I don't know what it is about Vintage Omegas, but I bought my first one last year (an 18ct rose gold Seamaster) and I'm slowly (maybe not so slowly actually) getting hooked! I love the vintage watches from the 50's (my Avatar is a recently purchased 18 ct 1954 Seamaster bumper: bought it because we were born the same year!), 60's and 70's. I have 5 vintage Seamasters, a constellation and a Geneve, plus a more modern one that just has Automatic Chronometer on the face.

What I'd really like to buy next is a Black dial gold Seamaster from 60's/70's. There are lots about, but having read several posts on this great website, I'm really not sure how to get one that hasn't been repainted or messed about with. I saw one that turned out to have been a silver dial that was over painted. Does anyone have any advice on what I should look out for and maybe where I could look to get a genuine example?

Many thanks in advance for any help.

 

If just getting a black dial is your priority, it isn't that hard. Getting one in good condition will be a different issue.

Look for even wear (case/dial/lume), possibly even some greyish fading of the dial and non-photoshopped images and you are half-way there.

@cristos71 - what did I miss?

 

I'd really like to find one in good condition, as I want to keep it in my collection. I know a watch repairer that I trust, as he has sold me a couple of nice original watches in the past, but I've seen a few on eBay that just look too good for their age. By the way, I read your advice about buying vintage watches and it was great: I know these things seem obvious to more experienced collectors, but I learned a lot, thank you!

 

Cheers, happy to help

Did your repairer sell you the watch in your profile pic?

 

Finding a watch with a correct black dial is difficult. Sometimes also the white dials on watches from the 1950s are redials...

 

No, I gritted my teeth and bought it off eBay! Is it an OK watch? I confess bought it because it looked OK and I didn't have a bumper.

 

I bought these off my repairer...

 

A lot of original black dialed 60's dress Seamasters will have black gloss dials with silver or gold gilt text. This is what makes them desirable in the first place and why they are often re-dialed. They are pretty hard to find in good original condition, and by good I mean with a perfect and damage free glossiness to the dial.

Be skeptical/suspicious if the one you are looking at is missing either of these attributes.

A good proportion of the dreadful 60's dress Seamaster black re-dials that I see around have the wrong finish to the dial ( matt or not glossy enough ) and also white text. These are easy tells and should raise warning signs. I reckon at least 95% of EBay watches in this category are re-dials so watch out!

Here a few original black dialed 60's Seamasters, all glossy and gilt.

 

wow, both nice, but the gold one is beautiful. I'm going to save photos (hope that's OK) so I can compare to ones that I see.

 

Yes, glossy and gilt.

 

Yes, that's a nice example, but looks more 50's to me.

 

Actually three different watches. The gold one is gold top.

 

Yes, correct. But the effect is the same, isn't it?

 

Absolutely

 

As above be very wary of black Seamasters on eBay, most if not all are redials. Any original ones at the right price will be snapped up quickly.

A couple of mine.

166.020


166.010


They also come in dark grey. 166.020 9ct.

 

Did you pick up that .010 last year on OF? You were the one!?!

 

Hi @Shabbaz, no it was a snatch and grab ‘buy it now’ on eBay about 18 months ago. The owner went over to Rolex so he decided to offload.

 

Ah. Nice one!

 

Now I know why I'm getting hooked on vintage Omegas: there are some great looking watches around!

 

Please come here and ask for opinions before you buy your next watch.