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1985 Omega Chronograph Caliber 861............what Do You Think?
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Skyblue44
·@heccsat, very nice combination! Yours seems to be the silver dial version too. Really, the silver dial version seems to be dominant on this thread.
I wonder if it is because the people on this thread thought silver is cooler and went for it more than the white dial version or if there is another reason. I thought I had bought the white dial version but it turned out that I got the silver one as well.
I wonder if it is because the people on this thread thought silver is cooler and went for it more than the white dial version or if there is another reason. I thought I had bought the white dial version but it turned out that I got the silver one as well.
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Sgt_Bilko
·The silver dial is actually the rarest, but perhaps the version that inspires most enthusiasm amongst owners or maybe just a coincidence that they all show up here. There is actually an 18ct gold version of this watch with the silver dial that would be a bit of a grail watch for me and I only see about one of these a year. Here is one that was sold on eBay a while back http://www.ebay.com/itm/Omega-DeVille-Prestige-Chronograph-Cal-861-18K-Solid-Gold-Case-amp-Bracelet-/231608413142?nma=true&si=TK9C73SKv9rjgHcQGuBsqjJhMcE%3D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557
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Skyblue44
·I've seen the gold one too some time ago, and I remember it being usd 7,000 or so, which seems to be a reasonable price. I think that would be a very special watch as well, understated and elegant.
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heccsat
·@heccsat, very nice combination! Yours seems to be the silver dial version too. Really, the silver dial version seems to be dominant on this thread.
I wonder if it is because the people on this thread thought silver is cooler and went for it more than the white dial version or if there is another reason. I thought I had bought the white dial version but it turned out that I got the silver one as well.
A few weeks/months back I asked the same question.
On this thread almost everybody has the silver dial one even though it should be the rarest of all. Could be coincidence, but it also could happen that we who post on forums are into collecting things that are harder to get. And there are a lot of white and black out there, but they don't post it on forums, because they do not care about the collectivity. Or the omega database could be wrong, that is also a possibility.
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kingcesc
·A few weeks/months back I asked the same question.
On this thread almost everybody has the silver dial one even though it should be the rarest of all. Could be coincidence, but it also could happen that we who post on forums are into collecting things that are harder to get. And there are a lot of white and black out there, but they don't post it on forums, because they do not care about the collectivity. Or the omega database could be wrong, that is also a possibility.
In my case, Just unintentionally saw it for sale on the last 40 minutes of the auction, quickly research around and then I pulled the trigger because of the price was so sweet. Probably the fastest decision I've made on watch buying, but very good one, feeling no regret at all any second since I did it.
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jzzmusician
·I want one.
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Skyblue44
·@kingcesc,
it is quite amazing to me that the price for this watch is relatively low. I understand that the moonwatch is much more popular and that a 36mm watch is considered by many as being too small, hence the low price.
It seems to me that another important reason for its relatively low price is that this watch was simply overlooked by many, including myself. As soon as I found out about its existence, I really wanted to get one and was able to get a NOS example for less than $1,500. This was my fastest watch purchase experience as well.
it is quite amazing to me that the price for this watch is relatively low. I understand that the moonwatch is much more popular and that a 36mm watch is considered by many as being too small, hence the low price.
It seems to me that another important reason for its relatively low price is that this watch was simply overlooked by many, including myself. As soon as I found out about its existence, I really wanted to get one and was able to get a NOS example for less than $1,500. This was my fastest watch purchase experience as well.
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kingcesc
·Today, I received an estimation from a local watch-repair shop about what parts of my deville need changing during service.
They said that the gasket (+40$) and the crown (+150$) need to be replaced. Can someone explain to me that how come the crown need changing while the watch was still running good before (+- 14/15s). Do I really need to get it changed?
Would be there any risk If I kept using the original crown?
They said that the gasket (+40$) and the crown (+150$) need to be replaced. Can someone explain to me that how come the crown need changing while the watch was still running good before (+- 14/15s). Do I really need to get it changed?
Would be there any risk If I kept using the original crown?
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heccsat
·Today, I received an estimation from a local watch-repair shop about what parts of my deville need changing during service.
They said that the gasket (+40$) and the crown (+150$) need to be replaced. Can someone explain to me that how come the crown need changing while the watch was still running good before (+- 14/15s). Do I really need to get it changed?
Would be there any risk If I kept using the original crown?
Well, the crown doesn't really influence how the watch runs, so it is possible that it needs to be replaced, how does it feel to wind the watch?
I understand your concern though, maybe they just want to rip you off. You should take it to another service and ask for their opinion, but do not mention what the other service said.
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Sgt_Bilko
·The gaskets on these are typically a hard plastic that is designed to deform in order to provide a seal. This makes it a single use item, which will need to be replaced, once it's been opened, so I guess that $40 is unavoidable.
Crowns can and do need changing occasionally on all watches and the same might apply to pushers on a chronograph like this. When STS serviced mine recently, they put in a new crown and pushers, though nothing was broken as such and it was keeping good time. The items are listed on the invoice at zero cost, suggesting this is a standard practice. STS have been the approved Omega service centre for vintage Omega watches since 1993.
It might be that the crown on your watch is still fine or maybe not. I don't think the time keeping would really be an indicator of that and it could just be that the watchmaker is following a standard practice.
Crowns can and do need changing occasionally on all watches and the same might apply to pushers on a chronograph like this. When STS serviced mine recently, they put in a new crown and pushers, though nothing was broken as such and it was keeping good time. The items are listed on the invoice at zero cost, suggesting this is a standard practice. STS have been the approved Omega service centre for vintage Omega watches since 1993.
It might be that the crown on your watch is still fine or maybe not. I don't think the time keeping would really be an indicator of that and it could just be that the watchmaker is following a standard practice.
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Archer
··Omega Qualified WatchmakerToday, I received an estimation from a local watch-repair shop about what parts of my deville need changing during service.
They said that the gasket (+40$) and the crown (+150$) need to be replaced. Can someone explain to me that how come the crown need changing while the watch was still running good before (+- 14/15s). Do I really need to get it changed?
Would be there any risk If I kept using the original crown?
I'm not sure what shop you are using, but those prices for the parts are extremely high. For a stainless steel crown for this watch, Omega charges $24, and the case back gasket is $9. I'm not sure what they are charging for the actual service, but personally someone charging 6+ times what the crown costs sends a big red flag to me.
The reason the crown is changed occasionally is that there is a seal inside it that seals on the case tube. Every day when you wind this watch, that seal is wearing as it rides on the tube, so eventually it will wear out and no longer seal. The case back seal getting replaced is standard practice when a watch goes in for a service, and for the few dollars they cost it's usually not even a consideration, but of course they are marking the seal up by 4+ times what it costs...
I personally have no issues with them recommending these parts get replaced, as this is pretty much standard practice. The prices are certainly generous though - generous to them...
Cheers, Al
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kingcesc
·Thank you @Archer for the OEM price of those parts. I has been living in tokyo for few years now, Doing a quick research on the internet, then that shop came out. Their standard price for overhaul is ~230$ plus the changing parts. Having no idea that they over-charge me that much @@. Probably need to look for other watch repairs shop.
Thank you again Archer.
Thank you again Archer.
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Sgt_Bilko
·@kingcesc If it gives you some kind of price reference I recently paid £442 at STS here in the UK for a service. At today's exchange rate that is US $573. I don't think I could have the watch serviced to the same standard for significantly less money from any Omega accredited watchmaker elsewhere in the UK.
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Archer
··Omega Qualified WatchmakerThank you @Archer for the OEM price of those parts. I has been living in tokyo for few years now, Doing a quick research on the internet, then that shop came out. Their standard price for overhaul is ~230$ plus the changing parts. Having no idea that they over-charge me that much @@. Probably need to look for other watch repairs shop.
Thank you again Archer.
Well, $230 is a pretty cheap service on an 861...but of course that raises a whole new set of questions regarding the quality of the work...
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kingcesc
·@Archer they have pretty much good review among the japanese watch fellows. As far as I research the price reference here, standard price for overhaul an omega chronograph is ranging 220-290$ + exchange parts, no matter what a caliber is (ETA, 1861, 861,...) automatic rolexes like (sub, gmt, ex) are around 200-260$ + exchange parts. It might be different with where you people locate in US, UK?? Am i right?
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kingcesc
·@Sgt_Bilko thank you for the price reference
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Sgt_Bilko
·At first glance it strikes me they are simply quoting a cheaper service price, so it sounds better, but then raising the parts cost significantly. If you add $250 for a service, plus $200 in parts you are not massively cheaper than what I paid.
No doubt I could have saved a few dollars going somewhere else, but I knew STS would do a good job and provide a two year warranty, so it didn't seem worth trying to save $50 and risk a second rate job. It's worth adding that we have 20% sales tax in the UK, which obviously has an impact on the final figure.
No doubt I could have saved a few dollars going somewhere else, but I knew STS would do a good job and provide a two year warranty, so it didn't seem worth trying to save $50 and risk a second rate job. It's worth adding that we have 20% sales tax in the UK, which obviously has an impact on the final figure.
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kingcesc
·@Sgt_Bilko, Yeah, I get your point. Unfortunately, there might not be a STS-Like option here in Tokyo. From what I have searched on the internet, the overhaul expense are pretty much the same for non-OSC shop (250$ + exchange parts). I did go to OSC an another day, they quoted me 76.000JPY + 8% tax which is roughly ~800$.
This is how a local watch-repair look like in Japan.
This is how a local watch-repair look like in Japan.
