2018-What Omega did you buy for under $500?

Thanks for sharing. You win some you lose some. $300 is just around market value for these, right? I've bought watches on bad pics and got gems and redials. Part of the fun of this hobby, right? 😀

The best buy's are often the bad pic, and dirty cases and scratched crystal 😀 I normally win the most of the times so no regrets and it is still a nice watch for 265$

Lucky that you've got so skinny wrists that you could easily pull off that small size 😁 😁

That describes my entire collection (Modern SpMP, 911 Flightmaster, Grail) and a Mark 4.5 (since resold). I was the only bidder on three and the fourth was BIN after I contacted the seller asking to change the auction to an agreed BIN price.

SpMP was listed by a seller with a very low # of sales for kids' toys or something like that. Horrible photos and no description besides something like "I think this is an Omega Speedmaster." Turned out to be the younger sister of a guy with no Internet who wanted to sell the watch he bought a few years earlier to replace the one he bought (and had stolen) in Vietnam 40 years ago because he'd never really worn it in the 3 or 4 years he'd had it. Spoke to him by phone (Kentucky, I think) and agreed on a price. Watch was like new and I immediately sold the 1998 bracelet for close to 2/3's of what I paid for the whole watch with box and card. Chances are that if he'd had the original 861 or 321 to sell instead, he'd have sold it for even less because it was "old."

Flightmaster was listed by someone who used to have a pawn shop and who'd only sold cheap household items like dishcloths on her eBay account. Lousy photos with cracked crystal disclosed. Listing said she was selling it from her uncle's estate. Talked to her by phone and she was so afraid of putting it through the basic function tests that I requested, that she took it to a jeweler for that and paid for an appraisal (included with the watch). Replaced the crystal and bezel and now, it's perfect. Wearing it on the 1162 that it came on.

Grail was listed by a seller with 1 or 2 prior sales (not for watches) located in Turkey. Tried to get me to pay through an invoice to save eBay fees; so I just agreed to add the fees to the BIN price and go through eBay checkout. Video taped the box opening on arrival just in case. Everything on it was 100% original and worked fine for a month. Then it stopped and needed a $400 overhaul from my local watch guy and has been running perfectly ever since (2012). Immediately sold the 1450 it came on and wearing it on an 1171.

The Mark 4.5 was listed by a pawn shop (with poor photos) as a "perpetual motion" watch, which probably scared away all other potential buyers. The guy agreed to run my function (and reserve) tests, all documented in eBay messages (making his representation of the results part of the item description). Researched the store's reputation online. Watch was perfect. Sold it for the same price I paid for it as soon as I received the Grail.

The only other Omegas I ever bought were two 3510's and one 1861, all from a very respected Japanese eBay seller we all know, another 911 from a different highly-regarded seller, and a 3510 from an eBay seller who was also a WUS member. Returned all 3 watches to the Japanese seller because the two 3510s stopped spontaneously during my initial testing and the 1861 had chrono stutter. Subsequently sold the 911 and the other 3510 for exactly what I paid at the time. All of those were well described with great photos.

270 EUR gamble at local marketplace. Blurry pictures and description telling not much. The dial however looked as it had some kind of texture.

The watch arrived today and turned out rather nice after polishing the crystal. Also came with a 50s Omega buckle - need to get a new lizard strap tomorrow.

Ref. 2503-17. Seems to be running pretty well with ~230 amplitude.

Picked her up for 2750hkd circa 353usd incl. shipping... Thought it was a good deal. But definitely needs a service, cant hear or feel the self-winding rotor. Are omega's extremely quiet WRT this? Getting blisters winding it up.

The 10XX-series of Omega movemens are well known for some mechanical issues, amongst these rotor issues... Looks great though 😀

Suprised to pick this up.

Came with a 1171 bracelet, the one w/screws and octagon logo. Real deal. I have since put this on a leather strap.

Picked this up for my mom, cal. 484 produced in '69, almost like new!

The f300 on the left...

Got this one, running very well. Perfect every day companion.

Mine say Hello ! View attachment 611226