad ebay listing - it might fetch you 500 euros on a good day, but it's not stamped as militarily issued or anything, which is what would really add value.

A recently sold similar example here.

Wibbs

Yeah Twat Badger(love the username ) always look to finished auctions for an idea of value. Dealer prices are always higher, in the last few years higher than a bunch of hippies at Woodstock. They seem to think flowery and usually inaccurate descriptions mean more value. And there are enough unwary and inexperienced folks out there who might buy into it.

Wibbs

Looking more closely at your dial, maybe it's an earlier replacement? The reason I say that is there's no "Swiss Made" on it. Though some markets sometimes didn't have that on the dial.

It's a nice watch in my humble. Sounds mad an all, given you've never really worn a watch, but maybe get it serviced and running, stick a nice strap on it and wear it, even if only on high days and holy days? After all you got it when you were a kid and it's 70 odd years old. Few enough things these days we have last, or can last so long and keep going and potentially last centuries. Which is kinda cool.

Now I'm not one of those watch nuts who thinks mechanical watches have "soul" or any of that, but there is something to hand winding a timepiece in the morning to wear throughout the day. No batteries, no interwebs connection required. Something personal, organic to it, something slow to it in our ever faster world. In fairness, I am a bit mad, well when I say a bit.. so your mileage may vary.

guitarhappy

Omega Calibre 30T2PC, reference 2383-1 from @1944. I agree it may not be military because the dial doesn't have the upward facing arrow below the "12". Maybe it just needs a full service clean and relubricate. Old dry oils thicken and cause a watch to stop running. A watch maker can assess it for you. If it were me I'd send it in to Omega directly because they might have parts, or will make them if necessary. It's a beautiful watch. Don't polish it or replace the dial.
There are two of them just like yours currently on Chrono24, listed in the $3k to $4,600 range saying 1947/48. I think you have a keeper.

guitarhappy

Oh, and based on the little research I did it's the original correct winding crown.

Wibbs

It's almost certainly not military GH. Dead right on the oils thickening. It can often be that simple. Ditto for don't polish or replace the dial.

Though I would suggest major caution on "values" found on Chrono24. It's mostly dealers and as I say of late dealers are ever more overinflated on actual value and what you can actually get for a watch. The Hodinkee effect. Where that website and brand have leveraged their market position to sell overpriced and often bad, even dubious examples of watches from their online shop to the "fashionable" and unwary who want to join the party of vintage wristwatches.

EG a couple of years back I got an actually issued military watch for 200 quid in an ebay auction, where examples of the same model were and continue to be listed by dealers on Chrono24 as being "worth" north of a thousand quid.

Twat-Badger

Thanks for the information guys. Nice surprise to know that it's the real deal. I've had it for 25 years at least at this stage and I'd forgotten about it for at least the last 15, but reading that other thread prodded my memory and I went and dug it out. To be honest the monetary value of it is unimportant to me, I don't think I'd be interested in selling it. I'd like to get it working again but obviously I didn't want to be sending off some knock-off for repair.

Twat-Badger

Can anyone recommend somewhere/someone who'd be able to repair this btw? Was looking at sending it back to Omega as suggested but their pricing seems to be fairly steep. Or is that just what it costs to get a watch repaired?

Wibbs

An independent watchmaker will be significantly cheaper than any of the brand service prices. They've really ramped up their prices over the last few years and IMHO are milking it for all it's worth.

guitarhappy

I recently had a full service at Chopard on a Chopard 18k watch with a Jaeger LeCoultre movement for €320. I also had a Baume et Mercier service at B&M for $345. Both were considered vintage watches. The Baume et Mercier needed a new winding crown. Otherwise they were straight forward disassemble, lubrication, etc. Hope that is helpful info for you. Do you want it "done" or done right? It's a very cool watch you have.

Wibbs

Sounds good GH, but Chopard and B&M would be fairly small marques in the scheme of things and as such are more likely to charge less, the "big names" on the other hand are usually price gougers in a big way. Your TAG Heuers, your Rolex', your IWC's, your Omegas etc. Look how much they charge for an extract from the archives, when only a few years back they'd do it for free.

EG a few years back on another forum I was reading of a lad with a 70's Heuer BUND chrono that needed a service and a winding stem(a generic part from a generic movement, even today 30 quid on ebay). TAG quoted him nearly 3000 euro for the privilege, which at the time could have sourced him another working BUND with enough change for a slap up meal for two. With drinks. Omega's prices tend towards steep. Think at least triple what they were in 2000.

Now if Twat-Badger's example was something very rare and/or valuable and the addition of the "official" Omega stamp was a positive, or only they had the parts, then yes, but his watch has a movement produced in the hundreds of thousands and parts are easily available. In his case I'd 100% go independent.

As for done and done right. Much of that is industry marketing to get more cash into their tills. Watchmaking at this level is not rocket surgery. Indeed I'd prefer a good independent over a generic workshop mostly filled with students, regardless of the name over the workshop.

guitarhappy

Wibbs wrote: »

Looking more closely at your dial, maybe it's an earlier replacement? The reason I say that is there's no "Swiss Made" on it. Though some markets sometimes didn't have that on the dial.

It's a nice watch in my humble. Sounds mad an all, given you've never really worn a watch, but maybe get it serviced and running, stick a nice strap on it and wear it, even if only on high days and holy days? After all you got it when you were a kid and it's 70 odd years old. Few enough things these days we have last, or can last so long and keep going and potentially last centuries. Which is kinda cool.

Wibbs wrote: »

Watchmaking at this level is not rocket surgery.

Not sure I entirely agree with you Wibbs but I admire your blend of "rocket science" and "brain surgery."
GH