1960 Omega Seamaster Chronograph

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bert79

·Jan 12, 2023

My wife's grandparents generously gifted me this watch. They knew that I was interested in watches and gifted me this (and a Wakmann Triple Date), along with several other 1960's watches for Christmas. I have visited a watchmaker and was told that for around $700 it could be made to look brand new. This watch maker is very professional and gets great reviews locally. He works on high end watches. He has special polishing wheels as to not degrade the facets during polishing. Any suggestions regarding polishing the case and the crystal? I'm really new to this and I don't want to ruin this watch. Also, I plan on keeping and wearing the watch. I just don't want to completely ruin it's value. Any help or suggestions are greatly appreciated. Neither the Omega or the Wakmann are currently working. As you can see in the last pic the caseback indicates that the ref # is 315.164 and CK2947/1

 

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seekingseaquest

·Jan 12, 2023

Thanks for sharing, it’s a nice watch.

I would highly suggest that you do not polish the watch as any polishing will decrease collector value, even with a “special polishing wheel”. You can always polish a watch later, but you cannot un-polish it. Crystal - polish away, that’s fine.

Just have the watch serviced, the case ultrasonically cleaned, the crystal polished, and that’s it.

 

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janice&fred

·Jan 12, 2023

Oh baby that's a nice Omega! As mentioned above please don't let anyone get near it with intent to polish. Also, welcome to the forum and please post pictures of the other watches so we can all get green with envy! 😁

 

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Bruce235

·Jan 12, 2023

Man that's a very nice present from grand parent's in law. You are a fortunate man
Welcome to the forum.
You can replace that beat up crystal with no harm to the value, it may be too far gone for a polish.

Edited: Jan 12, 2023

 

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Dan S

·Jan 12, 2023

There are some people who can actually refinish a watch case properly, but not many. I would tread very cautiously. I wonder if he could show you a few before and after photos.

 

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Larry S

·Jan 12, 2023·Color Commentator for the Hyperbole.

“Make it look like new” …..that would scare me. Movement only, perhaps a new crystal, no case work and stay the heck away from the dial. This should be the revered cal 321. Nice gift. Keep it real.

 

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Geme81

·Jan 12, 2023

I love this watch!! any pictures of the movement?

 

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bert79

·Jan 12, 2023

Geme81

I love this watch!! any pictures of the movement?

yes, i apologize. I meant to include it but here it is

 

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Mark020

·Jan 12, 2023·not the sharpest pencil in the ΩF drawer

Very nice catch. I'd recommend a service, perhaps a new plexi and a new bracelet. That's it. Nothing else.

 

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Larry S

·Jan 12, 2023·Color Commentator for the Hyperbole.

Mark020

Very nice catch. I'd recommend a service, perhaps a new plexi and a new bracelet. That's it. Nothing else.

Yes … get it off that horrid and abrasive Speidel.

 

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Davidt

·Jan 12, 2023

Beautiful watch. A service, crystal polish and case clean is all you need here. Refinishing the case, even expertly, isn’t going to improve the watch. It will simply erase the history.

 

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smorrisonmd

·Jan 12, 2023

It's your watch, and if you intend to keep it, wear it regularly, and want it to look like new, go for it. I would highly recommend Tanner Morehouse.
Even if you change your mind down the road and decide to sell, refinishing the case may not significantly devalue the watch. It will certainly turn off hard-core collectors, but may attract others. It's a great piece, congrats!

 

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bert79

·Jan 12, 2023

Thank you all for the kind remarks and the helpful advice!! I dropped off the watch at the watchmaker about an hour ago! Should be finished by middle of next week. I was thinking a leather strap. Any thoughts? Brands?

 

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Vol375

·Jan 12, 2023

My mom found an old Seamaster DeVille in a drawer. It had that same bracelet as yours. They must have been pretty popular.

 

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sathomasga

·Jan 12, 2023

B bert79

I was thinking a leather strap. Any thoughts? Brands?

I'm partial to tan epsom leather for vintage chronographs with white dials. Good sources include Veblenist, B&R Bands, or Monstraps.

 

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Faz

·Jan 12, 2023

B bert79

was told that for around $700 it could be made to look brand new.

Please do some research. Bringing back its beauty and “making it brand new” are two very different things.

 

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nicks

·Jan 12, 2023

I’ve just been through the fun of finding a proper Omega BOR bracelet for my 1958/59 Seamaster chronograph.

If the lug width is 18 mm (mine are not) you will have an easier time than I did. Ultimately I found the right bracelet here on OF, but it took some patience. Omega has a new one available, but I wanted vintage.

Any good quality leather strap will look fine on your watch while you hunt. Definitely get rid of the bracelet that’s on it.

In my opinion, mechanical polishing of your watch case will utterly ruin it. Why anyone would want a vintage watch as good as that one to look “like new” is a complete mystery to me.

 

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Bruce235

·Jan 13, 2023

sathomasga

I'm partial to tan epsom leather for vintage chronographs with white dials. Good sources include Veblenist, B&R Bands, or Monstraps.

Beautiful Delbana! I recent got a very similar one. Is yours steel or chrome plated?

 

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sathomasga

·Jan 13, 2023

Bruce235

Beautiful Delbana! I recent got a very similar one. Is yours steel or chrome plated?

Thank you. It's steel, not plated. The dial and hands, btw, are almost certainly not original. But considering how little I paid for the watch, that doesn't bother me.

 

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bert79

·Jan 13, 2023

janice&fred

Oh baby that's a nice Omega! As mentioned above please don't let anyone get near it with intent to polish. Also, welcome to the forum and please post pictures of the other watches so we can all get green with envy! 😁

Thank you! It was an incredibly generous gift from them and I am grateful. I have always had a passion for watches and at 43 years old I have realized that I need a good hobby. I have found it. I now have a few tools to start slowly learning the hobby (of course I would never work on my own omega or other vintage or otherwise valuable watch). I'm just fascinated with mechanical movements and I appreciate the engineering and style of older watches in particular. Here are a couple pics of one other watch in the ziplock bag that they gave me that I know is special: