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Advice on new purchase - Omega 166.041 Geneve

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Hello all,

New to the forum... Thought I'd get some advice. Found you guys after buying my first vintage Omega from eBay. I did some homework, but by no means an expert. It's on the way, so hopefully I made an okay choice - these pics are from the seller. It's a Geneve, and I paid just over $500. So hopefully reasonable. (166.041)

I liked this late 60's style. My research found that there should be the "T" with Swiss Made, as it has lumed hands and pips. The dial looks super clean except for some marks near the lume at 4pm and 5pm. There seems to be a bit of a warp on the dial at the 7pm. The movement is a 565 which seems robust and easy-ish to service. Looks like perhaps a water mark on the rotor which is a bit scary. The hands and crown look original to me as well as the case back. The case looks like it has had a not so good polish at some point. It will need a service as the seller mentioned it's running -90 sec per day. Let me know what you think? I'm pretty sure the dial isn't a redial. Question: I was thinking about getting Omega original replacement hands as I think I can get away with that based on the dial condition. Obviously I'll keep the originals.

Thanks in advance.
 
omega1.jpg omega2.jpg omega3.jpg omega4.jpg omega5.jpg omega7.jpg omega8.jpg
padders
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If it was mint I would say you did OK, as it is, because it obviously needs a service and has been polished I would say you overpaid by around $250 unfortunately. It is a nice example but these are entry level models and tend to be priced accordingly.

It is usually a good idea to ask these kind of questions before buying as sometimes the answers might not be pleasant to hear!
 
S
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Appreciate the feedback. I found you guys after the fact. Lesson learned...
 
Spruce
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S Snowman1ca
Appreciate the feedback. I found you guys after the fact. Lesson learned...

I’m afraid I don’t agree about @padders on price. I think you did okay. These Geneves have shot up in value in the last two/three years. You might have got this for a hundred or so less a couple of years ago, but not now. They’re good looking watches with great movements.

US $500 equates to just under £400 and if I’d seen this watch in this condition and at this price over here I’d have been tempted.

It may need a service but 565 movements are accurate and robust and one of my favourites for reliability. Over here they’re easily serviced and, subject to parts, which is not apparent from the photos, I’d expect to pay £100 - £150.

Dial, hands, case and crown look very good and that’s a big plus.
 
padders
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Spruce Spruce
I’m afraid I don’t agree about @padders on price. I think you did okay. These Geneves have shot up in value in the last two/three years. You might have got this for a hundred or so less a couple of years ago, but not now. They’re good looking watches with great movements.

US $500 equates to just under £400 and if I’d seen this watch in this condition and at this price over here I’d have been tempted.

It may need a service but 565 movements are accurate and robust and one of my favourites for reliability. Over here they’re easily serviced and, subject to parts, which is not apparent from the photos, I’d expect to pay £100 - £150.

Dial, hands, case and crown look very good and that’s a big plus.

I hope you are right but I just don't see this being a ~£600 watch, which is what it will have cost after a service. I have owned both auto and manual wind 041s and keep eye on pricing and can't say I have noticed them doubling in value recently. In case I am missing something I just did a quick ebay search on sold listings:

Screenshot 2020-07-09 at 21.55.56.png
 
S
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I have to say. After your email I took a look. It’s amazing to see though what these will actually close at. Usually I’m finding that the winning bid is closer to what Spruce has seen. Regardless... I’m really looking forward to joining the vintage club. 😀
 
Spruce
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Well, he’s bought the watch anyway.

I may be wrong, in which case I’ll have to re-think but I’ve got a few .041 cases and have been monitoring them 'cos they’re a favourite.

It all looks good to me and I wouldn’t rush to have a service.

I wouldn’t have minded it as a spare for this one

E371F6D4-593A-4F28-9F13-EBE7EB4B42B7.jpeg
 
Spruce
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S Snowman1ca
I have to say. After your email I took a look. It’s amazing to see though what these will actually close at. Usually I’m finding that the winning bid is closer to what Spruce has seen. Regardless... I’m really looking forward to joining the vintage club. 😀

Retail dealers are asking quite a bit more although that may include some sort of warranty and the watch may have had some sort of service.

9BE1ACEE-834D-46AC-B9E2-5AF2FDC84B06.png
 
S
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Spruce Spruce
Well, he’s bought the watch anyway.

I may be wrong, in which case I’ll have to re-think but I’ve got a few .041 cases and have been monitoring them 'cos they’re a favourite.

It all looks good to me and I wouldn’t rush to have a service.

I wouldn’t have minded it as a spare for this one

E371F6D4-593A-4F28-9F13-EBE7EB4B42B7.jpeg

oh that’s a beaut.... love the strap option.
 
padders
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Actually looking at the sold figures above maybe prices have moved up a little in the past couple of years. I was perhaps harsh to say the OP watch was $250 over, more like $150 over maybe. The Autos certainly make more than the manual wind 041 models which can be found in the £100-200 range if you look for long enough.
Edited:
 
Spruce
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padders padders
Actually looking at the sold figures above maybe prices have moved up a little in the past couple of years. I was perhaps harsh to say the OP watch was $250 over, more like $150 over maybe. The Autos certainly make more than the manual wind models which can be found in the £100-200 range if you look for long enough.
I’d agree with you there but I do think that the 552 and 565 movements enhance these Genèves
 
arturo7
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Don't get too hung up on the price. It's cool watch. Once it's been on your wrist a few times it won't matter.
 
S
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Well it arrived. I'm pretty enamored with it, so that's a good sign. Went with a brown strap like Spruce. It's in lovely condition...
 
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amcclell
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Get it serviced sooner, rather than later. At -90 seconds per day, it needs some TLC.
 
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amcclell amcclell
Get it serviced sooner, rather than later. At -90 seconds per day, it needs some TLC.
Yes! next on my list. There is a guy in Toronto that gets some good praise on here that I'm calling.
 
mrbreen
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A bit of a polish but looks good to me! Congrats on the purchase. Keep in mind that many of the recently sold .041s may be in far worse condition than yours. Here’s mine:
image.jpg

An eBay search shows that an almost identical .041 sold for close to $300 and it was in incredibly poor shape. So I wouldn’t worry too much about the price 😀
 
amcclell
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I would not worry about the price. Experienced collectors could do better without question but lots of newbies have done worse. You paid the going rate. Most of the older ones are polished as that was often automatically done during service back in the day. Welcome to the forum from a fellow Canuck.
Edited:
 
S
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I’m definitely a newb. Thanks for the advice. Nice example MrBreen... I just love the variety and styling of this model. Photos don’t really do them justice huh? So nice in person with the way the light plays off the face.
 
Spruce
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S Snowman1ca
Well it arrived. I'm pretty enamored with it, so that's a good sign. Went with a brown strap like Spruce. It's in lovely condition...

I’m both envious - it looks great - and flattered by the name check. I’m sure it’ll give you lots of pleasure. Book it in for a service but wear it’s socks off until you send it in.
 
Spruce
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Liked your photo so much I just had to do a late night switch.

9B33EDEB-7125-407D-AF24-E6A242CBA02B.jpeg
 
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