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  1. Julian Fisher Jan 11, 2022

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    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?
     
    Screenshot_20220111-124817_Samsung Internet.jpg Screenshot_20220111-124817_Samsung Internet.jpg
  2. sleepyastronaut Jan 11, 2022

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    Ugh that dial is nasty
     
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  3. STANDY schizophrenic pizza orderer and watch collector Jan 11, 2022

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    So one rule to live by…..

    Condition condition condition


    What you want is out there and don’t settle for any blemishes on the dial….

    5FF6169A-663D-4AD1-8E74-020F1DD47306.jpeg

    3A076401-9682-4054-B474-2724950540DE.jpeg

    551 movement inside

    11425366-0A90-4E41-B2FD-507C0D1A8A80.jpeg
     
  4. sleepyastronaut Jan 11, 2022

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    Also, hi Julian, welcome to the forum
     
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  5. Davidt Jan 11, 2022

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    That dial is not attractive. I’d you buy that, a few days/weeks/months from now you’ll likely regret it.

    The combination you’re looking for is not impossible to find. Be patient, keep reading and doing research and you’ll find one in the next few months.

    It might also pay to not restrict yourself to one dealer. Keep an eye of the sale forum here etc
     
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  6. JwRosenthal Jan 11, 2022

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    Welcome to the forum Julian, you came to the right place, we love to enable people.

    You can find much better than the one you posted (the greenish funk is water damage). Constellations of this period can be eye watering for prices, but Seamasters are still relatively reasonable,
    Narrowing it down to a specific year can be tricky as without a serial number (in the movement) cross referenced against Omega archives (which costs money unfortunately) we can only get close with the charts that are out there. I like to think of narrowing the search to a period rather than a specific year.
    There were several sunburst dialed watches in the Omega line during this time so you have your pick. Yes, gold cap is preferable over plate, solid gold is the ideal- but if it’s going to be a daily wear, stainless is your best bet.
    Omegas like you describe are not rare, so you should not settle for less than excellent if budget isn’t a consideration. That said, do your research on current market values (here in the sold FS listings or eBay completed listings should give you a ballpark), there are lots of opportunists out there looking for a green watch newbie to fleece.
    There are a ton of overpolished, redialed and Frankenwatches out there, so really get to know the fine details (know what an unpolished case looks like with crisp edges and an original dial with factory fonts and marker).
    Vintage watches are great fun, but you have to know the pitfalls and be prepared to fail a few times (we all have heartbreak watch stories).
    Welcome to the fun.
     
    Edited Jan 11, 2022
  7. Davidt Jan 11, 2022

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    I sold this a couple of years ago for well under a £grand.

    C9A5A1D2-A310-4D09-A5B1-3606C2999258.jpeg
     
  8. Peemacgee Purrrr-veyor of luxury cat box loungers Jan 11, 2022

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    Welcome @Julian Fisher

    I happen to like dome dial constellations too.
    How about looking for a 14381? -bang on your age requirement.
    378A50E8-AF4A-4DDA-AF06-B620B0FBDA4B.png

    I have some concerns about the one you show from Parker’s - it looks like a 168.018 case, which can have a 564 but should have a flat ( not dome) dial and was first released in 67
    (And just FYI - Parker’s can be very expensive)

    if you like the style of the one from Parker’s, research 168.004, 168.010 dome dials
    You won’t get your birth year but they are very lovely watches.
    Edit - I should have mentioned these only come with a date complication.
     
    Dan S likes this.
  9. airansun In the shuffling madness Jan 11, 2022

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    @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!
     
  10. Julian Fisher Jan 11, 2022

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    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?
     
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  11. BlackTalon This Space for Rent Jan 11, 2022

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    Omega Forums
     
  12. Peemacgee Purrrr-veyor of luxury cat box loungers Jan 11, 2022

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    Unfortunately, this is fine in principle and you can pay a premium and be lucky - but honest dealers can't know everything about all vintage watches and can make mistakes and dishonest dealers can appear plausible and pull the wool over unwary buyers eyes.
    Both exist in the UK market (and everything in between).
    Parker's aren't known for anything but being straight but as I said I have concerns about the watch pictured that they might know nothing of - a good example of "option A'.
    There was also a very well know dealer in London that sold watches at a premium but also had redialled watches at the same high price. (something in between)

    Patience is the key, you've come to the right place - ask here for appraisal/advice.
     
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  13. JwRosenthal Jan 11, 2022

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    Kudos on understanding exactly the situation you are in as a new collector. We so often see newbies full of hubris and sometimes combative when we break the news that their newly acquired prize is sadly less than perfect, or worse just flat out fake.
    The first vintage Omega piece I purchased (my Speedmaster wasn’t really vintage when I bought it, so that’s doesn’t count) was a 1958 Seamaster that had a beautiful redial done at some point- it was done very well. I didn’t know and thought it was original- I was quickly educated here. Luckily I was able to sell it to someone who despite knowing it was redialed after I told them, didn’t care and loved it -so I didn’t lose anything in the watch.

    As said above, take your time and wait for the right one. The private watch sales section here is about the safest you will find for buying vintage
     
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  14. Syzygy Jan 11, 2022

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    Welcome to OF Julian! I've seen a few have mentioned the Private Sales section here is likely the safest place to hunt for vintage, but nobody has really spelled out exactly why. The short answer is 'community'. This crazy bunch of watch nuts not only has an insane collective knowledge covering just about every watch available on the market, we also 'self police' as a community if a for sale posting has incorrect information or is intentionally (or unintentionally) misleading in any way. In order to place a for sale post, the individual must have at least 200 posts, which pretty much ensures they've been part of the community long enough to learn the basic etiquette expected of them, but more importantly they've earned some trust in the community. If their post is incorrect or misleading in any way, they'll likely, and quickly, be corrected so they can edit their post to clear up any confusion.

    I've been lucky enough to purchase a number of pieces from members here and I couldn't be more satisfied with the experience. I've also, in my short time here, learned enough to know this is by far the safest place to explore and purchase, with ease of mind, a vintage timepiece.

    Cheers and and happy hunting!
     
  15. LesXL Jan 11, 2022

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    STANDY and wagudc like this.
  16. Julian Fisher Jan 11, 2022

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    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!
     
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  17. Julian Fisher Jan 11, 2022

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    Yes - I want that watch...or something like it.
     
  18. Davidt Jan 11, 2022

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    I assume you’re in the U.K. as you’re looking at Parkers and quoted in £.

    Be aware of import duty (c.30% all in) if buying outside the U.K. This has led to a slight increase in the price of vintage watches in the U.K. recently, but even then, £1500 should buy you a great example with a bit of patience.

    Take many dealers with a pinch of salt. Vintage is a very specialist area and many unknowingly(?) sell redials, frankens and utterly unserviced examples so buying from any old dealer doesn’t necessarily equate to a solid, original serviced watch. Obviously there are some excellent and trustworthy dealers out there, they just usually charge a premium.

    Don’t be afraid of buying a watch privately and having it serviced yourself as well. We can recommend several good U.K. watchmakers.
     
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  19. OzGaz68 Jan 11, 2022

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    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'.
     
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  20. JwRosenthal Jan 11, 2022

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    I have found that everyone here is more than happy to help someone spend their money- but nobody here wants to see anyone suckered.