Omega

Omega 2597-1 Chronometer questions

Recently I came across this very well beat up Omega 2597-1 at a market and picked it up. Now I am fearful that it may be a frankenwatch. I am not into it for very much money but I would like to see if anyone has encountered this particular model of chronometer before. I seem to be able to find a lot of information about watches without the -1 designation and some with others like -5 or -6 but nothing with -1.

Omega 2597-1 Front

The second hand is for sure something just thrown on the watch as it is red which I have not seen on these in any pictures of the early chronometers with the 352 movement. The missing index is in the watch, trapped between the dial and the case at the 9 o'clock position so the face can be brought back up to snuff.

Omega 2597-1 Case Back

The caseback shows that the watch was given to a priest in a small Francophone town in rural Saskatchewan from his parish. The date on the watch is 1953 however the movement serial number indicates a different date of manufacture.

Omega 2597-1 Caseback Inside

The clear stamping on the caseback indicating the reference number of the watch.

Omega 2597-1 Movement Serial Number 12716568

The RG movement has some issues but the balance wheel does swing smoothly. I am not winding it at all as I don't want to damage the watch.

Omega 2597-1 Calibre 352 marking

I am going to send the watch off to a watchmaker with a deep knowledge of this movement and who has spare parts for it in case there are any deep problems with it. I am interested in doing a very sympathetic restoration, not wanting to do a complete overhaul of the watch. I want to just get the hour markers re-affixed, a replacement second hand and just a complete movement overhaul to return it to working order. I don't want to polish the case or anything on it as I want the character and history to stay as much intact as I can.

If people here feel it is worth it I am probably going to get an extract from the Omega archive to see what I can find out but I was just curious if anyone can enlighten me a bit as to why I am not encountering this particular reference number anywhere.

Thank you so much

Jason

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Extract? Absolutely. I don't recall this chronometer reference at all . . .

By: Dr No : March 27th, 2018-21:09

. . . which worries me. I thought I knew them all off the top of my head. Apparently not. I've no doubt that, if confirmed, this is a once-in-a-lifetime find. Congratulations, and thanks for sharing your potential lucky strike here with us. Stunned, Art

Your contention there's a lack of info on this reference . . .

By: Dr No : March 27th, 2018-21:43

. . . is confirmed. There's scant evidence of its existence, and none that I've seen so far corroborates your example. The dial is slightly odd: crosshairs don't line up, and the script is also oddly aligned. Yet, overall it looks like an original Omega d...

Here's a ref 2520 dial . . .

By: Dr No : March 27th, 2018-22:23

. . . for comparison. [watch credit: WCB / photo credit: Dr No] Art ...

Might be a ref 2516 dial and movement . . .

By: Dr No : March 28th, 2018-01:52

. . . in a ref 2597 case. [watch and photo credit: Hoi / source: PuristSPro] This one is gold, but there were steel examples of that reference. Art ...

Thank you!

By: Jason Palmer : March 28th, 2018-03:27

Thank you for all the great information. I will defiantly get an extract on the watch as this thing has genuinely piqued my curiosity. I will keep everyone informed about the outcome with Omega and updates on the freshened watch when I get that done as we...

I'm on the phone with West Coast Bill, who specializes in bumper chronometers . . .

By: Dr No : March 28th, 2018-10:56

. . . and he's never heard of a ref 2597 cal 352. Considering the dial issues, I'd lay off asking for an extract. The value here is probably just in the movement and crown. They're worth a tidy sum. Art

As luck would have it, WCB has an original dial in his parts collection . . .

By: Dr No : March 28th, 2018-11:08

. . . that, in all likelihood, was identical to the one your watch was originally issued. Someone put a valuable cal 352 movement in a ref 2597 case, and refinished the dial to make it look as though it were a chronometer. It's not worth your while to ask...

Interesting

By: Jason Palmer : March 28th, 2018-11:32

That parts dial is pretty interesting. It gives me a much better idea what I have I think.

Another image, courtesy Cicindela, of a ref 2597 . . .

By: Dr No : March 29th, 2018-12:00

. . . originally fitted with a cal 351 movement. The seconds hand is not original, but all else appears correct. I'm a little embarrassed over how much leeway I gave your dial at first glance - should've recognized it as refinished immediately. I was so h...

Impressive detective work.....

By: Biezmez : March 28th, 2018-11:35

.....to get to the bottom of that one. 👍well done Art and WCB!

While researching this reference, I came across these pics . . .

By: Dr No : August 28th, 2021-22:35

. . . from a seller . . . . . . that reflect what a ref 2597 should look like. Art ...