Omega

Hello All...I need some help. I am looking to purchase what is described as a 1957 Omega Seamaster with a 501 caliber, 20 jewel movement but with a very odd 5 digit serial number...#87810. It has a case number 2846-2848 SC5, gold capped, with black dial (... 

...which doesn't mean a whole lot. I've learned never to say never or ever when discussing vintage Omega. I've seen later movements with serial numbers starting with "R" that were factory warranty replacement movements. Without a picture of the movement i... 

Hello... Thanks for the response. I am not too computer savy and I don't know how to post the pics. I can send you the xxxxxxxxxxx and there ar eseveral pics of the watch there. Can you walk me through the process? Thanks, Davd This message has been edite... 

...is incredibly easy. Right click (that is, click the right hand button on your computer mouse) over the picture you want to copy and select "Copy". Then open up a reply to this message, right click again inside the reply box, then select "Paste" The pic... 

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...as there are other, far more knowledgeable Omega folks around. Looking at the Omega vintage DB, several aspects of the watch check out, including the case reference number, (indicated as often appearing as 2846-2848), the manufacture date, and the cal ... 

Thanks for the info Tom. I have looked around the web and have discovered that the 501 started life as a 19 jewel movement and somewhat later modified to 20 jewels. The pic I have of the movement does not show the caliber 501 marking, but the seller state... 

...Desmond Guilfoyle over at the Omega constellation collectors blog. He's an expert on questions such as these and has quite a lot of knowledge on both rarities and fakes in vintage Omegas. (Not to imply that this watch is necessarily either!) cheers, To... 

...but I don't know why it only has 5 digits. Sounds like a question for Omega, or perhaps for our moderator, who has forgotten more about vintage Omegas than I will ever know. The dial looks good to me. Black dials on these early Seamasters seem to be mo... 

. . . no? Quizzically, Art

...which is a guarantee of absolutely nothing, the 501 was equipped with a monometallic ring balance, while the later caliber 505 had a screw balance. Checking a few photos, I agree that the caliber number would indeed be obscured by the rotor in the phot... 

. . . as shown in this photo of the movement in my Connie. Could there be a distinction between chronometer rated and non-chronometer rated cal 501s? In other words, could the chronometer rated 501s be equipped with screwed balances, with non-chronometer ...  

... on the web site of a major Omega parts supplier and it is the same part for all three versions of the cal. 501 and the 505. The issue here seems to be that the picture of the subject watch shows the balance in motion. There probably wasn't enough ligh...  

For me everything looks OK except the winding crown which looks like a later replacement. The "issue" with the movement serial# however is very odd and this "problem" can only be solved by the Omega museum database. Only they will know from their books...... 

however the serial number would be a big issue for me. i've owned over 100 vintage Omegas over the years and never seen a serial number like that, ever although i have owned a 33.3 chrono with no serial number or movement number on it and an early 8 day g... 

For me, the equation is pretty simple. Are there reasons to make me question the watch? Is there something unique about it enough to make it desirable even if the doubts prove true? Unless I get two yes answers, walk away. Vintage Omegas are relatively co...