Watchprosite - Official WatchProSite Reviews of luxury Wristwatches for Collectors & buyers

Comments:

My personal franken

By: MSNWatch : November 5th, 2011-15:28

I know franken is a bad word among vintage omega collectors but who says you can't have some fun?
I dug into my parts bin and put together this watch which I intend to wear and enjoy. It all started with the dial - available on the bay as some of you probably know and spectacular in appearance. Then the next question became what case and movement to use with it? The movement was easy - I had one in the parts bin without the correct regulator (have some of those also and will install it in sometime in the future). Then came the case - wanted something hefty and preferably screwback but most importantly it had to be just the right fit for the dial size (32mm). Then the crown - decided to use an early omega crown with the "mercedes" logo on it that just happened to be the right fit. Then the hands - with the aid of a friend, found some pocketwatch hands that fit just right. Everything fit together just fine. And to say something which I thought I would never say - it's an unabashed franken but I love it!

The movement - I know, a bit of corrosion in the regulator but will replace that with the correct one from the parts box:

And the rest of the watch:

As 'frankens' go...

By: grumio : November 5th, 2011-16:28

that's a nice looking end result. Even better if you can track down the missing Rg balance cock and click.

I've played around with quite a few 'franken' Omegas myself over the years, and as long as the end result is never misrepresented to others, I see no harm in it. These simpler vintage movements are very well made, easy to work on, and are very readily available as bare or parts movements, so there is no need to break apart a complete or collectible watch for any experiments.

I'm amazed at the number of these 'Chronometer' style dials that seem to have been produced. I understand they were used on the 1994 30mm hand wind commemorative sets, which would have been quite limited production. It's a shame the dial from cloisonné dialled watch in these sets isn't available as a spare part…

grumio

I do have the Rg regulator in the parts bin

By: MSNWatch : November 5th, 2011-18:17

Will have it installed at some point.

Nice result.

By: grigo : November 6th, 2011-00:53

I would have liked to see pictures of the assembly of the beast, that would have been really nice to follow.

Best regards,

George

There's no doubt......

By: aroma : November 6th, 2011-02:04

that's a cracker of a Frankenwatch - as said above, if it's never sold on as the genuine article then there's no issue with it.

Have fun and thanks for sharing

Cheers

Johnny Cash . . .

By: Dr No : November 6th, 2011-10:46

. . . sang about a Franken Caddie . . .

. . . so if it's ok with the Man in Black, it's fine by me!

Excellent result Mike!

By: hockey : November 6th, 2011-15:38

I think you achieved a perfect outcome, the marriage of a spectacular dial from the 1994 homage series with a sturdy and robust screw back case from an RAF '53. And you put a chronometre movement in to. WOW! I would very much like to see the watch in the flesh. You're not coming out to Californai soon are you?

I also enjoy making project watches. You just had to take advantage of these beautiful dials. They might not ever come up for sale again. This dial won dial of the year in 1994 and it is easy to see why. This is an original limited edition Omega dial and one of the most asthetically pleasing dials ever produced - period.

Thanks for sharing the pics Mike, you have another winner that you can wear and enjoy.

Phil

Thanks Phil

By: MSNWatch : November 7th, 2011-11:11

Nothing like the combination of a chronometer manual wind movement with a large, thick stainless steel screwback case combined with a beautiful scientific dial - movement from the 40s, case from the 50s and dial from the 90s - shows the versatility of omega in how parts from different decades can fit together and form a nice whole.

That is a very nice result indeed. A succsesful attempt if you ask me. Enjoy. [nt]

By: Ruckdee : November 6th, 2011-23:22

No message body

Maybe...

By: Timeted : November 7th, 2011-00:48

I think so...It's a prototype watch....

OMEGA has done over the past many such watches, but I believe it ....

Do you know...

Ted

Thanks

By: MSNWatch : November 7th, 2011-11:09

Maybe it can be a prototype after all! ;-)
I have to say though it is the kind of watch omega should have thought about producing.

Hi Mike, it came out great !!!

By: Bill Sohne : November 9th, 2011-05:23

Hi MIke

Just to understand you used a ck 2777 case ref ? wow !!! very cool !!

The 30T2Rg that I bought as a Franken... in a 2179 case ref !

Will bring it to the next breakfast meet !

Good Hunting

Bill Sohne

You are right Bill - a 2777 case reference. [nt]

By: MSNWatch : November 9th, 2011-15:43

No message body