One query that has cropped up in watch fora regularly over the years is that of the presence of the number 1 inside the Omega logo on the train bridge of many mid-500 series Omega calibres. Having emerged again on the Watchuneed forum, I am prompted to preserve for posterity the latest consensus on what that pesky little number means
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Dear Mr. Guilfoyle,
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised the meaning of those numbers are still a mystery, especially while every Omega repairer should know what they indicate. Calibers having a number in the Omega logo are prepaired for both flat and domed dials: 1 for (almost) flat, 2 for domed and 3 for high domed dials. For ordering parts carrying the hour, minute or second hand you need to indicate this number, otherwise you risk to receive replacements which are too short or too long.
Upgrades of Omega calibers are indicated by a code starting with a 'T' and followed by a digit 1, 2 or 3.
Best regards,
Robbert H. A. ter Heide
Maarssen, The Netherlands
Hi Robert, and thanks for your comments.
ReplyDeleteI am aware that on earlier Omegas (at least in the 1950s) the numbers do indeed indicate the need to consider the height of the dial when ordering parts. I have seen reference to 1,2 and 3 on parts bulletins.
However with Constellations, for example, with calibre 354 where both domed dials and pie pans were used there is no number stamped on the movement. Also for cal 561, for example, there does not appear any consistency that I can see with domed or pie pan dials - some domed dial original models had the number 1 stamped while others have not, and some piepans have while others have not.
Perhaps we can continue this conversation by email - as I am very keen to get to the bottom of this issue.
Click on the about me and you will see an email click through.
Regards
Desmond