Community Stories

Advice on buying a Omega watch for my son's 18th birthday and in memory of WWII war vet

G
Posts
12
Likes
9
Hi I would be grateful for some advice since I have no idea about buying vintage watches. In addition to his 18th, it would also in memory of his grandfather who recently passed away and was a WWII veteran who loved watches! I have considered the Fleet Air Arm/ Navy Omega watches but they are a) smaller and b) seem more expensive due to being highly collectable? He served at D-Day and in rthe poacific and was married in 1944. I have seen this for sale on Chrono 24 form a reputable UK seller. Is this a reasonable deal? Is the movement a good one/ reliable. Many thanks for any advice you can offer!

Basic Info​

Listing codeMLYRL4
BrandOmega
ModelSeamaster
Reference number14762 (Seamaster Vintage)
MovementAutomatic
Case materialSteel
Bracelet materialLeather
Year of production1963
ConditionUsed (Good)
The item shows visible and tangible signs of wear like scratches, scuffs, or small dents.
Most Recent Servicing24 October 2024
Serviced in-house
Scope of deliveryNo original box, no original papers
GenderMen's watch/Unisex
LocationUnited Kingdom, Leamington spa
Price£1,150
AvailabilityItem is in stock

Caliber​

MovementAutomatic
Caliber/movement562
Base caliber500
Power reserve40 h
Number of jewels24

PXL_20250606_173210269.webp PXL_20250606_173227473.webp PXL_20250606_173240121.webp
 
Dan S
Posts
23,022
Likes
51,468
I like the rationale for the gift, and I think it's worth your time and effort to hunt down something appropriate. The OP watch, a Seamaster from 1963, is a nice reference, but I personally don't see any connection to an 18 year old, or to a WWII vet. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but I don't find that damaged dial very appealing, and the price is very high given the condition.
 
G
Posts
12
Likes
9
JPE.88305 JPE.88305
What about a Hamilton for an 18 yr old's first watch & homage to a grandparent who served in the US Army during WWII...
https://www.hamiltonwatch.com/en-us...g74G9YdO3NYa_B4uQ2uGmg3Okhx_Os3eEoO0TcNo3XJHM
Lots of Hamilton field watches with a rich military history for under $1k. Some modern sizing, some vintage sizing. Good starter watch, no vintage-watch problems that an 18 yr old might not be attentive of.
Thanks so much for the recommendation - they look fantastic - I'll do some more research on this option. My Grandfather was in the Royal Navy serving alongside your chaps in the Pacific and in Normandy, as well as on the Atlantic Convoys. He was one of the last few vets at the 80th commemoration events in Normandy last year. Thanks again for your kind advice.
 
G
Posts
12
Likes
9
Dan S Dan S
I like the rationale for the gift, and I think it's worth your time and effort to hunt down something appropriate. The OP watch, a Seamaster from 1963, is a nice reference, but I personally don't see any connection to an 18 year old, or to a WWII vet. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but I don't find that damaged dial very appealing, and the price is very high given the condition.
Thanks v much for your advice - this is the place to come for inexperienced people like me! Yes, I think you are right - I was put off by the high prices for the wartime Omegas I think, but a chap just recommended Hamiltons - I'll take a look at those - and other military watches. Are there others I can take a look at that might fit the bill? My Grandfather joined up aged 16 in 1943, got married on leave in 1944 and was at D -Day in 1945 so anything from these years would be nice.
 
Dan S
Posts
23,022
Likes
51,468
The "dirty dozen" watches would be very appropriate. No reason to look only at Omega, some of the watches from other manufacturers (e.g. Cyma) are very nice and sell for less.
 
G
Posts
12
Likes
9
Great thanks v much to both of you - great recommendations, I really appreciate it.
 
Davidt
Posts
12,841
Likes
22,166
Great idea. I’d have loved something like this for my 18th.
Personally I think a ww2 era watch isn’t that suitable due to lack of water resistance.
I’d suggest a 60’s seamaster like the one you’ve already looked at as it’s a good value between genuine vintage, price and being suitable for daily wear.
However, the one you’ve posted has a heavily patina’d (and unattractive) dial and is overpriced. Even in the UK you should be able to find a nice, original 60’s Seamaster, with bracelet under £1000.
 
Spruce
Posts
8,236
Likes
67,592
I don’t really want to rain on this parade and I may be entirely wrong to post this - after all I don’t know you or your son - but I’d have thought that an 18 year old would prefer a watch he can wear (whether pubbing, clubbing, or playing sport) rather than an overpriced and fragile antique that he’ll probably want to keep in a drawer rather than risk losing it or damaging it.

I quite like @JPE.88305’s suggestion
 
Walrus
Posts
10,585
Likes
51,505
Agreed with above a modern reinterpretation would be a good way to go. I gotta admit at 18 I was a history buff I may have dug a vintage and only you truly know the fellow but you can’t go wrong with a good modern reinterpretation and it removes some possible issues with vintage such as immediate service, foggy glass when humidity hits 100% but you gotta go with what your heart tells you is best.
 
JPE.88305
Posts
915
Likes
10,556
G Grundis
Thanks v much for your advice - this is the place to come for inexperienced people like me! Yes, I think you are right - I was put off by the high prices for the wartime Omegas I think, but a chap just recommended Hamiltons - I'll take a look at those - and other military watches. Are there others I can take a look at that might fit the bill? My Grandfather joined up aged 16 in 1943, got married on leave in 1944 and was at D -Day in 1945 so anything from these years would be nice.
Speaking of D-Day, happy June 6th anniversary to him and all others from that fateful day. Hard to imagine your grandfather joined at age 16 ...16!!!!!....and when HE was 18 he was storming occupied beaches and fighting in a war.
 
impalla62ss
Posts
1,148
Likes
5,922
I did a search on Homage Watches, and these are the ones I would consider. Hopefully not treading in forbidden territory. As mentioned before, the Hamilton would be my first choice. Larger watches are popular now, so I'd lean towards the 42mm. I'd also echo the above mentions of reliability and water resistance as being very important. Modern Homage Watches to Consider. The A-17 is Korean War, but that is a very sharp example.
Hamilton Khaki Field Mechanical
b-uhr PILOT 50 mm Typ B
praesidus Jungle Field
A-17 U.S 1950s Korean War Pattern Military Watch with Plexiglass/Acrylic Crystal (Automatic)
 
Davidt
Posts
12,841
Likes
22,166
I see no reason why an 18 year old couldn’t have a vintage Omega. It depends on the person but I started collecting vintage Omega’s in my 20’s and would have loved to have one for my 18th.
 
Dan S
Posts
23,022
Likes
51,468
Davidt Davidt
I see no reason why an 18 year old couldn’t have a vintage Omega. It depends on the person but I started collecting vintage Omega’s in my 20’s and would have loved to have one for my 18th.
Agree. The OP probably knows best. And many vintage watches are water resistant and robust. Getting the watch as a gift at that age could make it even more memorable as a potential heirloom.
 
G
Posts
12
Likes
9
Davidt Davidt
I see no reason why an 18 year old couldn’t have a vintage Omega. It depends on the person but I started collecting vintage Omega’s in my 20’s and would have loved to have one for my 18th.
Thanks for your reply David - if we did go down the Seamaster route. I have noticed that the watches which have been serviced (and will therefore is likely to work for. while before needing to be serviced again) and offer more reassurance about the provenance of the item (ie mainly in its original state) are on the expensive side in the UK - typically in and around 1300-1500GBP. Private sellers are much cheaper (under 1000GBP) but it is a big risk. Any thoughts on this? Would, for example, a Seamaster from 1960s Chrono 24 for approx 600GBP be worth a punt? My grandfather loved watches and had one from around the 1960s/1970s which did look similar to a Seamaster (though it was a different make). My son likes traditional/ old things (unusual for an 18 year old maybe!) so I am leaning towards an antique watch which he would not wear everyday, but for smart events etc. My feeling is also that youngsters prefer a larger face (I know the seamasters from the 1960s are not large by the standards of today, but they do seem to be larger than the 1940s watches!) Many thanks for your help.
 
G
Posts
12
Likes
9
Dan S Dan S
Agree. The OP probably knows best. And many vintage watches are water resistant and robust. Getting the watch as a gift at that age could make it even more memorable as a potential heirloom.
Yes, thanks, that was what I was thinking and why I will go down the antique route- he can then pass it on. I found this one on Chrono24 which seems to offer the buyer some measure of reassurance they are not buying a turkey. It says it has been recently serviced though there is no information about the caliber and only a short description.

PXL_20250607_092914662.webp PXL_20250607_092921147.webp PXL_20250607_092938885.webp
 
G
Posts
12
Likes
9
Walrus Walrus
Agreed with above a modern reinterpretation would be a good way to go. I gotta admit at 18 I was a history buff I may have dug a vintage and only you truly know the fellow but you can’t go wrong with a good modern reinterpretation and it removes some possible issues with vintage such as immediate service, foggy glass when humidity hits 100% but you gotta go with what your heart tells you is best.
Thanks v much - yes, my son's into history like me (I teach history). I think I'm leaning towards vintage though so something from my grandfather's era can survive him, even if he did actually own what I am going to buy with the money he left me.
 
G
Posts
12
Likes
9
impalla62ss impalla62ss
I did a search on Homage Watches, and these are the ones I would consider. Hopefully not treading in forbidden territory. As mentioned before, the Hamilton would be my first choice. Larger watches are popular now, so I'd lean towards the 42mm. I'd also echo the above mentions of reliability and water resistance as being very important. Modern Homage Watches to Consider. The A-17 is Korean War, but that is a very sharp example.
Hamilton Khaki Field Mechanical
b-uhr PILOT 50 mm Typ B
praesidus Jungle Field
A-17 U.S 1950s Korean War Pattern Military Watch with Plexiglass/Acrylic Crystal (Automatic)
Thanks very much indeed- I'll take a look
 
2 More Posts...
Sign up or log in to reply...