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Black waffle dial gamble (poll)

Willi
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There’s a watch that I like the dial. The rest of the watch is questionable. Seller can’t/won’t open the back to look at the internals.
It’s under $1000

Option À: take a gamble the crystal will clean up nicely and i’ll have gotten my first taste of the dark side for a reasonable price?

Option B: run away and save my money for another day?


E5241E85-CC5F-4C6C-8BC9-554F27E8A301.jpeg AC652EC4-5C6C-4024-A4C8-F8FABEFE693A.jpeg 81EE9011-93CE-4FF9-A739-8F9F6B9E937F.jpeg 741CAAAB-666D-46E8-A271-A96EB387269E.jpeg 789EE9A1-F397-4675-AA5F-7BE6CDB37317.jpeg
 
Zapatta
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Dial looks original and case is unpolished. Swiss made at 6. Crown doesn't look like it belongs to this watch.

EDIT: missed "reasonable price" part. Way overpriced, 500€ max.
Edited:
 
gatorcpa
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Option B all day long and twice on Sunday.

While I think there is a nice original dial under all those scratches, that’s not even close to a $1,000 watch even if in perfect condition.

The fact that a seller is asking that kind of money without being willing to go to a watchmaker is a very bad sign.

Buy the seller, not the watch.
gatorcpa
 
cristos71
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gatorcpa gatorcpa
Option B all day long and twice on Sunday.

While I think there is a nice original dial under all those scratches, that’s not even close to a $1,000 watch even if in perfect condition.

The fact that a seller is asking that kind of money without being willing to go to a watchmaker is a very bad sign.

Buy the seller, not the watch.
gatorcpa

I agree...that watch, in that condition from that kind of seller is a €375-475 watch every day of the week.

You're taking the chance on fixing it up for reasonable money, so shouldn't be paying a premium to a seller as though it's already in top shape
 
Willi
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Thanks for your input @gatorcpa @Zapatta and @cristos71

I’m hearing walk away or don’t pay more than €300 (AUD 550)

I enjoy finding badly treated examples and bringing them back to life. But don’t want to throw good money away for no reason.

thanks again
 
MtV
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300€ would be pretty good - I’d also estimate the range mentioned above by @cristos71

The dial might have damage, though. You’ll need a new crown and who knows how the movement is holding up. Additionally, note that, even though it might sound superficial, this isn’t marked Seamaster on the dial, which does have a negative effect on the value.
 
ConElPueblo
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MtV MtV
300€ would be pretty good - I’d also estimate the range mentioned above by @cristos71

The dial might have damage, though. You’ll need a new crown and who knows how the movement is holding up. Additionally, note that, even though it might sound superficial, this isn’t marked Seamaster on the dial, which does have a negative effect on the value.

It's likely to be a 2639, none of which were labelled Seamaster.

I would probably value the watch a bit higher than others here, but as everyone else a fair bit lower than $1,000.
 
hejsam
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With correct crown and good functional movement I don't think there is a problem to fetch 1000$ if the dial is flawless.
But without knowing how good/bad the dial is there is no way anyone would pay half that even.
 
Willi
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I’ve offered €350 euro and we’ll see what trouble I get into 😗
 
MtV
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ConElPueblo ConElPueblo
It's likely to be a 2639, none of which were labelled Seamaster.

I know, I think the similar ref that existed with and without the Seamaster label is the 2792? I didn’t make myself perfectly clear here I suppose, so thanks 😀

Anyway, I meant that as a general information. A 36mm Seamaster of this period would fetch more money than this, and I’ve found that labeled Omegas were always easier to sell.
 
cristos71
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The range I gave is what I'd be willing to pay, always leaving a little something on the table for myself after restoration is complete. There's nothing worse IMO than being deeper in than a watch is worth.

The watch is a clearly being sold by an inexperienced private seller, that much can be seen by the old spring bars, grubby crystal, lack of movement pictures, etc, etc.

It's probably been in a drawer for 40 years so a service is 100% needed plus a crown. So factoring in around €200 for a service and maybe €50 for a crown I'd be looking at a total outlay of €625-725 on the wrist.

Now if the dial is perfect that's great as the case looks in very good shape, and if the dial isn't perfect it is a watch that can still be enjoyed as I haven't overpaid.
 
ConElPueblo
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cristos71 cristos71
The range I gave is what I'd be willing to pay, always leaving a little something on the table for myself after restoration is complete. There's nothing worse IMO than being deeper in than a watch is worth.

The watch is a clearly being sold by an inexperienced private seller, that much can be seen by the old spring bars, grubby crystal, lack of movement pictures, etc, etc.

It's probably been in a drawer for 40 years so a service is 100% needed plus a crown. So factoring in around €200 for a service and maybe €50 for a crown I'd be looking at a total outlay of €625-725 on the wrist.

Now if the dial is perfect that's great as the case looks in very good shape, and if the dial isn't perfect it is a watch that can still be enjoyed as I haven't overpaid.

Yeah, there's always the question of how to evaluate something. I wouldn't personally pay more than you, but I respect that the market seemingly feels otherwise. Black dialed and bulls-eye 30mm Omegas from this era have spiked (relatively - it's not a Rolex!) in value the last few years and they are now at a place where there is no chance I will buy another one in an open sale any time soon.
 
Willi
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Update: it’s now mine for equivalent €352.59.
Will see where a clean up and a service gets me.

If nothing else an exhilarating and (thanks to this thread) educational experience acquiring a first black dial.

cheers
 
skyblue314
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Yes, please keep us posted. Curious to see which shop you end up tagging to do the repairs.
 
Willi
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skyblue314 skyblue314
Yes, please keep us posted. Curious to see which shop you end up tagging to do the repairs.
Yes we’ll when it comes to repairs I will probably return to OF for advice there too 😉
 
Willi
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Ok update 1.0
Watch has arrived. Pretty beat up but wound ok and started ticking away nicely. A lot of age and grime. But I gave it a quick clean and the pic is below. Case back was another story. It’s stuck on WELL.
I will have to pass it in to a watch maker to really get into it as it’s beyond my ability or willingness to go further. Already some marks on the case from previous attempts.
C7CE9CB5-B3DD-4AAA-B9AA-EFF3509E1A75.jpeg 6D9EACCA-67F2-4C76-BA37-EE43289CF379.jpeg
 
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MtV
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That’s always an exciting process, isn’t it. 😀

Dial looks nice indeed. Interestingly, due to the foggy crystal, it went unnoticed before that the hands are an incorrect combination. Hour and is dauphine, minute looks like a kind of alpha hand, and my uneducated guess would be that the second also doesn’t belong to this watch.

The indices are lovely btw! Keep us posted how you proceed.
 
cristos71
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Willi Willi
Update: it’s now mine for equivalent €352.59.
Will see where a clean up and a service gets me.

If nothing else an exhilarating and (thanks to this thread) educational experience acquiring a first black dial.

cheers

I'd be happy I didn't pay more, it's certainly had a hard life!
 
watchyouwant
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If you are in Australia, send me a PM for a reasonable priced Omega Watchmaker, if you want. I had a feeling, that this dial would be nice. Well done.
 
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