Buying my first vintage Omega Constellation

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He said me that omega had an option for a cyclops crystal but I dont know if its true or not.
That is true. Easy way to tell if original is to look for the Omega symbol in the center of the crystal.

Are the markers gold? Some steel Constellations had dials with gold markers, star and "Omega".

Watch is not in the greatest condition, but price is fair for what it is. You would be better served to spend more and get more.
gatorcpa
 
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That is true. Easy way to tell if original is to look for the Omega symbol in the center of the crystal.

Are the markers gold? Some steel Constellations had dials with gold markers, star and "Omega".

Watch is not in the greatest condition, but price is fair for what it is. You would be better served to spend more and get more.
gatorcpa
It has the omega logo in the middle but I will definetly change it cause it is in a very bad shape and I dont really care about the acrylic so much the markers are silver
 
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most of the dirt and yellowness you see is not on the dial , its on the crystal so I will ask him to clean in and make a service cause its his job so no cost for him , if I like the results maybe I will buy it

I think any watchmaker would see things a bit differently here, servicing watches is how he makes his money! I can't imagine him servicing it for free, more likely around €150 plus crown and crystal costs.
 
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I think any watchmaker would see things a bit differently here, servicing watches is how he makes his money! I can't imagine him servicing it for free, more likely around €150 plus crown and crystal costs.
we will see maybe its sserviced and needs only glass and polish
 
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Even if you change the glass keep it. Or try to polish the glass with polywatch by yourself. You will be surprised...
 
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Even if you change the glass keep it. Or try to polish the glass with polywatch by yourself. You will be surprised...
I told the same thing to my watchmaker he said it will get full of cracks
 
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I told the same thing to my watchmaker he said it will get full of cracks

😕 Not true.
 
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I told the same thing to my watchmaker he said it will get full of cracks
If they crystal has internal cracks, Polywatch can’t fix it.

However, if there are only scratches on the outside, Polywatch is perfect. Will make crystal look brand new. Just make sure you cover the watch case, especially if it is gold plated or capped.
gatorcpa
 
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It will be interesting to see if this comes to be true. Ever since I have been collecting watches and participating on forums, I have read comments like this from experienced collectors, and it certainly seems like a plausible viewpoint.

However, the trend over the past 5 years has actually been the opposite IMO. Top-notch examples are holding their value or rising, but flawed examples are bringing weaker and weaker prices. With the maturation of the vintage watch market, the "condition gap" is growing, and I am therefore more focused on condition than ever before.

well we could both be right. I suppose one variable would be geographic location and whether watching the market online vs boots on the ground. I can confidently say watches such as the one the OP posted have risen in value in all the locales I usually hunt in...the south pacific, hong kong and the tri-state USA region. a few years ago I could have bought stuff like that for $100 complete with bracelet but those days are gone now. we can triple that price nowadays and I predict it's going to keep going up as more people get into collecting. these "start-up" watches have a lot of appeal especially if they are honest examples. even some hipster hodinkee types embrace the rough and tumble appeal of these things so the prices are surely going to rise.
 
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Thay pictures do not help much. But I think that the dial had some issues that you need to fix. I think, you could ask for 100 less for the watch
 
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If they crystal has internal cracks, Polywatch can’t fix it.

However, if there are only scratches on the outside, Polywatch is perfect. Will make crystal look brand new. Just make sure you cover the watch case, especially if it is gold plated or capped.
gatorcpa
he said its in a very bad shape and if he tries to buff it it will get worse
 
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he said its in a very bad shape and if he tries to buff it it will get worse

Well, if it is in bad shape because of a lot of scratches, it can absolutely be restored with fine grades of sandpaper and polishing compound. There are many success stories on the forum, with incredible before and after photos. It makes no sense to say it will get worse. If there are internal cracks within the crystal, then polishing won't fix those cracks. It should be obvious to you from looking at the crystal if it is scratched or cracked, so you tell us.

Here is a thread I posted on the topic: https://omegaforums.net/threads/cry...al-benrus-type-i-content.102629/#post-1341363
 
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Thay pictures do not help much. But I think that the dial had some issues that you need to fix. I think, you could ask for 100 less for the watch
I will surely bargain for a lower price. Yes I know they are not the best quality and I didnt got a snap of the movement ..
 
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Well, if it is in bad shape because of a lot of scratches, it can absolutely be restored with fine grades of sandpaper and polishing compound. There are many success stories on the forum, with incredible before and after photos. It makes no sense to say it will get worse. If there are internal cracks within the crystal, then polishing won't fix those cracks. It should be obvious to you from looking at the crystal if it is scratched or cracked, so you tell us.

Here is a thread I posted on the topic: https://omegaforums.net/threads/cry...al-benrus-type-i-content.102629/#post-1341363
I will surely ask for the original acrylic and if he doesnt polish it I will take it to another watchmaker or make it on my own
 
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Well, if it is in bad shape because of a lot of scratches, it can absolutely be restored with fine grades of sandpaper and polishing compound. There are many success stories on the forum, with incredible before and after photos. It makes no sense to say it will get worse. If there are internal cracks within the crystal, then polishing won't fix those cracks. It should be obvious to you from looking at the crystal if it is scratched or cracked, so you tell us.

Here is a thread I posted on the topic: https://omegaforums.net/threads/cry...al-benrus-type-i-content.102629/#post-1341363
Wow I saw your polishing results looks fantastic
 
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Wow I saw your polishing results looks fantastic

Thank you. It's easy to do, just takes a little patience. For that particular watch, it's not easy to find the correct domed crystal, so it was worth some effort to restore it.
 
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he said its in a very bad shape and if he tries to buff it it will get worse

Some of you are second-guessing the owner's professional watchmaker, with hands-on experience, on an online forum? Seriously?

Tom
 
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Some of you are second-guessing the owner's professional watchmaker, with hands-on experience, on an online forum? Seriously?
Is that not allowed? On an online forum?
 
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Is that not allowed? On an online forum?

It shows poor judgement at the least. You never second-guess the man on the ground. You disrespect him.

Tom