Restoring a Very Old Omega Watch !!! Almost a Century Old

[@csachevauxsansabri2612]

This is one that proofs why Omega has the reputation it has today, this is the time they earned it and boy dose it show

[@FrenchWatchCollector]

Yes they are solid watches

[@MyRetroWatches]

I am about to restore pretty much exactly the same watch on my channel. Mine is 1923 so exactly 100 years. Such a good coincidence. I will really enjoy your video

[@FrenchWatchCollector]

That is a nice coincidence. After they are great watches and it is unbelievable to think they are still so good after 100 years. I am really looking forward to see your video

[@jatco84]

What a fabulous restoration of that OLD Omega. Funny as you mentioned how the logo doesn't line up with 12oclock...but the quality movement stood up to 100 years and now, probably a lot longer. A true testament about the Brand. Excellent work Monsieur. Well done once again. Kudos. 👏

[@FrenchWatchCollector]

It is a great watch and yes it will still be going for more than 100 years

[@62smarty]

Great work again!!

[@FrenchWatchCollector]

thank you

[@Aco747lyte]

What extraordinary craftsmanship on such an old watch, but being an Omega just goes to show how the quality goes in before the name goes on. One hundred years later, Omega keeps its fine tradition of high quality and accuracy and I am humbled at how brilliant this French watchmaker has performed such wonderful restoration. I am so glad and grateful for finding you. All the very best from Wendi UK 🌻

[@FrenchWatchCollector]

Thank you Wendi. You are right about Omega and the quality of their products.

[@velviaman3206]

Quality restoration of a quality watch.

[@FrenchWatchCollector]

Thank you

[@SkyBlue-le7cd]

Another beautiful watch and terrific video. Thanks!!!

[@FrenchWatchCollector]

Thank you

[@WorldView22]

Great work there! The owner is very lucky that this old Omega does not have radium paint on the dial...

[@FrenchWatchCollector]

Very true!

[@tiberiuvincze8288]

Nice watch ! and a very nice video , you are lucky to make this gems working again ! great job ! Thank you !

[@FrenchWatchCollector]

Thank you so much

[@brucebarlow6604]

Perfect another great restoration. Keep well from New Zealand 🇳🇿

[@FrenchWatchCollector]

Thank you Bruce

[@stromascape]

Temperature management. Genius 😮

[@wildernessofzinn17]

Good one, FWC. Awesome!. I love these real old Omegas, Rolices, etc. This one has a pallet "bridge", not pallet "cock". I just obtained an old Elgin wristwatch from 1921 that looks a lot like this one. Why I grabbed it up is because the dial on it is sideways....12 o'clock is at the crown.

[@FrenchWatchCollector]

Yes you are right. It is a pallet fork bridge. The are nice watches

[@kylelee9474]

[@FrenchWatchCollector]

😉

[@karma247ajm]

Great job 👍 Maybe they subcontracted the dial to Seiko 🤔

[@FrenchWatchCollector]

Why Seiko?

[@karma247ajm]

@@FrenchWatchCollector I love Seiko, but they have a reputation for misalignment 😁

[@FrenchWatchCollector]

@@karma247ajm 😋

[@awdturbopowah773]

👏 Wonderful job as always FWC! What a lovely old Omega brought back to life, these old calibers are just so pretty to look at. Quick question for you though, around 19:49, the buffing stick you're using to clean up the hands -- did you make that, or is it something you purchased? Looks quite handy. Can't wait for the next one! 🍻

[@FrenchWatchCollector]

No I did not make it myself. It is a buffing stick.

[@awdturbopowah773]

@@FrenchWatchCollector bergeon? I need to buy some.

[@fscott1134]

I believe a proper restoration makes a watch look as close to “as new”. As possible. When you restore a Rolls Royce, you repaint, reupholster, replace as needed to make it “as new”. When you restore an apartment or house, you dont leave “dirty walls” to give it “patina”. Polish it.

[@FrenchWatchCollector]

I obviously can polish it but after it is the owner of the watch that chose what to do. For vintage watches is it as simple as just repolishing everything. Polishing a watch can damage its value

[@boydsargeant7496]

Got that rate really good! What cleaning fluid did you use on the dial? Great video!

[@FrenchWatchCollector]

I use Isopropyl or lighter fluid

[@boydsargeant7496]

@@FrenchWatchCollector thanks!

[@petercampbell3828]

Luckily it just needed a service. Any thoughts on a strap for it?

[@FrenchWatchCollector]

You can wear an NATO.

[@cristobalosuna3106]

superbe

[@FrenchWatchCollector]

Merci bien

[@JamesOBrien-l8g]

I have this exact watch which I inherited from my grandfather, it’s currently sitting in a box in a similar condition to this, Would it be worth refurbishing it and trying to sell it and what would be the refurbishing cost and what would be the sale price once refurbished please

[@FrenchWatchCollector]

The restoration will be around 400€. It is worth 800€ or more depending on the model

[@massimoalberio7946]

Hello which special solution did you use to clean the dial? Thx in advance

[@FrenchWatchCollector]

I use some lighter fluid

[@massimoalberio7946]

@@FrenchWatchCollector Did you use Isopropanol?

[@FrenchWatchCollector]

@@massimoalberio7946 Yes this is what I used

[@alexreynoso3654]

Hi what is the tool that you clean the wheel pivots with?

[@FrenchWatchCollector]

It is called Eve flex

[@mwk9473]

I think the issue with the alignment of the Omega logo could have been a conscious decision, not necessarily the dial manufacturer's and QC department's fault. Note that with the large Breguet numerals, placing the whole inscription and logo dead-centre would cause something of a clutter with the 0 in 10, and leave too much of a void between the Omega text and the 2 o'clock numeral. It's just a loose theory of mine, though.

[@FrenchWatchCollector]

It is a theory but it is strange. Rare to have something misalign on purpose

[@MrGrentch]

@@FrenchWatchCollector I strongly suspect it was added later, likely by a dealer to increase the value. Dial printing back then was very precise. Enamel dials of the period, even cheap ones can be more crisp and clear than brand new very expensive enamel dials from brands like Patek. So why did it not have Omega originally? Today we expect the manufacturers name on the dial and we know the names of the manufacturers, but in the early years of the 20th century customers bought watches as much by retailer's names and very few would have heard of Omega, or Zenith, Longines etc and the "Swiss watch" as quality perception was a new thing. So you bought a "Mappin" watch, or "Harrods'" watch, or a "Land & Sea" watch etc. This was very much the case in the British(and her empire) market, but also in some parts of Europe, Asia and South America, but much less so with American brands as they were ahead in brand marketing. In 1914 Longines even sent a letter to British retailers promising they would never put their names on the dial or movements they supplied to them. In the UK market the Swiss brands nearly always gave their movements a gilt finish as that's what British customers expected. In Europe you were more likely to see different finishes like this Omega. One of Rolex's actual innovations was starting to insist their brand be featured on the dial sold in British retailers and after a few years this became the norm. So, many watches were sold with blank dials where the retailer would add their names. Others have the brand's name around the sub second dial, but under the 12 is left blank. If you look at enamel dialled watches from this period a large percentage are blank today. The retailers name was printed on top of the enamel and has worn off over time, the numerals being baked into the enamel remain. We have one example left of what things were like back then with one retailer's name; Tiffany. They never really stopped branding the dials sold through their shop.

[@btg1967]

Excellent work! I wonder how much a watch like this would cost?

[@FrenchWatchCollector]

I am not sure how much it cost

[@rustydog1236]

I believe all of the discoloration on the dial face and some of grunge on the movement is caused by the antique acrylic crystal deteriorating and out gassing byproducts condense on those parts. You see a yellowed acrylic crystal and you can always expect deposits on the dial. And the longer the acrylic remains a part of the watch, the more damage.💔

[@FrenchWatchCollector]

Thanks for the info. I did not know a yellow cristal could damage the dial

[@rustydog1236]

@FrenchWatchCollector it's also acidic and causes that "green jelly" (as some call it) on the plates mostly near/in pivot holes and screws. Also rust (there was a little near the hand bushings on both hands).

[@FrenchWatchCollector]

@@rustydog1236 Yes I had some green substance on the canon pignon. Maybe it was coming from this.

[@SandCWatchRepair]

what are you using to clean the pivots on the escapement wheel?

[@BradyBegeman]

Pith wood no?

[@SandCWatchRepair]

@@BradyBegeman doesn't look like it

[@FrenchWatchCollector]

It is eve flex

[@snekker9480]

Is this a radium dial?

[@FrenchWatchCollector]

Yes

[@mikebruegger8654]

Restoration or service?

[@FrenchWatchCollector]

That is the question

[@johnpenny2328]

Lovely watch but please give the case a light polish, it spoils the job

[@FrenchWatchCollector]

I can do but the owner wanted to remove the oxidation only

[@benmak3283]

Beat error no good , should be adjusted

[@FrenchWatchCollector]

Yes when i get it below 1 on a balance without a quick setting pallet