Advice on a Seamaster 120

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trimetrov

·Apr 30, 2020

Read through 25+ pages of gemini4's Seamaster 120 guide, examples, and discussion, thinking I was well-informed and well-armed to peruse the 120 market. Then, like usual, I freeze up when I find one in the wild, and second-guess everything.

Case engraving is shallow and lettering correct; case is notched at 9 & 3; crown looks right, bezel looks correct. Crystal is correct (etching can be seen in closeup). Second hand is steel vs. white, not sure if that is correct.

Seller states his father owned this piece as an Omega retailer in the 70s, and considers it almost NOS. He does NOT want to open the caseback for me, it's never been serviced and he wants to leave it unmolested. I asked if he's amenable to an inspection period, or something to verify the movement.
Asking price

$2300.

 

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Shabbaz

·Apr 30, 2020

Looks good to me. Except for the second hand.

 

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jeppehh

·Apr 30, 2020

Shabbaz

Looks good to me. Except for the second hand.

Then the question is. If it was never serviced how did it end up with this hand. And with everything else looking so pristine, why would there have been a need for a hand swap 😕

 

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Shabbaz

·Apr 30, 2020

Is the plexi original omega? It's hard to believe it came with a cyclops plexi. If it's not omega the watch was probably serviced.

 

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JwRosenthal

·Apr 30, 2020

I share your curiosity about the second hand. The endlinks are correct for a 1098 which is a period match, and the aging of the lume strips at 12&6 look legit. But the script looks more grey than white- May just be the lighting- I would want to see more pics in better lighting and bracelet stampings to confirm 1098

 

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Shabbaz

·Apr 30, 2020

I was wrong before about the other known second hand. 😁

 

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trimetrov

·Apr 30, 2020

Thanks for your replies. The seller has agreed to open the caseback so I can verify the movement. I will ask to verify the bracelet ref and see if I can get a brighter picture.

The plexi is an Omega, as the etching is visible on one of the steadier front-facing shots. It looks like a cyclops to me as well, but there's a weird reflection from the room hitting the glass too, and it may be from that.

 

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Shabbaz

·Apr 30, 2020

jeppehh

Then the question is. If it was never serviced how did it end up with this hand. And with everything else looking so pristine, why would there have been a need for a hand swap 😕

Good question. 📖

 

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JwRosenthal

·Apr 30, 2020

This is what I mean about text color

Even in this crappy lighting the white script is poppin white

 

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trimetrov

·Apr 30, 2020

Shabbaz

Is the plexi original omega? It's hard to believe it came with a cyclops plexi. If it's not omega the watch was probably serviced.

Here's another reference photo w/ the cyclops on a totally different 136.027...is that the incorrect plexi for this reference?

 

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jeppehh

·Apr 30, 2020

JwRosenthal

This is what I mean about text color

Even in this crappy lighting the white script is poppin white

Get that crown sorted JW 😁

BTW I think the text looks a bit off because it’s not in focus. Doesn’t look like the fake grey version to me.

 

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Dan S

·Apr 30, 2020

What is wrong with the hand. Isn't the hand normal for a 136.027?

 

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trimetrov

·Apr 30, 2020

here's the best i can get from his photos. asked him to take more in better lighting!

 

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Dan S

·Apr 30, 2020

trimetrov

Here's another reference photo w/ the cyclops on a totally different 136.027...is that the incorrect plexi for this reference?

That's an automatic reference, 166.027.

 

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jeppehh

·Apr 30, 2020

trimetrov

Here's another reference photo w/ the cyclops on a totally different 136.027...is that the incorrect plexi for this reference?

It’s hard to say anything with certainty but none of the old catalogues show it with cyclops and it’s quite uncommon to see one with.

 

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JwRosenthal

·Apr 30, 2020

jeppehh

Get that crown sorted JW 😁

BTW I think the text looks a bit off because it’s not in focus. Doesn’t look like the fake grey version to me.

I’ve been trying!!! But nobody wants to sell me a crown! My watchmaker didn’t have access to the correct crown and I’m not putting an old leaky crown on there.

 

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trimetrov

·Apr 30, 2020

Dan S

That's an automatic reference, 166.027.

yep - my mistake!

 

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Dan S

·Apr 30, 2020

JwRosenthal

This is what I mean about text color

Even in this crappy lighting the white script is poppin white

This is also an automatic reference.

 

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JwRosenthal

·Apr 30, 2020

Dan S

This is also an automatic reference.

Does the text color vary from auto to manual?
The only reason I bring it up is that all the fake “kits” we see out there have the grey text and not white..but they all may be auto’s- I haven’t paid close enough attention.

 

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Dan S

·Apr 30, 2020

JwRosenthal

Does the text color vary from auto to manual?

Not sure, but the sweep hand does seem to be different, so I'm just encouraging us to focus on using examples of the correct reference. @gemini's example of the 136.027 in the referenced thread has this same sweep hand, or at least it looks that way to me.

https://omegaforums.net/threads/my-...ers-what-to-look-for-and-what-to-avoid.38032/