A few beginners questions...

Hi,

I've been interested in buying a vintage Omega dress watch for some time and have a few questions i was hoping someone could advise on.

1. Finding the right size.

Is there a method to finding the right watch size (case diameter?) for your wrist or is it simply a case of what looks right is right? My wrists are fairly slim at 16.5cm / 6.5".

2. Watch straps and bracelets.

In the same way re-dials are frowned upon, are vintage watches expected to come with the original watch strap/bracelet or is the value more in the watch itself with the choice of strap being interchangeable / open to personal preference?

Is there a general rule of thumb to pairing a watch with a bracelet? I'm a big fan of steel mesh bracelets but would it be frowned upon to pair - for example - a Seamaster 165.002 with a steel mesh style bracelet?

Any general advice on buying steel bracelets for a vintage Omega if you want to change the strap the watch comes with? E.g. what to buy and where from and whether it should always be an Omega bracelet etc.

3. Questions to ask seller
Finally, is there a general checklist of things to ask for from a seller when buying vintage online?

Thanks.

Hello edpop and welcome.

I'm not much further down the collecting line than you, but I'll get the conversation going and hopefully others will chime in.

Finding the right size.
This is subjective and there's no formula / ratio of wrist size to diameter. On the whole it's what looks right and what you like. I have a fairly large wrist, 7.5 inches, but I don't like large watches. I think my most comfortable size is around 34 mm although I wear a considerably larger Railmaster most of the time because I love the watch.

Straps and bracelets
Collectors recognise that original straps are hard to find as they wear out and so are typically at ease with aftermarket straps. Some will aim to pair this with an authentic buckle. It's different with bracelets because these are more durable and collectors will try to pair a watch head with an authentic bracelet, BUT, some people don't like metal so will not do that. Ultimately, the need to pair the right strap with the watch is far less important to collectors than the authenticity of the parts that make up the watch head. People here also seem to enjoy seeing how others have paired heads with straps or bracelets so it's very much a question of what suits your particular taste. You may get a few raised eyebrows if you put an obviously modern strap on an obviously vintage head, but otherwise, do what pleases you.

There are lots of discussions and recommendations here for strap and bracelet suppliers. check out the forums.

Questions to ask sellers
There are so many, and your need to ask would largely depend on the level of knowledge you have, but the first thing to try to find out about any watch you might be buying is when it last had a full service and clean because all vintage watches need this roughly every 4 -5 years and if it needs a service you might be talking about adding another £$ Euro 500 to the cost.

Again, there are several threads here with excellent advice about what to look for when buying a watch and what to be suspicious of.

The single piece of advice that keeps coming up is: Buy the seller, not the watch. The most important thing is to trust the seller.

Good luck!

Hi @edpop, @Engee gave you some ideas. I can add this:

https://www.poshtime.com/watchsizer.pdf

print it at 100% and you have an idea about the size. Keep in mind that other than the size of the watch, you have to consider its thickness, the lug-to-lug distance and what kind of strap/bracelet you prefer. I've a thin wrist as yours and I prefer steel bracelets because they adapt better to my wrist.

I’ll add three things.

Don’t let the bracelet or strap that’s on the watch hold you back. Infinitely interchangeable to whatever you prefer.

If the watch your looking at has a vintage Omega bracelet, pay attention to its condition and pay accordingly.

Have fun looking and take your time. 😀

Here is a 35mm 14710 Seamaster on my 6.5" wrists. I like dress watches in the 34-36mm range. Don't be afraid to ask for advise here on a watch before you buy it.



Watch this thread:

https://omegaforums.net/threads/rec...-watches-only-on-ebay-not-for-inquiries.1790/

I would also consider other brands especially for your first vintage, see:

https://omegaforums.net/threads/rec...tage-new-deals-on-ebay-other-auctions.113139/

My favorite 60s Dress Seamaster like watch is the Tissot Seastar Seven.

Finally keep a close eye on the private sales forum. Not every watch is well-priced, but some good one do come up and they sell quickly!

https://omegaforums.net/forums/private-watch-sales/

Immerse yourself. Read and read and read and read. Be aware that there are a lot of sharks in these waters. Ask advice, follow leads, watch youtube videos, search this and other forums (although this one is the best I have found), follow your heart - there is no wrong or right when it comes to personal taste. Read the Learn How To Fish thread - it is a fantastic place to start. Keep your wits about you.

As someone with a 7” wrist, I love smaller watches. There are so many unique vintage pieces in the smaller size that are a blast to wear.

33mm



34mm


36mm

Hi, if you intend to buy a dress-watch, you usually won't get in trouble with the hight of the case.

I made my "mistakes" searching for a tool-/divers watch: above 11 mm they dont fit my 17 cm "flat" wrist. On the other hand: cool vintage seamasters exist in sizes below 40 mm.
Good luck!