Watches: My 1958 Omega Geneve Calendar Auto

This watch has been with my family since 1959 when it was given to my Grandfather when he retired from the Manila Electric Company - the forerunner of Meralco.  He was an electrician who serviced the streetcars of Manila when these were still around. My grandpa passed this on to my Dad after having worn it for a few days. Being a simple man and coming from a blue collar background, he felt that it was pretentious for him to be wearing a watch. He told my Dad (who was the eldest son) that it would be right for him to wear a watch since he would be the first to be able to finish college. My Dad in turn passed this watch to me when I landed my first job.

The company operated a 52 mile tram transport from 1903 up to World War 2 with a fleet of around 170 streetcars (which were called tranvias then). The equipment and tracks of the system were severely damaged during the war and were eventually removed. Here are some pics of these tranvias which my grandpa serviced. The surviving examples of these tranvias are now on display at the Eugenio Lopez Center museum in Antipolo. It was a moving moment for me when I first saw these in the museum knowing that my grandpa's hands probably worked on these.

Tranvia operating in the streets of Manila

Tranvia in the Lopez Museum, Antipolo

In the late 1950's and early 1960's the Geneve range were part of Omega's top of the range watches. Later in the 1970's they started using the Geneve name for their entry level watches. 1970's watches are common, but the earlier Geneve models are quite scarce, especially with the original rice bead stainless steel bracelet. I came across this post in the net which provided some interesting information regarding the early Geneve range: 

(http://www.thewatchforum.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=265)

 

"When Omega took first ,second and third place in the chronometer competition held at the Geneva observatory in 1952 they decided to build a line of watches to commerorate the victory and named Geneve after the city where the competition took place.

They share some features with the Constellation line by having a pie pan shaped dial with cross hairs and an applied Omega name although surprisingly not chronometer spec'd.

In Omegas pecking order they came above the Seamaster line and just below the Constellation.

The way to tell one Geneve from the other as I recently posted is that the later cheaper line has Geneve in small lower case letters whereas the early desireable model has Geneve in fancy script."

This particular watch's movement and case serial number dates its manufacture date to 1958 per the official Omega database.  It is a caliber 503 automatic with 17 jewels

The watch was opened up and serviced for the first time after 37 year in 1995.  Truly a testament to Omega's quality in producing timepieces that not just track time but also try to outlast time! Here it is over half a century since it left the factory in Switzerland and still happy ticking away.

The technicians at the Omega center advised that I have this cleaned and serviced every 10 years but I haven't really strictly followed this since the watch has been keeping accurate time.  I finally had it serviced a few months ago and the technicians pronounced it good to go for another decade or so.  The only thing that worries me is that parts for this particular caliber are starting to become very scarce.  In particular, they identified the setting lever spring and winding gear as showing signs of extensive wear.

Fortunately, after a lengthy search across the net plus several email inquiries later, I was finally able to find a site that specializes in the sale of vintage omega watches.  The owner was kind enough to sell me the parts that I needed even if these were primarily reserved for buyers of his watches. 

It is my hope that I will be able to pass on this great timepiece in full working condition to the next generation.  While this is a gent's watch, I presently have one daughter.  She will get this watch if I will not be blessed with a son.