Vintage Omega

[Chainguy]

I'm becoming quite a fan of older watches, and this has caught my eye on the dreaded Ebay.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Vintage-Omega-Watch-Seamaste...

So much so, I think I'll be putting a punt in for it. Question is, apart from, IMHO, being a lovely looking piece of wristwear, are there any common gotchas (servicing worries etc) to look out for with it being an older piece, and indeed, are they any good?

I wear a Seamaster full size automatic as an off duty day to day, and it's been faultless. Can I expect the same from a well serviced vintage?

Thanks chaps

[davyc1000]

This old Omega is worth around £200-250!I have a very similar ex-military example.Like an old car the need someone who knows what they are looking at to look after it!Martins of Glasgow look after all my old Omegas,Martin knows his stuff!

[ShadownINja]

Can you tell if that's a genuine item and not made up of spare parts and wrong parts? That specific model is rather collectible and looks like it will be correctly priced (unless someone puts in a stupid bid of £1k) if genuine, I understand.

Edited by ShadownINja on Tuesday 28th December 23:47

[Chainguy]

Thanks for the knowledge chaps, I know far less about watches than I would like, and I never realised it was a 'special' one that might be cobbled together, a watch 'cut and shut' if you like.

I just saw it and it spoke to me. Simple as that.

Thinking of bidding up to £300, is that alright or to heavy for what it is?

I like it, but I don't want to be paying too much for it, that would sour the experience for me.

Edited by Chainguy on Wednesday 29th December 00:03

[ShadownINja]

If you don't know much about vintage watches I would stay clear and buy from a well-established shop such as Austin Kaye or from an established member on one of the watch forums. Franken-watches are very common on ebay.

There's a very knowledgeable PHer so hopefully he'll come along tomorrow to confirm the authenticity of said item.

[Chainguy]

ShadownINja said:

If you don't know much about vintage watches I would stay clear and buy from a well-established shop such as Austin Kaye or from an established member on one of the watch forums. Franken-watches are very common on ebay.

There's a very knowledgeable PHer so hopefully he'll come along tomorrow to confirm the authenticity of said item.

You're a star Hopefully that'll be so, and I'll get a PM or so.

Getting more and more into older items these days. Been seriously considering a Triumph Stag for the the love of God!

[andy_s]

Chainguy said:

I'm becoming quite a fan of older watches, and this has caught my eye on the dreaded Ebay.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Vintage-Omega-Watch-Seamaste...

So much so, I think I'll be putting a punt in for it. Question is, apart from, IMHO, being a lovely looking piece of wristwear, are there any common gotchas (servicing worries etc) to look out for with it being an older piece, and indeed, are they any good?

I wear a Seamaster full size automatic as an off duty day to day, and it's been faultless. Can I expect the same from a well serviced vintage?

Thanks chaps

Gotchas: In general you shouldn't have many more issues with an older watch than a new one. If you aren't sure when it last had a service I'd personally get it serviced (if appropriate price/use wise); don't assume any water resistance but parts on Omegas are fairly commonplace if you do need something repaired. Older watches tend to be smaller so check size before buying and also whether it's a hand-wound or automatic model is something to consider. The one you're interested in is a hand-winder, probably smaller than you're used to.

Specifically to this watch - the dial has been replaced/refurbed which isn't particularly an issue at this price-point; the watch itself is fairly common and 'ordinary' in that it isn't a 'rare' specific model. The pics aren't very clear but the movement looks fairly clean. Should there not be a Seamaster logo engraved on the case-back...? Someone with a better grip on Omega should be along to comment on whether those hands are correct, caseback etc. and whether any of that really matters at this price.


HTH

[ShadownINja]

http://www.austinkaye.co.uk/Products/Pre-Owned-Wat...

Slightly over-priced (obviously, they're a dealer) but at least you can ask details about the watches and probably even look inside before buying.

[LukeBird]

ShadownINja said:

If you don't know much about vintage watches I would stay clear and buy from a well-established shop such as Austin Kaye or from an established member on one of the watch forums. Franken-watches are very common on ebay.

I could not agree more.

That Omega looks nice all round but I would eat my hat if it wasn't a redial. That doesn't make it in any way worthless, but it would make me think what else would be genuine and/or original to the watch. The crystal doesn't look like an Omega one and I'm not sure on the crown.
The caseback looks fine and as expected and as mentioned the movement looks nice.
It would be worth a flutter in my opinion, but if you want a stellar vintage watch then join a forum like TZ-UK and ask for info on them and/or buy from a reputable agent.

Anymore Qs then fire away! Vintage watches can be a real nightmare!!

[GC8]

Chainguy said:

I'm becoming quite a fan of older watches, and this has caught my eye on the dreaded Ebay.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Vintage-Omega-Watch-Seamaste...

So much so, I think I'll be putting a punt in for it. Question is, apart from, IMHO, being a lovely looking piece of wristwear, are there any common gotchas (servicing worries etc) to look out for with it being an older piece, and indeed, are they any good?

I wear a Seamaster full size automatic as an off duty day to day, and it's been faultless. Can I expect the same from a well serviced vintage?

Thanks chaps

Re-finished dial in a completely unoriginal style and massively overpriced at the current bid. If you like smaller 1960s watches then something like this could be for you, but most people buy them then dont wear them, as theyre far from fashionable/wearable in their eyes.

A good original Seamaster 600 (similar case: 135.010 / 136.010) with a 601 calibre and a nice dial should cost between £100 and £150; and only cost more if it has a signed crown, crystal and buckle.

Avoid anything from the third world (or the second world, come to that) and avoid anything from India no matter how tempting it looks. Id also look for original dials, although this is sometimes difficult at first, as vendors dont always state that its a refinish (watches in England are more likely to be original though, and not the tarted-up scrap commonly sold by Indian vendors).

Better still: save another hundred pounds and buy a nice used recent Oris - youre far more likely to be happy with it, wear it and keep it, than you are a 10p-sized bodged-up and over-priced old Seamaster...

[Chainguy]

Guys, thanks for all the advice, I'm having a real root around now to see whats out there, including looking at the Oris range.

Trouble I have is that I don't know what's a mediocre movement thats just dressed up and marked up heavily on price, hence why I was sticking with Omega, as I've had a good experience and trust the brand. So, any and all advice is very welcome

[eccles]

Chainguy said:

Trouble I have is that I don't know what's a mediocre movement thats just dressed up and marked up heavily on price, hence why I was sticking with Omega, as I've had a good experience and trust the brand. So, any and all advice is very welcome

Arguably the most tarted up and marked up heavily brand is Omega. It depends on what style of watch you are looking for. Anything looking like a diver, military watch or chrono is generally going to attract a premium.
A nice vintage dress watch is very easy to come by if you're not blinded by fashion or big brands.

If that Seamaster is the sort of thing you're after just remember that if it doesn't look 40/50 years old, and has nice clean, bright lume and a polished case then it's very likely to have been tarted up. The standard of this tarting up varies greatly. You might be lucky, and find it's just a redial with good everything else, or worst case scenario it may be a proper bodged up franken assembled with glue!

I know the current fashion is for huge watches, but a few days of wearing a nice small vintage watch and you'll think 35/36mm looks normal.
This is just my experience of collecting old watches over the last 10 years or so.

Edited by eccles on Thursday 30th December 12:40

[sjg]

I have a similar one but over a decade earlier - bought last year. I was looking around at them on ebay and one came up from my father's birth year. It'll be a nice 60th present for him in just over a year. It was claimed to have been serviced and seems to be running well but I'll probably get it checked over before I give it to him.

Omega have a very good vintage watch database on their website - good for checking that a particular dial/hand/crown/caseback combo is at least right for the year. Checking originality is tough and (as said) something 50+ years old will either look like it or have been refurbed to varying standards. I wasn't so fussed about outright originality but it looks like that model from that year should and the serial number matches the year.

Lovely thing though. I wear it every so often to keep the movement going - will miss it when I hand it over!


IMG_2370 by kiteless, on Flickr

[ShadownINja]

eccles said:

you'll think 35/36mm looks normal.

So true!

[RichB]

ShadownINja said:

eccles said:

you'll think 35/36mm looks normal.

So true!

I remember when these huge watches first started appearing on football manager's wrists about 5 or 6 years ago I thought they were simply bling fashion items, now it seems the fashion has become the norm. On the basis that a 37mm. Hamilton or an Oris will set the OP back around £500 this could be viewed as £300 on a watch which, if he likes the size, is a nice looking watch and cheaper than new eqivalents.

[Dibble]

Here's my dad's Seamaster, bought in Nigeria in 1956, inherited by me:

[GC8]

I like the pie pan dial. What movement is it?