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1998 Seamaster 2531.80, Tritium? Original Owner Looking for

2531.80 omega seamaster vintage
Wacko_66
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I've owned this 2531.80 since 1998 and I'm trying to document exactly what I have. It was bought from Watches of Switzerland in January 1998 and Omega last serviced it in 2018. I've retained the original box, paperwork, tags and the parts Omega returned after the service.

I'm particularly interested in establishing whether this is one of the late tritium examples, and whether the more knowledgeable 2531.80 collectors here can spot anything interesting about its original specification or subsequent service history.

Serial is 60,204,275. I've attached photographs of the watch, paperwork and returned parts.

I'd also be interested in opinions on the condition of the case and bezel, particularly whether the case appears to have seen much polishing over its life.

Thank you!

IMG_6358.webp IMG_6357.webp IMG_6359.webp IMG_6360.webp IMG_6361.webp IMG_6362.webp IMG_6363.webp IMG_6364.webp IMG_6356.webp IMG_6355.webp IMG_6366.webp
 
MtV
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Wacko_66 Wacko_66
I'm particularly interested in establishing […] whether the more knowledgeable 2531.80 collectors here can spot anything interesting about its original specification or subsequent service history.

Welcome aboard. What would “something interesting” be in this case? No offense, it’s just that while this is a nice daily, it is a rather run of the mill mass produced relatively modern Omega without many variables when it comes to configuration.

They are cool entry level pieces though for someone who wants something reliable and waterproof. Just checked C24 out of curiosity and that’s a whole lot of watch for starting at under 2k£.
 
Wacko_66
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MtV MtV
Welcome aboard. What would “something interesting” be in this case? No offense, it’s just that while this is a nice daily, it is a rather run of the mill mass produced relatively modern Omega without many variables when it comes to configuration.

They are cool entry level pieces though for someone who wants something reliable and waterproof. Just checked C24 out of curiosity and that’s a whole lot of watch for starting at under 2k£.
Fair question! Perhaps “interesting” was the wrong word. 😊

I was really hoping to establish whether the January 1998 date and 60.2m serial put it around the tritium/Super-LumiNova transition, and whether the dial appears to be original to the watch. Omega replaced the hands at the 2018 service, but fortunately returned the originals, which I still have.

I’ve owned it since new, so I’m really just trying to document exactly what I have after rather a long time of simply wearing it!
 
fiberguy
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Looks to me like the dial is tritium and the hands that were replaced contain modern lume.
 
Wacko_66
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fiberguy fiberguy
Looks to me like the dial is tritium and the hands that were replaced contain modern lume.
Thanks, that was one of the things I was hoping to confirm. The hands were replaced by Omega during the 2018 service, and fortunately they returned the originals, which I still have with the other replaced parts.
 
Davidt
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Agree it looks like a tritium dial. The service hands look a bit stark against the tritium lume but nice watch other than that.
 
502 to right
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Dial is tritium. Hands are SuperLuminova, no doubt replaced during the service in 2018 as it's on the invoice and you can see the tritium hands in the spare parts bag.

I have no opinion on the polishing other than to say it was done in 2018 during the Omega service. Keep in mind polishing Bond Seamasters is not the kind of deal killer that it can be for vintage Rolex and Patek models. This model was produced in the hundreds of thousands (perhaps millions) from 1993 to 2006. While it's an awesome watch (I own one), it will never carry the high prices of vintage Rolex models, nor do collectors obsess over every indication of polishing.
Edited:
 
WatchIdiot
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I have a very early one, all tritium and like it. I agree with Davidt the hands look too new against the dial.
 
workandturn
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The fact that the dial and the pip in the bezel are the same colour shows that they are tritium vs the newer lume on the hands.

The yellow patina of tritium is something magical, presuming the lume had broken down in the original hands ?
 
Wacko_66
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workandturn workandturn
The fact that the dial and the pip in the bezel are the same colour shows that they are tritium vs the newer lume on the hands.

The yellow patina of tritium is something magical, presuming the lume had broken down in the original hands ?
TBH, it came back from service with the new hands fitted. Omega did send the originals back with the watch, so if I do ever sell it the new owner could have them refitted.
 
workandturn
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All seems fairly straight forwards, Im imaging there was some tritium breakdown in the hands so they replaced them, but could have been anything. Other than that the watch looks great.

For polishing you'd need to post the pictures of the case sides as the edges is where people tend to look to see how much polishing has been done. But as others have pointed out not really an issue on this watch unless someone has got carried away at some point, which I highly doubt.
 
WatchIdiot
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workandturn workandturn
The fact that the dial and the pip in the bezel are the same colour shows that they are tritium vs the newer lume on the hands.

The yellow patina of tritium is something magical, presuming the lume had broken down in the original hands ?
I like watching wristwatch revival on youtube. When he has to relume a set of hands he uses lume that is tinted to match the existing dial. Yes he does something I disagree with but this is one thing I like that he does.
 
502 to right
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workandturn workandturn
All seems fairly straight forwards, Im imaging there was some tritium breakdown in the hands so they replaced them, but could have been anything. Other than that the watch looks great.
Omega always replaces crowns, gaskets, and hands at service. They don't have to be damaged. The good thing is that they return the parts to you.
 
workandturn
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502 to right 502 to right
Omega always replaces crowns, gaskets, and hands at service. They don't have to be damaged. The good thing is that they return the parts to you.
Ive never used Omega servicing, too rich for me but good to know. If the original hands are in good condition Id get those back on the watch as it would look a lot more harmonious.
 
workandturn
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WatchIdiot WatchIdiot
I like watching wristwatch revival on youtube. When he has to relume a set of hands he uses lume that is tinted to match the existing dial. Yes he does something I disagree with but this is one thing I like that he does.
There's some really good relumers out there, if ever you need to have it done use them as they now match to period correct applications where possible... baring the radium of course.
 
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