Omega Bumper Automatic Model Ref.2617 18ct Pink Gold 1950

Omega Watches

Since the company was founded in 1848, Omega has pioneered a huge range of innovations. Britain’s Royal Flying Corps chose Omega watches in 1917 as official timekeepers for its pilots and again in 1940, RAF Pilots watches were supplied by Omega. The 1940s also saw the first tourbillon wristwatch and the first of the famous Seamaster watches, whilst the 1950s and ’60s introduced the legendary Constellation, Speedmaster, Seamaster 300 and Railmaster. Over these years, everyone from John F. Kennedy to Elvis wore Omega watches on official duties. What’s more, in 1962, astronaut Wally Schirra took his Omega Speedmaster to space on NASA’s Mercury Sigma 7 mission, and in 1969 two Speedmasters landed on the moon, worn by Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin.

Description

Here we have a beautiful 18ct pink gold Omega with an elegant silver-white dial from 1950. Omega watches of this period are very highly regarded for their high quality, particularly their movements which are outstanding. Here, the Calibre 332, 17 jewel bumper automatic movement is a gem and with just a simple polish and service, is in tip-top condition and running perfectly. This watch is perfect for evening wear or everyday use, as you so wish. It is also the ideal entry-level watch to the wonderful world of vintage watches.

The Dial

The dial is classic 1950s Omega style – clean and simple and elegant. The original, unrestored and untouched off-white dial carries a mix of gilt applied ‘arrowhead’ hour indices with ‘baton’ hour indices at ‘3 – 6 – 9 – 12’, matched with original pink gold ‘dauphine’ hands. All of these wonderful features are perfectly finished with a subsidiary seconds dial above ‘6’ and a minute rail train around the inner circle of the dial.

The dial catches the light beautifully, as we have tried to demonstrate in the photographs, however it looks much better face to face in real life.

As this dial is in original, unrestored condition, this has been left untouched by our restoration team due to its superb condition. Usually, we restore the dials of the watches we sell, however we decided in this case to leave it alone, due to its unusually good condition and to retain its originality and charm for those who prefer this. It also helps to contrast with almost all of the other watch dials you see on our website, which have been restored. The hands, likewise, have also been left in their original untouched condition.

Please note, studio lights, professional-grade digital cameras, and macro lenses can be very unkind to an unrestored vintage watch dial. Also the dial here measures less than 1.25 inches across, so the image you’re seeing may be between 5 – 25 times larger than the watch itself. Therefore please keep in mind you are seeing many tiny flaws which cannot be seen, or will be very hard to see with the naked eye, even under close examination. Suffice to say, on the wrist, in natural light, this dial looks much better and carries a great deal more charm than the photographs portray.

The Movement

The Omega Cal.332, 17 Jewel bumper automatic movement fitted to this watch was one of Omega’s most successful movements, remaining in production for over 20 years.

Manufactured by Omega between 1940 and 1963, the Omega Cal.332 movement is very highly regarded for its accuracy and reliability, making this watch perfectly suited for everyday use. The movement is in tip-top condition having been overhauled and serviced by our vintage Omega specialist watchmaker. This means it has been completely disassembled to all its component parts, carefully inspected under high magnification, replacement where necessary with only genuine Omega parts before careful reassembly and adjustment and calibration. The watch winds, sets and runs perfectly accurately and reliably within -10 seconds per day, averaged over 5 positions. This is excellent for any watch of this age and has been confirmed on our electronic watch timegrapher. The movement also has an excellent 45-hour power reserve when fully wound. We are therefore more than confident in offering 12 months’ warranty with this watch movement*.

The movement is correctly signed ‘Omega’, ‘Swiss’ and ‘Seventeen 17 Jewels’, and carries the Calibre 332, along with the serial number 11649549 which dates this watch to 1950.

*Please note – our 12 months’ warranty is only applicable if the list price is paid.

The Case

The two-piece 18ct pink gold case measures 34mm in diameter, excluding the signed Omega winding crown. This size of watch would have been an average to large-sized gents watch in the early 1950s.

The case, as we would expect from Omega, is very solid and well made and the press-fit case-back closes with a very solid and satisfying ‘pop’, indicating the case has been impeccably built and maintained. It is of full-thickness and has never been engraved.

Inside the case-back all is correct and as expected. Signed ‘Omega’ with the serial number 10916229 and the reference number 2617. The case also carries 18ct hallmarks.

Having been cleaned, carefully examined and lightly hand-polished by our case-maker, the case is found to be totally immaculate, being very crisp with no scratches, dings or other blemishes visible to the naked eye. This, along with the superb general condition of the rest of the watch, indicates this watch has received an excellent level of care and only light use.

As ever, our standard advice applies: Vintage watches should be kept clean and dry at all times.

The Strap & Buckle

The watch has been fitted with a high quality brown Alligator strap with matching pink gold-plated Omega buckle. We think this suits the watch nicely. However, if a different colour or style of strap is preferred, please let us know and we will do our best to oblige free of charge. We carry tan, conker, dark brown and black in stock, in plain padded leather, crocodile skin or lizard skin, but can also obtain most types and colours of strap from our partners at ‘Watch Obsession’ within 48hrs. Please take a look at their huge range of straps if you wish, here.

Box and Papers

Although there are no original papers with this watch, the reference numbers, markings, signatures and hallmarks are all correct, dating this watch to 1950.

Detailed particulars will be included with our purchase receipt for your interest and security. A separate insurance valuation for the replacement value of this watch will also be provided at the time of sale along with our unique ‘Lifetime Authenticity Guarantee’ which states: “If this watch proves to be anything less than totally authentic, or not as described, Vintage Gold Watches of London will offer you a full refund at any time”.

The presentation box shown in the photographs is included in the sale.

If you would like to pay by bank transfer we will be pleased to assist you with this. Similarly, if you wish to pay by International SWIFT or Bank Wire Transfer we will provide you with our BIC / Swift number and our IBAN number.

Please check the import duties and any taxes your government may apply, these are different for each country and unfortunately out of our control.

We understand there may be some ‘loopholes’ that may help you avoid these charges, however attempting to use these could impact our ongoing ability to serve our growing international customer base.

For those that happen to visit the UK on occasion we are of course more than happy to store your watch until we can meet you in our offices in Kensington, London, and your watch directly to you there.

As with all our watches, this watch will be sold under our 14 days no quibble sale or return policy.