Buying advice - first time buying vintage Omega

Jensdemaere · Mar 6, 2020

Hi everyone

I have doing some reading since it will be the first time I'm buying a vintage Omega watch and I have the choice between an "unknown" 1960's Omega (can't really tell which series) at € 300 or an Omega 1964 seamaster (€ 400). Would love to get a bit of advice on this from the experts!

Does this look genuine to you? What would you choose?

Thanks for your reply!

Jensdemaere · Mar 6, 2020

Here are more pictures of the Seamaster.

Jensdemaere · Mar 6, 2020

And of the "unknown"

OMEGuy · Mar 6, 2020

I wouldn't buy any of these two watches, because both are faulty, not described / pictured sufficiently and so overpriced IMO.

It appears to me the "unknown" watch is shown with different hands. Maybe just the pictures?

I'd do some own proper research, so that I know what to look for. Then find out what might be matching and then come here and ask the siginificant questions that still remain.

Dan S · Mar 6, 2020

Be sure you are happy with the dial on the Seamaster 600. When you look closely at all the photos, you will notice significant bubbling, and some scratches below and to the right of center. That sort of damage would probably bother me personally, and it's odd that it's not visible at all in the first photo. I guess it could just be that it's out of focus. I also wonder if the seconds hand has the tip broken off, that would need a bit of research to check.

janice&fred · Mar 6, 2020

OMEGuy
I wouldn't buy any of these two watches, because both are faulty, not described / pictured sufficiently and so overpriced IMO.

faulty? overpriced? how so?

300 euros for the 2nd watch pictured is overpriced? pictures of the watches not sufficient? I think they both are priced reasonably and the pics are fairly good. the OP could always ask for more info and pics if needed but I don't see anything too upsetting about either watch and certainly not the prices.

Dan S · Mar 6, 2020

Regarding the second watch, the minute hand looks a bit wonky, but otherwise the condition looks pretty good. The reference number is inside the case-back, it starts with the digits "13" but I can't read the rest from that photo.

OMEGuy · Mar 6, 2020

janice&fred
faulty? overpriced? how so?

300 euros for the 2nd watch pictured is overpriced? pictures of the watches not sufficient? I think they both are priced reasonably and the pics are fairly good. the OP could always ask for more info and pics if needed but I don't see anything too upsetting about either watch and certainly not the prices.

The first one doesn't come with any movement pics and as @Dan S already stated the second hand is broken.

The second one comes with a damaged case and two different pics that show two different hands and the lugs have been bent.

It appears to me the OP didn't do any homework, so I think there's no reason for a serious recommendation.

janice&fred · Mar 6, 2020

OMEGuy
The first one doesn't come with any movement pics and as @Dan S already stated the second hand is broken.

more pics could be requested and the second hand should not be a deal-breaker. it's a 1964 watch and quite presentable, and the second hand could be replaced at some point in the future.

The second one comes with a damaged case and two different pics that show two different hands and the lugs have been bent.

the hands are the same in both pics. the ding in the case back is no biggie and if, by chance the lugs are tweaked and it's not merely
an optical illusion in the pics, they could be straightened by any competent watch maker in less than 5 minutes. heck I have done it many times myself on old watches.

It appears to me the OP didn't do any homework, so I think there's no reason for a serious recommendation.

I disagree. I would recommend the 2nd watch as it's the best price with a cleaner dial.

Dan S · Mar 6, 2020

janice&fred
I disagree. I would recommend the 2nd watch as it's the best price with a cleaner dial.

Yes, at that asking price it's worth pursuing, especially considering that it may have been serviced last year. I'd suggest the OP get a better look at the hands, especially the minute hand, before making a final decision. In the first photo where it's shown (the second in the thread) that hand looks badly bent, and I don't know if that's accurate, or an artifact of the lighting in that photo. In a later photo it looks much better, or it could be that the hand has been swapped out as @OMEGuy suggests. I also can't tell if the hands have lume, or if the lume has been removed.

I think that the lugs may be ok. The look wonky in some of the photos, but most of them are taken at an angle. In the final one showing it straight on from the back, the lugs look pretty symmetrical. There is a ding on the case-back, but that doesn't bother me excessively given the price.

janice&fred · Mar 6, 2020

Dan S
Yes, at that asking price it's worth pursuing, especially considering that it may have been serviced last year. I'd suggest the OP get a better look at the hands, especially the minute hand, before making a final decision. In the first photo where it's shown (the second in the thread) that hand looks badly bent, and I don't know if that's accurate, or an artifact of the lighting in that photo. In a later photo it looks much better, or it could be that the hand has been swapped out as @OMEGuy suggests. I also can't tell if the hands have lume, or if the lume has been removed.

I think that the lugs may be ok. The look wonky in some of the photos, but most of them are taken at an angle. In the final one showing it straight on from the back, the lugs look pretty symmetrical. There is a ding on the case-back, but that doesn't bother me excessively given the price.

good assessment. I didn't mean to come down excessively on OMEGuy's opinion but I wanted to kinda point out that some of these watches we speak about are quite old and have lived lives so some imperfections should be expected. When a beginner posts pics of a watch for opinions I agree it's important to give detailed assessments but sometimes these assessments can appear as picking a watch apart as if there are showroom examples of the same to be had at similar prices. If an old watch has a decent original dial and the case along with the movement isn't trashed, then the watch is workable. I would be very careful about dismissing/rejecting some of these 50 to 60 yr old watches for very minor details that can be remedied or overlooked and enjoyed as-is.

OMEGuy · Mar 6, 2020

janice&fred
I would be very careful about dismissing/rejecting some of these 50 to 60 yr old watches for very minor details that can be remedied or overlooked and enjoyed as-is.

Conversely, i would be cautious to make buying recommendations to people who have not made their own judgment.

timecube · Mar 6, 2020

OMEGuy
It appears to me the OP didn't do any homework, so I think there's no reason for a serious recommendation.

I wouldn't be so hard on the OP; he very likely has NO idea what to look for or what things are important to scrutinize. I would say the most important piece of homework for someone who is new to this is posting pictures and asking questions on a site like OF.

Hopefully he's now learned a little and will be able to search more diligently.
(And most importantly be unafraid to ask more silly questions!)

janice&fred · Mar 6, 2020

OMEGuy
Conversely, i would be cautious to make buying recommendations to people who have not made their own judgment.

the guy asked which one any one of us would suggest, so what's the problem with answering? I pick door #2.

OMEGuy · Mar 6, 2020

timecube
I wouldn't be so hard on the OP; he very likely has NO idea what to look for or what things are important to scrutinize. I would say the most important piece of homework for someone who is new to this is posting pictures and asking questions on a site like OF.

Hopefully he's now learned a little and will be able to search more diligently.
(And most importantly be unafraid to ask more silly questions!)

I didn't intend to be hard. I guess I just wanted to be serious and fair.

And there's always a third option, when asked whether to chose option 1 or 2: It is chosing none of them. Here, I've got the impression it's better to wait with the first vintage watch purchase until some essential things have been discovered.

Maybe I'm wrong, but that's what I think.

Jensdemaere · Mar 9, 2020

Hi all, thank you so much for your feedback. I did try to do some research on the forum but as stated it's the first time buying a vintage watch. I tried to figure out things to look at , but it's extremely difficult to assess since I have no experience at all buying vintage watches or with Omega watches in general. That's why I value your feedback very very much (both positively and negatively).

DJG2645 · Mar 9, 2020

Jensdemaere
Hi all, thank you so much for your feedback. I did try to do some research on the forum but as stated it's the first time buying a vintage watch. I tried to figure out things to look at , but it's extremely difficult to assess since I have no experience at all buying vintage watches or with Omega watches in general. That's why I value your feedback very very much (both positively and negatively).

hey there,

i was where you are a while ago, I found the things that helped me was honing in on they type of Vintage I was after, down to the model and then learnt as much as possible about the case types, Cal, movements, dials etc. and then used a couple of auction sites to try and spot redials (which I validated through the amazing members on here) - then the more I learnt the further away I got from some of the overpriced and over polished models and soon ended up with my much loved Seamaster 165.02 with continued help from OF members along my way.

You'll get there, keep learning and you'll probably find you are spending many MANY hours reading on here, it is very addictive! 😁

best wishes,
Dave

Edward53 · Mar 9, 2020

I think the best advice for a first vintage is to buy one with no obvious problems. As pointed out above, the first one has a broken seconds hand and some dial issues; the second has a big dent in the case back. Keep looking.

wilderbeast · Mar 9, 2020

DJG2645
hey there,

i was where you are a while ago, I found the things that helped me was honing in on they type of Vintage I was after, down to the model and then learnt as much as possible about the case types, Cal, movements, dials etc. and then used a couple of auction sites to try and spot redials (which I validated through the amazing members on here) - then the more I learnt the further away I got from some of the overpriced and over polished models and soon ended up with my much loved Seamaster 165.02 with continued help from OF members along my way.

You'll get there, keep learning and you'll probably find you are spending many MANY hours reading on here, it is very addictive! 😁

best wishes,
Dave

I think Dave hits the nail on the head here and his words of wisdom will resonate with loads of us here. You want your first piece to be a joy and a keeper, rather than regret, wherever possible. Kudos for asking for opinions first, but fight the impatience until there are better options on the table and arm yourself with as much knowledge as you can muster before you pull the trigger. Good luck!

Buying advice - first time buying vintage Omega

Jensdemaere

Jensdemaere

Jensdemaere

OMEGuy

Dan S

janice&fred

Dan S

OMEGuy

janice&fred

Dan S

janice&fred

OMEGuy

timecube

janice&fred

OMEGuy

Jensdemaere

DJG2645

Edward53

wilderbeast

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