Fowey River Antiques has dated this piece to the 1950s.
Reference model OJ2657
Movement cal 342
Serial number 12852375
Date of production March 1953.
Oversize case diameter 37mm without crown.
Deluxe solid 18ct gold dial, unmarked and perfect.
All original and untouched with original glass, strap and box.
The strap fitted is a new genuine Omega replacement and the Omega buckle is solid 9ct gold, a later addition with a Birmingham hallmark for 1964.
The watch is in outstanding original untouched condition with only the slightest of scratches to the original glass, the case has never been polished and all edges are factory fresh.
The Omega Museum does not appear to have an example of this model reference and it is not listed in their online Heritage Vintage Watches database, they also cannot or will not tell me how many were produced.
This model is not listed in any Omega reference book including Omega a Journey Through Time which is normally thought to cover every model ever produced.
No example has ever been sold by any major auction house, I have checked the archives of Christies, Sothebys and Bonhams.
There are no photographs of this model on the internet and no collectors or forums have any record of this model. Until now only the stainless steel model was thought to have been made.
This Seamaster is probably a unique example.
I have almost all of the history of the watch from the family of Captain Hunter.
The watch was originally purchased in 1953 by Captain John Hunter of Alloa Scotland who joined the merchant navy in 1946 as a junior officer with the China Navigation Company. Having completed his first tour as a junior officer he spent his entire bonus on the newly launched Omega Seamaster, the most expensive watch in a jewellers in Stockholm.
He then declared that he would never wear the watch until he became Master of his own vessel and from 1953 until late 1970 the watch stayed in its box at his mothers house.
He was finally promoted to Master in late 1970 but sadly died six months later on board his ship The Baron Belhaven whilst travelling through the Hudson bay delivering a cargo of South American bauxite ore.
He wore the watch for less than six months.
Captain Hunter never married and the watch was inherited by his sister May who had the watch engraved. The inscription J to M referring to from John to May.
I have found a number of documents online which detail Captain Hunters career www.scottishshipmanagement.org/files/triad011.pdf lists the date of promotion to Master and a photo.
Further down the page gives details of the launching of the Baron Belhaven which was first captained by John Hunter.
www.scottishshipmanagement.org/files/triad014.pdf records his death at sea.
Because the watch was almost never worn its in near mint museum condition.
Its quite a poignant story,
A Seamaster for a Seamaster.
Fowey River Antiques has dated this piece to the 1950s.
We are traditional watchmakers who specialise in the restoration of premium vintage watches.
You can view the stock and full dealer information on the Fowey River Antiques Profile Page
Incredibly Rare Captain Hunter's Omega Seamaster Oversize Deluxe in Solid 14ct Gold C1953
