Classic watch question from a non-watch person

[varsas]

Hi all.

New to this forum, so go easy on me!

I have a passing interest in watches but on some antiques show I saw a really nice Omega, and it wasn't too expensive, so I jumped on flea bay to have a look, and saw a few that looked very nice indeed.

One was this:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewIte...

I had some questions.

Does the price seem somewhere near reasonable? Assuming it's about £200 is that OK? I don't mind too much, not looking to get a bargain, but on the other hand I don't want to pay £200 for something that is only worth £50.

What's with the lettering? I assumed it'd be engraved, I don't understand how letters go missing/skewed, is that fairly normal? Just 'patina'?

How much maintenance will this require? I'll be wearing it special occasions only. Already have an 'every day' and 'best' watch.

Any where better I should be looking? Can anyone recommend brand/models? I want a normal watch (non chronograph, have 2 of those already), I'd quite like a 1970's one (to go with my car) with a leather strap. Something nice and simple, like this one and at around £200, but I can go a bit more for something nice.

Cheers!

[mikeveal]

Price is pretty good for a Geneve of that age in that condition. Movement looks right. The face is marked T Swiss Made T, which means the luminous paint contains Tritium. This is right for the era. Tritium has a half life of 12 years, Since the watch is a little over 36 years old, it will be 1/2 * 1/2 * 1/2 = 1/8 as bright as it originally was.


My problem is the dial. I would expect that the lettering on a Geneve would have been printed on. No way it would be wonky. Can't see how you'd get it to go wonky either. Wear is possible during servicing, as the watchmaker will have the movement and face out of the case.

Ask for the serial number and go to the Omega website. Once you've registered, you can put the serial number in and dial up the history of your watch. You'll be able to see how this watch should have looked when it sold.

I'm not an Omega expert.

[varsas]

mikeveal said:

Price is pretty good for a Geneve of that age in that condition. Movement looks right. The face is marked T Swiss Made T, which means the luminous paint contains Tritium. This is right for the era. Tritium has a half life of 12 years, Since the watch is a little over 36 years old, it will be 1/2 * 1/2 * 1/2 = 1/8 as bright as it originally was.


My problem is the dial. I would expect that the lettering on a Geneve would have been printed on. No way it would be wonky. Can't see how you'd get it to go wonky either. Wear is possible during servicing, as the watchmaker will have the movement and face out of the case.

Ask for the serial number and go to the Omega website. Once you've registered, you can put the serial number in and dial up the history of your watch. You'll be able to see how this watch should have looked when it sold.

I'm not an Omega expert.

Thanks.

[andy_s]

I agree with Mike, I wouldn't touch that one with a bargepole.

[mikeveal]

andy_s said:

I agree with Mike, I wouldn't touch that one with a bargepole.

I deliberately didn't say that. Movement and case look right, but I don't know much about 70's Omegas.
The words Geneve, Omega and the Omega symbol don't look like the quality you'd expect. That's why I suggested popping the serial number into the Omega archive and having a look.

Who knows, on this model of watch the word Geneve may have been printed on a curve rather than straight.
It may have a restored/replacement dial, it may be perfectly genuine. I don't know, I'm suspisious so I suggested checking further before bidding.

Geneves have always been a good buy in my book, they're higher up the range than the ubiquitous Seamaster, but for some reason don't always command a higher price.


ETA Maintenance...
A service once every 5ish years. Several hundreds of pounds from Omega, or usually 60-80 from an independant watchmaker. If you're buying a second hand watch I'd advice you to budget a service into the deal (even if the sellers said the watch has just been oiled). If the watch runs fine (and the seller says it's been oiled) then no service required. Otherwise, take it straight to a watch repairer and get some oil on those bearings.

Edited by mikeveal on Thursday 22 December 16:52

[varsas]

Thanks for the replies, helpful stuff.

[mikeveal]

Been bugging me so I googled.

I did found this thread :
http://forums.watchuseek.com/f20/question-regardin...
with these pictures:




This 1972 Geneve has a different movement, a different face and different hands.


So I went to the Omega watch site and keyed in the number on the back of the inside of the caseback
http://www.omegawatches.com/spirit/history/vintage...

The number I keyed in was 136.0070
Got this info back:


Reference
ST 136.0070
International collection
1970
Movement
Type: Manual winding (mechanical)
Caliber number: 613
With central sweep second-hand
17 jewels
Functions
Date
Case
Stainless steel
Case back
Screw-in
Dial
Metallic, with metal hands
Crystal
Armoured hesalite
Bracelet
Leather
Water resistance
30 meters


So from this info, its a 1970 geneve. Dial matches Omega`s pic, movement is right. Can't comment on the wonky 'Geneve', but it looks pukka.

If you ike it, grab yourself a xmas pressie!

[andy_s]

Sorry Mike - I wasn't implying that you were implying it's fake, just that the dial script is obviously wonky for some reason and I thought that these generally sell in better condition for about the same money.

At the end of the day it's not my bargepole though

[varsas]

Wow, thanks.



I think I may wait and spend a bit more on a really nice one. If nothing else I now know I want something very similar to these. I just hope this one doesn't become the first of a collection of old watches!

Edited by varsas on Thursday 22 December 18:49

[andy_s]

Just a quick 'encore', a 14kt gold one with original bracelet sold at auction for about £280 (3,100kr) this year -



I suspect the one on the 'Bay has had some water issues judging from the marks around the hour markers and spotted dial, which may have contributed to the printed script 'floating' when cleaned.

Overall pretty mediocre but a nice example would be very nice indeed.

[mikeveal]

varsas said:

I just hope this one doesn't become the first of a collection of old watches!

Edited by varsas on Thursday 22 December 18:49

Beware all ye who enter here.
Just one watch?

Hmmn, perhaps if we just took the word 'more' and inserted it between the 'one' and the 'watch'.