1960s Omega wrist watch - opinions please?
Discussion
Hi, I'd just like some input and opinions on an old Omega wristwatch:
My father used to wear it, and I'm trying to find out what it is, what it is worth (if anything!), and of course whether it is worth selling or resurrecting... I suspect it's not worth a great deal, and my father reckons it dates from a period when Omegas generally weren't as expensive or held in such high regard as they seem to be today. It was just an "okay" wristwatch, he says!
I believe it is 1960s, and probably wind-up? It is currently not working, and the crown appears to be missing. It has a plastic domed glass window (it has been replaced in the past) and I'm not sure whether the bracelet is the original or not - it has FIXO-FLEX branding, but no Omega markings. There are no markings on the back of the watch - otherwise working out what it was would have been much easier!
Any information or advice would be gratefully received!
My father used to wear it, and I'm trying to find out what it is, what it is worth (if anything!), and of course whether it is worth selling or resurrecting... I suspect it's not worth a great deal, and my father reckons it dates from a period when Omegas generally weren't as expensive or held in such high regard as they seem to be today. It was just an "okay" wristwatch, he says!
I believe it is 1960s, and probably wind-up? It is currently not working, and the crown appears to be missing. It has a plastic domed glass window (it has been replaced in the past) and I'm not sure whether the bracelet is the original or not - it has FIXO-FLEX branding, but no Omega markings. There are no markings on the back of the watch - otherwise working out what it was would have been much easier!
Any information or advice would be gratefully received!
Edited by tannhauser on Thursday 13th December 22:44
I can only give you my personal 'Omega' experiences...
My Mum has a tiny, women's Omega watch. It was bought in 1970, and it is still going strong.
A colleague at work had one that looked just like the one in your picture. When I joined the company, he was 65 and due to retire. After a few days, I noticed it on his wrist, and asked him about it. He told me that his parents had bought it for him on his 21st Birthday. He also said that, despite 'meaning to do so', he'd never got round to getting it serviced. So, that's a 44 year-old Omega still going strong that had never been serviced.
And my own. I bought a Seamaster Chronometer in 2000. I was similarly lax in the recommended service interval, until I caved in 2 years ago when the watch was 10. I had it serviced and cleaned, at a jeweller's owned by a fellow PH'er actually.
When I collected it, it really did look as good as the day I'd bought it, because they'd polished all the outside and the strap too. I was told that all they did was a regular service inside, and that it hadn't needed any new parts (apart from the routine replacement of the seals) and that all the workings looked as good as new.
It is so accurate, it's unreal, for a mechanical watch. I literally never have to adjust the time, it never loses or gains. The only time I have to adjust it is if I leave it off my wrist for a few days, and it stops. That's it. To me, it is an amazing, beautiful, accurate time piece that I am proud to own.
It's not bling like a Rolex, and the only people who occasionally notice it on my wrist, are the kind of people I am happy that notice it on my wrist, if you get me?
And it's the only 'consumer' item I've bought that over the 12 years I've owned and used it, is worth more than I paid for it.
So - I would definitely get that lovely vintage Omega brought back to life. It will be worth it!
My Mum has a tiny, women's Omega watch. It was bought in 1970, and it is still going strong.
A colleague at work had one that looked just like the one in your picture. When I joined the company, he was 65 and due to retire. After a few days, I noticed it on his wrist, and asked him about it. He told me that his parents had bought it for him on his 21st Birthday. He also said that, despite 'meaning to do so', he'd never got round to getting it serviced. So, that's a 44 year-old Omega still going strong that had never been serviced.
And my own. I bought a Seamaster Chronometer in 2000. I was similarly lax in the recommended service interval, until I caved in 2 years ago when the watch was 10. I had it serviced and cleaned, at a jeweller's owned by a fellow PH'er actually.
When I collected it, it really did look as good as the day I'd bought it, because they'd polished all the outside and the strap too. I was told that all they did was a regular service inside, and that it hadn't needed any new parts (apart from the routine replacement of the seals) and that all the workings looked as good as new.
It is so accurate, it's unreal, for a mechanical watch. I literally never have to adjust the time, it never loses or gains. The only time I have to adjust it is if I leave it off my wrist for a few days, and it stops. That's it. To me, it is an amazing, beautiful, accurate time piece that I am proud to own.
It's not bling like a Rolex, and the only people who occasionally notice it on my wrist, are the kind of people I am happy that notice it on my wrist, if you get me?
And it's the only 'consumer' item I've bought that over the 12 years I've owned and used it, is worth more than I paid for it.
So - I would definitely get that lovely vintage Omega brought back to life. It will be worth it!
Thanks for the replies guys.
The pics posted do look similar, but this one isn't branded "Seamaster", nor does it say it is automatic. Indeed it is pretty lightweight, so I suspect it might be a relatively simple wind-up watch, but then I'm no expert! I did have a quick Google, but to no avail so far!
As I say I am trying to work out its provenence, its rough value and how much reconditioning might be and therefore the viability - although I know this is impossible to know for sure without someone having a close look. We may choose to keep hold of it or sell it, either as is or with it brought back into operation. Just weighing up the options!
Any further input is appreciated thanks.
The pics posted do look similar, but this one isn't branded "Seamaster", nor does it say it is automatic. Indeed it is pretty lightweight, so I suspect it might be a relatively simple wind-up watch, but then I'm no expert! I did have a quick Google, but to no avail so far!
As I say I am trying to work out its provenence, its rough value and how much reconditioning might be and therefore the viability - although I know this is impossible to know for sure without someone having a close look. We may choose to keep hold of it or sell it, either as is or with it brought back into operation. Just weighing up the options!
Any further input is appreciated thanks.
Hoofy said:
£50, methinks. That bracelet might have "come with it" but it's not a proper Omega one - you can pick up those expanding bracelets for £5.
Value to you - £1,000,000.
Thanks for the input. I did have a quick look on eBay at similar watches and I was thinking around £50, maybe £100 if fully working? Difficult to tell though, as there was nothing identical.Value to you - £1,000,000.
I had doubts about the bracelet being original - I'd have thought it would have had Omega branding, even if still made by the same manufacturer, FIXO FLEX.
My father really isn't attached to it, so he says. Still, he can have a think about what he wants to do with it I suppose. Probably not worth mending in monetary terms alone.
Any other opinions on value or possible repair costs?
tannhauser said:
Thanks for the replies guys.
The pics posted do look similar, but this one isn't branded "Seamaster", nor does it say it is automatic. Indeed it is pretty lightweight, so I suspect it might be a relatively simple wind-up watch, but then I'm no expert! I did have a quick Google, but to no avail so far!
As I say I am trying to work out its provenence, its rough value and how much reconditioning might be and therefore the viability - although I know this is impossible to know for sure without someone having a close look. We may choose to keep hold of it or sell it, either as is or with it brought back into operation. Just weighing up the options!
Any further input is appreciated thanks.
Not all Seamasters were branded as such (apparently) and mine's a handwound model.The pics posted do look similar, but this one isn't branded "Seamaster", nor does it say it is automatic. Indeed it is pretty lightweight, so I suspect it might be a relatively simple wind-up watch, but then I'm no expert! I did have a quick Google, but to no avail so far!
As I say I am trying to work out its provenence, its rough value and how much reconditioning might be and therefore the viability - although I know this is impossible to know for sure without someone having a close look. We may choose to keep hold of it or sell it, either as is or with it brought back into operation. Just weighing up the options!
Any further input is appreciated thanks.
I'd agree on the bracelet, it's not original, but few will be after 50 or so years.
M
Roger645 said:
Thanks!I realise that this post is several years old but I thought people might still be interested in the information I have. My Uncle's Seamaster was still working, not perfectly, looked in similar condition to this one but because I loved it I took it in to Omega to have it serviced. They needed to send it to Switzerland and it ended up 'needing' more of refurbishment which cost $800AUD. Now for me this was worth it because I'm deeply attached to the watch and want to wear it every day. Unfortunately since then my band has broken and I'm trying to replace it with same. In fact band looks identical to this one, which is quite a coincidence considering they are not original.
donaldson said:
I realise that this post is several years old but I thought people might still be interested in the information I have. My Uncle's Seamaster was still working, not perfectly, looked in similar condition to this one but because I loved it I took it in to Omega to have it serviced. They needed to send it to Switzerland and it ended up 'needing' more of refurbishment which cost $800AUD. Now for me this was worth it because I'm deeply attached to the watch and want to wear it every day. Unfortunately since then my band has broken and I'm trying to replace it with same. In fact band looks identical to this one, which is quite a coincidence considering they are not original.
Type "expandable watch strap" into ebay. 
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