I’m starting to look at dress style Omega models from around 1965-68 (birthyear is 1966) as the potential next piece. Would like it to be stainless steel (white gold would be even nicier) with a reliable automatic movement, 34 mm or bigger (jumbo perhaps?) on a leather band. What models should I look at? Budget wise how much should I expect to pay for one is SS? What about in WG? (Doesn’t need to be a safe queen or a complete set ) Thanks!
You really need to decide how much you want to spend first, could easily be between a few $100 and a couple thousand.
Less say less than $1000. Other watches in rotation are a Speedmaster 3952.50, Seamaster GMT 2535, Rolex Sub 16610 and Rolex Daydate 18239
Dome dialed Constellation (a nice pie-pan is out of your budget) C case Constellation Seamaster DE VILLE All within budget and all were available in 1966.
Any additional recommendations? Seems like a stainless steel model can be purchased on the $400 - $800 range but would need to make sure the movement has been recently serviced (in good shape) and to get an UN-restored (or reasonably well restored) dial and hands. Other than on the for sale listings here and in other watch forums, what other sources are recommended? I see many in Ebay but know too little about them (yet) to know if they are good deals or not
I can certainly recommend the .010s if you like the round cased hidden-crown style - and as mentioned a dome dial should be within your budget. There is also the slightly later 168.018 with a flatter dial and pronounced crown -these are still to hit their sweet spot and should be very affordable for you. Always happy to show my .010s
oh I don't know - I was lucky enough to snag this .04 pie-pan just a couple of days ago for significantly less than the OPs budget @fskywalker birth year watches can be tricky to pin down the watch below by serial number is likely to be a '66 (by chance) but sold in '67 - so you have to decide if you are going by serial number or sales receipt - or (I think) delivery date if you go for an Omega extract.
Am narrowing down to a caliber 564 Seamaster or Constellation in stainless steel, so change the title to reflect that; any pointers let me know .
Budget wise, sub 800$ should easily get you any basic, white dialled Geneve/Seamaster gold capped or steel, serviced, generally with an OEM plexi and crown. On ebay, once you know what to look for, you can have those unserviced ("as-is") for sub 400$ if you are not in a hurry. It can depends where you live, in the US cool omegas seem plentiful, not so much in my country. Other models are also very nice, Connies, Seamaster chronometers, black dials, grey dials, textured dials, crosshairs, gold dials (they exist, I have one), etc but I think they can cost over 1000-1200$ in good shape with a bracelet and a service if you are not careful. Personally, most of what I have/had was found on ebay for 200-600$, but I know how to make them work again properly . As I said, you must know what to look for and take risks, but almost everything can be found on ebay, by skill and/or chance. Just don't count the hours lost in front of the damn screen...
Oddly enough I think the 564 Seamaster will be harder to find than to choose from the 4 or 5 Connie styles that come with a 564
Probably, I think I read here that they were not that common compared to regular Connies. This will make the search more fun!
I prefer the more rounded profile of the 168.022 case (below); over the straight legs of the constellation (below): Does the constellation comes on on the 168.022 case with caliber 564 as well?
I prefer the Seamasters too! Constellations do not share the same cases afaik, Seamasters feel beefier.