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Are Omega F300s Collectible?

mollydooker
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You know there is bit of mystic hullabaloo about servicing these.

There are very few moving parts and if you follow the manual and have a very steady hand and microscope they are easier than an auto.
Defective electronic parts are replaced not repaired.
They are considered the Rolls Roye of electronic watches and with my limited knowledge far easier than an accutron.
 
padders
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Oh one thing to bear in mind when buying. In my experience, there is a near 50:50 chance that a date only model (Omega 1250 movement) will have a shagged date wheel meaning it will fail to advance at some point in the month.The wheels are thin plastic and degrade or become brittle in time meaning teeth can and do break off. This won't become apparent immediately so don't be surprised if a watch described as fully working on ebay etc develops this issue within a week or three. The 1260 movement day dates are much less susceptible as the wheels are thicker.
 
Wibbles
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padders padders
Oh one thing to bear in mind when buying. In my experience, there is a near 50:50 chance that a date only model (Omega 1250 movement) will have a shagged date wheel meaning it will fail to advance at some point in the month.
Yep. Never had one that didn't have this issue. Nearly always around the first of the month. The time when people would be more likely to manually advance between 8PM and 2AM, where damage would occur.
 
tyrantlizardrex
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mollydooker mollydooker
You know there is bit of mystic hullabaloo about servicing these.

I'm not sure there's "Mystic Hullabaloo", it's just been the case for a very long time, that service prices often outstripped the value paid for the watch.

People like Keith, and Electric Watches make it more affordable, but if you send them back to Omega, or STS, the bills can be on the large end of the scale.

The Speedsonic, from talking to those that repair them, is a bit of a pain in the arse. 👍
 
JackDaniels83
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I like working on these hummers very much. In my opinion they are very easy in service, if you follow the instruction or have some experience. Bulova Accutron especially the 214 are a lot more fiddly when it comes to changing parts or adjustment. The ESA tuning fork movements are very well designed and service friendly.
 
padders
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mollydooker mollydooker
You know there is bit of mystic hullabaloo about servicing these.

There are very few moving parts and if you follow the manual and have a very steady hand and microscope they are easier than an auto.
Defective electronic parts are replaced not repaired.
They are considered the Rolls Roye of electronic watches and with my limited knowledge far easier than an accutron.
And where will you source these parts?
tyrantlizardrex tyrantlizardrex
I'm not sure there's "Mystic Hullabaloo", it's just been the case for a very long time, that service prices often outstripped the value paid for the watch.

People like Keith, and Electric Watches make it more affordable, but if you send them back to Omega, or STS, the bills can be on the large end of the scale.

The Speedsonic, from talking to those that repair them, is a bit of a pain in the arse. 👍

I too am not convinced that the servicing concerns are overblown. Parts aren't easily available off the shelf anymore, yes you may get lucky with ebay etc but don't kid yourself that it is as easy as calling Cousins or Ofrei or whatever, some bit are now hard to get, date wheels for instance.

Regarding the Speedsonic, interestingly I believe it has a modular movement using a Dubois Depraz module on top, rather like the design used in the Speedmaster Reduced, something else which also has a reputation for being a bugger to get fixed at an affordable price so it looks like they have a history of this approach, for better or worse.
Edited:
 
tyrantlizardrex
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padders padders
Regarding the Speedsonic, interestingly I believe it has a modular movement using a Dubois Depraz module on top, rather like the design used in the Speedmaster Reduced, something else which also has a reputation for being a bugger to get fixed at an affordable price so it looks like they have a history of this approach, for better or worse.

From the conversation with Tony, there's three bits to the movement - power, time keeping, and chronograph... as you say Padders, the chronograph is piggy backed on top of the time keeping and power parts.

If you know what you're doing (as Tony put it), these are not hard to fix - if you don't the chances are you'll do more damage than good.

He told me that they'd received quite a few over the years that watchmakers had stripped, and not be able to rebuild.

Probably one of those things that becomes 'not hard to fix' when you've fixed several hundred over 35 years in the industry 😉
 
semper_shells
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The relativity low price point and cool looks have made this my next purchase. Might have to create a WTB post for it.
 
Lonestar
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Voila... even if they weren't collectible a few hours ago, they are becoming collectible now... 😁
 
padders
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Don't say that, I recently sold my best ones, just the 6 left!!!!!!
 
padders
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semper_shells semper_shells
Pics, or it didn't happen. 😉

Ha ok, challenge accepted. This is what remains now after selling 2 f300 Seamasters and a 198.030 Geneve. By the way I didn't say they were all f300s, some are obviously Bulova Accutrons and I clearly can't count as there are 7, terrible pics, I used 2 since I couldn't capture them all properly in one:

IMG_3035.jpg IMG_4791 (1).jpg
 
JackDaniels83
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I have a "few" Accutrons and other ESA tuning fork watches too. I like your Astronaut very much. That's one that is missing in my collection. Want to trade?
 
padders
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Oh it is actually 8, I forgot this one:
IMG_5571_zpshlc2ksqs.jpg

Re the Astronaut, that may be the last out the door as they have genuine test pilot/astronaut cool about them and can be considered the daddy of hummers. If you are serious pm me and we can talk but I do like that one a lot so don't be offended if I decide to decline and keep it:

IMG_5212_zpsgqermjht.jpg
 
semper_shells
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padders padders
Ha ok, challenge accepted. This is what remains now after selling 2 f300 Seamasters and a 198.030 Geneve. By the way I didn't say they were all f300s, some are obviously Bulova Accutrons and I clearly can't count as there are 7, terrible pics, I used 2 since I couldn't capture them all properly in one:

IMG_3035.jpg IMG_4791 (1).jpg
Excellent collection, I just recently read a nice article about the Astronaut, really cool watch with some nice history. Worn by U2 pilots if I'm not mistaken. Correct?

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct...r-made&usg=AFQjCNHlMVy2Rl4no8yyhlhwa0-2m9ZC2Q
 
padders
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I think it was more X-15 pilots but no reason why not U2 guys too. We have one on here somewhere, maybe we should ask though he is a current flyer not a 1960s Gary Powers type of chap.
 
semper_shells
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padders padders
I think it was more X-15 pilots but no reason why not U2 guys too. We have one on here somewhere, maybe we should ask though he is a current flyer not a 1960s Gary Powers type of chap.
I actually just left a site where they fly. I tried to get a ride along in the chaser car but the waiting list was/is too long for the time I was there.
 
Mr.H
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Recently bought out a watchmaker, his mainstay was quartz watches but also worked on Omega & Longines, only had a quick sort through but seem to remember there are quite a few NOS F300 parts, can list some if needed when I get to the 200 post count
upload_2017-6-29_18-0-30.png


Regards
Mr.H
 
Wibbles
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Hmmm quartz you say... I am one of those weird early quartz types *twitches* 🤨😀
 
padders
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Was offered this a couple of days ago. I turned it down as I thought based on the pics that it was an early quartz but I now realise that it is a hummer, couldn't make out the f300 on my phone and the picture was upside down and fuzzy! Problem is the 18K gold alone is worth circa nearly £1500-2000 meaning most of the value is tied up there and as a piece it is presumably not worth a lot more as a watch. Shame though as the waffle dial looks good, I haven't yet identified which exact hummer it is, it looks nothing like any on Paul's site, can't tell if it has OMs on the dial meaning gold dial too:

IMG_0192.jpg
 
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