Forums Latest Members
  1. polarbeardrums Mar 8, 2018

    Posts
    3
    Likes
    2
    Hi all,

    First post, but I have been reading the forum pages with interest. I am looking for a vintage Seamaster and would appreciate a sense check on the pricing of this:

    https://www.austinkaye.co.uk/vintag...ess-steel-automatic-watch-original-dial-hands

    I realise that in buying this I would be paying for the Omega service (worth probably £350 or thereabouts) and a new Omega strap (the best part of £200), as well as a bricks and mortar retailer premium - but bearing all that in mind, is that a reasonable ball park figure? I’ve done plenty of looking online, and clearly there are much cheaper watches out there, but there is a certain peace of mind that comes with the two year guarantee, and knowing that nothing needs doing to it. I also want to be able to go and try on anything I might buy.

    I currently wear a modern Seamaster 2254 every day and am looking for something different to alternate it with, and just really like the proportions on these 60s Seamasters.

    Thanks!
    Tom
     
  2. Davidt Mar 8, 2018

    Posts
    10,278
    Likes
    17,808
    No. At least 2x overpriced (if not 3x) - even in U.K.
     
  3. Gb2cv Mar 8, 2018

    Posts
    40
    Likes
    18
    I feel much the same as you about being able to try on before buying. The peace of mind that you can personally deal with the retailer is a part of the pricing too. Yes I'm sure you can get cheaper but can you trust the seller? Just been reading a post here on a 5000$ scam, a watch sold supposedly from a respected member whose user id was hacked.
    At the end of the day you pay what you are happy with for used goods. Previous answer says 2x -3x too expensive but if you take the 550£ value of the service and strap plus the tax and social "contributions" the company has to make to the state coffers on their profits plus staff costs and general overheads then you aren't far off.
    Personally for that money I'd be looking at a new Longines 35mm heritage conquest in stainless steel @ £810 and buy 2.. ok not vintage and not omega but unless you are a vintage Porsche driver who wouldn't be seen dead in a new Mercedes then for everyday it is a very smart watch.
     
  4. Peemacgee Purrrr-veyor of luxury cat box loungers Mar 9, 2018

    Posts
    5,114
    Likes
    7,782
    Depends on what piece of mind you are looking for.
    That you actually get the watch when you hand over your money - yes.
    That it’s the genuine article - most likely.
    That it’s definitely all original - not necessarily.

    Outlets like the one in the OP frequently sell ‘professionally restored’ watches at (crazy) high prices to buyers who want a nice vintage watch.
    So if you want originality (and unless you know what you are looking at) you can get stung there too.
     
    ConElPueblo likes this.
  5. Seaman Mar 9, 2018

    Posts
    239
    Likes
    461
    My opinion it's also that it doesn't worth that price...to much overpriced..X5..you can find nice vintage Seamaster Omega on auctions on ebay.
    Watch a few listings on ebay and you'll see that the price it's aprox 250-300 pounds, maybe a little higher if there are in exceptional condition.

    Regards
     
  6. chipsotoole Mar 9, 2018

    Posts
    1,061
    Likes
    1,924
    "P'teh!" (that's me spitting my beer out when the link opened). Crazy mad asking price!
     
  7. Davidt Mar 9, 2018

    Posts
    10,278
    Likes
    17,808
    Whichever way you dress it, that watch is worth no where near the asking price.
     
  8. ChrisN Mar 9, 2018

    Posts
    2,216
    Likes
    4,753
    Agree the Austin Kaye one is not worth near what they are asking and they don't say when the service was done (at least I can't see it) so, who knows when it runs out.

    Please, can you post some links to help the OP of original Seamasters in this price range. I'd be interested to see these watches as well...

    Cheers, Chris
     
    ConElPueblo and tamura like this.
  9. ConElPueblo Mar 9, 2018

    Posts
    9,587
    Likes
    26,960
    If the service in question was fresh, I'd expect a price around £500, perhaps a bit less...
     
  10. Edward53 Mar 9, 2018

    Posts
    3,127
    Likes
    5,384
    The watch in the original link looks to have been recently polished which has taken off the edge facets, giving a "melting" appearance to parts of the case. The crown is an unsuitable replacement and the hands are in poor condition. All you can really say in its favour is that the dial is ok. This dealer's market is undiscriminating people who are impressed by shiny things, take their descriptions at face value and don't do research. That's their privilege, but no serious collector would want to own this watch irrespective of the price, which in any case is vastly inflated.

    On UK pricing, you'd be very lucky to find a halfway decent 60s Seamaster for £250-300 these days. A rough example with discoloured or refinished dial, badly worn or polished case, wrong crown etc. maybe, but people seem to have cottoned on to good original ones and they are fetching easily £400-500 unserviced. Occasionally they might slip under the radar but that's happening less and less. However it is still possible to find good ones on ebay if you are prepared to put in the time and effort.
     
    ConElPueblo, Davidt and ChrisN like this.
  11. Gb2cv Mar 9, 2018

    Posts
    40
    Likes
    18
    I'd like to draw the comparison with a vintage car. At some point in it's lifetime spare parts and replacement parts, genuine or not will be used to maintain such vehicle. There is nothing wrong with this. Even a full body respray is accepted. Better to have something that runs and is reliable than a rust heap. I am confused over the hang-ups some people in the forums have on things being all original. What is wrong with a fully restored watch if it's ok to have a fully restored car?
     
  12. Peemacgee Purrrr-veyor of luxury cat box loungers Mar 9, 2018

    Posts
    5,114
    Likes
    7,782
    This comparison has been used many times before.
    Cars are not watches

    There is nothing wrong with a restored watch if all you want is a nice vintage watch.
    Each to their own.

    Movement parts do get replaced through need.

    However, if someone wants a collectible watch that is all original, (particularly the case and the dial) then paying high prices for a restored watch, thinking it is collectible, is not the way to go.
     
  13. Gb2cv Mar 9, 2018

    Posts
    40
    Likes
    18
    I am finding it hard to see how a watch dial that is stained or mildew spotted is something that is desirable except for the reason that it is cheap. I've dealt in collectible and antique ceramics for over 30 years and restored is better than damaged ; obviously pristine original perfect is best but in a specialised field sometimes hard to find. At least many of the sellers I've seen do say that their watches are restored - not trying to hide anything unlike more unscrupulous types in the antiques trade who would try to pass off a dud. If their prices are inflated that is their business - if it is over priced then it won't sell. Any vintage / antique is ultimately only worth what someone is prepared to pay.
     
  14. Davidt Mar 9, 2018

    Posts
    10,278
    Likes
    17,808
    If your opinion is that you prefer restored dials, that's fine. The fact is, the collector market values even average condition originals, over mint redials.
     
    Peemacgee and ConElPueblo like this.
  15. ConElPueblo Mar 9, 2018

    Posts
    9,587
    Likes
    26,960
    I think that there are other branches of the vintage/antique business where your experiences not necessarily holds true. But then again, as members here have pointed out on previous occasions, there are brands where a well executed redial could well be a good thing for value.
     
  16. Kwijibo Mar 9, 2018

    Posts
    1,855
    Likes
    2,234
    if you patient enough just wait a few week and I'll list some NOS seamasters here for half this price. I mean in the sale section.
     
  17. Peemacgee Purrrr-veyor of luxury cat box loungers Mar 9, 2018

    Posts
    5,114
    Likes
    7,782
    @Gb2cv
    My original comment was about peace of mind not restored v original.
    If the uninitiated go to a retail outlet and pay top dollar for a watch they may think they’re getting an all original piece.
    The high price being the sign of ‘surety’
    This is not always the case.
    The intention was to highlight this in response to your previous post.
    The name of the game with all collectibles is know your stuff and buyer beware.
     
  18. Gb2cv Mar 9, 2018

    Posts
    40
    Likes
    18
    I agree with what you are saying here. Refinished bronze and replated silver are def no-nos so I do understand the point made about redials though once the aforementioned are beyond s certain level of acceptability they have to be exceptionally rare to hold any interest.
    Please can I ask which brands you are referring to as I haven't found this information. Thanks.
     
  19. ConElPueblo Mar 10, 2018

    Posts
    9,587
    Likes
    26,960
    As I hear it, a lot of American brands such as Elgin and Hamilton are treated in this way :)
     
  20. ewand Mar 10, 2018

    Posts
    1,285
    Likes
    5,843
    ... and there are degrees of restoration., too. I've a couple of rare 1969 Seiko Pogues, which I've had relumed. The old lume had gone black and was unattractive so even at the risk of scaring off some future buyer due to lack of originality, I thought it worthwhile...

    before & after
    upload_2018-3-10_8-5-15.png
    upload_2018-3-10_8-10-0.png

    Maybe I should have kept the dial from the one that was least rotten (the bottom one, a July 69 watch) and the hands from the top one (Oct 69) and left them as is, and just relumed the other. But in the end, I think both look so much better having been done, that I'd put this down to the same thing as respraying a classic car, in this particular instance.

    If I was looking at a couple of Ed White Speedmasters, then it would be a different equation - I'd only relume if the original lume was mostly missing.
     
    Edited Mar 10, 2018