Am I being realistic?

Three months ago I decided to buy a watch. Six weeks or so ago I decided that I didn't like most modern watches but did like vintage ones, especially Omega. Fortuitously, I live within 20 minutes drive of a dealers that specialise in vintage Omega watches; I am almost sure that I will eventually buy from them.

I am not a collector, not of watches anyway. That may change, of course, but for the time being I am looking for a piece that I will enjoy wearing and love the look of. It will be on my wrist mist of my waking hours. I have a romantic idea of buying domething that was constructed in the year of my birth, 1961. I'll likely pass it onto my son in the way that people do.

I have now been into the dealers to look at watches twice and both times bearly purchased but held off in the hope that the exact piece, that one that ignites my imagination and that I will know is the one as soon as I see it, in the hope that that might appear.

I started thinking any vintage Omega would do but have now narrowed my scope possibly unrealistically. These are my parameters. Please let me know if I'm on a wild goose chase or whether it's worth being more relaxed! I have had lots of advice on another forum but thought I'd deposit some of my ideas here as well.

So: 1961or 62. Stainless Steel (gold capped or filled okay, gold plated, not). Clean. Starburst dial. Constellation (dome dial) or Seamaster. Prefer dateless but if a dated one came along that ticked other boxes, fine. 56* calibre which I guess is probably 560 or 561 for the years I'm after.

There is a Constellation in the shop that has slight dial blemishes but is good otherwise. It's 1966, dated and 564 calibre so not ticking everything but the nicest watch I've seen so far. Hands look immaculate compared with dial - would Omega replace element of watch if too shabby? Any thoughts?

Ugh that dial is nasty

Also, hi Julian, welcome to the forum

@Julian Fisher :

1 - Be picky and don’t settle. You want a watch you fall in love with all over again - every time you look at it. A flawed piece will not produce this effect.

2 - Take your time and try to enjoy the process, as frustrating as it can be. Spending the money and finding the right watch can be a treat and a pleasure.

3 - Look at a lot of watches. A lot. It’s amazing how much variety there was in the early 60’s, and a ton of it is beautiful.

3 - Check us out here at OF. From time to time, there are wonderful deals on exceptional watches. Plus, the combined knowledge here can save you a lot of time and trouble. OF is a great place.

Welcome!

Thanks for all this advice. I'll be passing on the pictured Constellation - not sure I was taking it very seriously anyway as so many immaculate pieces are out there; just a question of being patient. I have a reasonable budget I think - prefer to keep to £1500 or less. The gold watches I have looked at are stunning, but I just wouldn't feel comfortable wearing one on an everyday basis. The dealers I've been seeing seem very professional and solicitous in my experience, but they are also expensive. I feel that buying with their warranty or, if they've come from Omega servicing, that company's two year warranty, is a plus but I have a reservation: is an Omega service necessarily a good thing? I have heard they don’t always work in a sympathetic way as regards the vintage spec of the watch. Is this something I should be aware of? So, while I will continue to study the website of Parkers, I will also look further afield. But where? I have heard so many warnings about frankenwatches/poor care, nightmares about polishing and re-touching, that I feel quite vulnerable. At least, with a recognised dealer with a long reputation of good service I would feel some kind of assurance. Is there anywhere else I should look that has reasonable security against the aforementioned fears?

So, a new avenue of investigation! Thank you so much for this lead. I will remain patient but take the route of Private Sales on this site seriously. My only concern would be aftercare. I expect, if there is any, it will vary from item to item.

By the way, I don't (yet!) consider myself a collector. Just want a lovely watch with perfect vintage credentials...that's all!

Yes - I want that watch...or something like it.

Congratulations on coming here early on, Julian. The collective wisdom on offer here is something that I wish I had known more about and understood better at the point I started collecting. A few expensive mistakes made. I came here first as a 'lurker' a couple of years ago and only properly joined recently. I am still makeingmistakes (heart ruling head being the biggest one) but at least I go into things with my 'eyes wide open'.