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A watch my grandfather gave me
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Dan S
·Welcome to OF. It's great to have an heirloom with so many of the original accessories and documents.
You can find a whole thread on similar watches here:
https://omegaforums.net/threads/not-all-321s-are-speedmasters.22332/
You can find a whole thread on similar watches here:
https://omegaforums.net/threads/not-all-321s-are-speedmasters.22332/
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Bwatte
·Can you expand on that a little bit, Larry! Thank you!
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Albe100
·I think what Dan S is saying - it's extremely rare to find a vintage piece in that condition with its inner and outer box, paper work and original receipt.
It's a beautiful piece! The link you've been provided gives information regarding the various references that are similar to your grand-father's watch. Recommend reading through it to understand what you have and then come back with more specific questions if you have any.
Enjoy it!
It's a beautiful piece! The link you've been provided gives information regarding the various references that are similar to your grand-father's watch. Recommend reading through it to understand what you have and then come back with more specific questions if you have any.
Enjoy it!
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cvalue13
·I think what Dan S is saying - it's extremely rare to find a vintage piece in that condition with its inner and outer box, paper work and original receipt.
I’m not as certain that Dan S was vouching for the condition and originality of the watch as a whole, because I wonder whether there hasn’t been some treatment to the dial and/or hands. That said, I’m not the expert in these pieces, only injecting some possible caution to the interpretation of Dan S’s comment.
That said and to be clear to OP, if indeed experts come to agree some dial and/or hand modifications have been made, this is extremely common for watches of this period for what might be obvious reasons (a lifetime of maintenance, repairs, etc.).
And what I am confident Dan S was saying is that an heirloom such as this is sentimentally priceless.
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cvalue13
·Oh, and speaking of maintenance I should add: you’ll want to educate yourself around here on the do’s and don’ts of maintenance of these watches as a practical matter (e.g., who can or can’t sufficiently perform maintenance) and as a value matter (e.g., what to or not to allow to occur during a maintenance in order to preserve the originality and character of the watch).
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Bwatte
·Thank you ALL! I really appreciate the input!
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SkunkPrince
·I think the dial might be refinished. Unsure about the crown.
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Dan S
·I wasn't commenting on condition, because I didn't see the OP asking about that. In his second post, I suspect that the OP was asking for some clarification about a post (not by me) that is now deleted, which has caused some confusion.
Edited:
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SkunkPrince
·I wasn't commenting on condition, because I didn't see the OP asking about that. In his second post, I suspect that the OP was asking for some clarification about a post that is now deleted, which has caused some confusion.
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rcs914
·On old watches, for some reason that still eludes me, it was super common for "Watchmakers" to refinish the original dials with inferior and substandard re-printing of the dial, after removing the original printing. I'm unclear how so many older watches could have been so damaged that re-printing them was necessary, but it sure does seem to have happened a ridiculous amount. Basically with your grandfather's watch, at some point the dial was washed and the text re-printed. Not as poorly as some, and not as well as it could have been. This reduces the collectibility value of the watch by a lot, but the sentimental value can of course still be the same.
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Dan S
·Dan, do you think those hands might be replacements? I haven't yet seen a chrono with dauphine hands, but obviously I have not seen them all.
Alpha hands seem more common, but I'm not an expert on these.
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johnireland
·Whatever "fixes" to the dial that may have occurred many many years ago, that is just part of its history with the original owner. Many snap back cased watches suffered from moisture getting into the watch and soiling the dial...which later could have been cleaned. If that is the case with this watch, it is a repair of damage on the original dial. So what? The watch is stunning, and the history just as impressive. The links that have been provided will start the new owner on a wonderful journey with this watch. It is a tribute to the human hands that made it...and to those that owned and wore it. This is not a watch to be viewed through the eyes of a "collector" but through the eyes of an enthusiast. Not only take the time to learn about this watch (and others like it), take the time to search out various watch service people...meet with them, show them the watch (no touching) and slowly decide on the person you will entrust it to when work must be done.
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OneTwo
·Brent, welcome to OF and congratulations on the wonderful watch that your grandfather gifted you! It looks to be a great watch and I'd wager that it was a gift from your grandfather the original owner makes it even more special. Hope you'll enjoy wearing it!
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Larry S
··Color Commentator for the Hyperbole.I wasn't commenting on condition, because I didn't see the OP asking about that. In his second post, I suspect that the OP was asking for some clarification about a post (not by me) that is now deleted, which has caused some confusion.
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Bwatte
·Whatever "fixes" to the dial that may have occurred many many years ago, that is just part of its history with the original owner. Many snap back cased watches suffered from moisture getting into the watch and soiling the dial...which later could have been cleaned. If that is the case with this watch, it is a repair of damage on the original dial. So what? The watch is stunning, and the history just as impressive. The links that have been provided will start the new owner on a wonderful journey with this watch. It is a tribute to the human hands that made it...and to those that owned and wore it. This is not a watch to be viewed through the eyes of a "collector" but through the eyes of an enthusiast. Not only take the time to learn about this watch (and others like it), take the time to search out various watch service people...meet with them, show them the watch (no touching) and slowly decide on the person you will entrust it to when work must be done.
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Bwatte
·Thank you, John! What a great site to stumble upon to find out more about my grandpas watch. I greatly appreciate yours and all others input.
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Waltesefalcon
·Welcome to the OF, that's a great watch you've inherited. For the time being I'd just get it serviced and wear it.
