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  1. timetraveller Sep 26, 2012

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    Hi,
    I have always been an avid admirer of Vintage Omega’s, in particular the classic 1950’s and 1960’s circa Seamaster Deville’s. My only concern is that I don’t know enough about the variants of models and how to make sure that the one I’m buying is genuine (especially being in Australia, makes it hard when most are on offer from the US or UK.) I have noticed a lot of people have repainted faces, I’m scared of buying a ‘Frankenwatch’ (I was warned by an Omega shop attendant in Melbourne to be careful for automatic movements too big for the case, apparently quite common on the used market and the auto-wind weights then rub the caseback.)
    As such, I would appreciate some advice from someone familiar with vintage Omega watches. I came across the http://www.omegawatches.com/spirit/history/vintage-omegas website which allows a search of the database (all their watches, I assume) by case # and calibre #. When I tried to check the eBay listings using this database, I found that many of the offerings on EBay do not match! Is it common practice to replace cases? or movements? Or am I misinterpreting what the Omega database tells me?

    For example take the listing here: This says a Cal #552, with Case #166.002. However, as per the Omega website, for case # 166.002 a match with caliber #552 cannot be! (or vice versa, a search by calibre type 552 does not match to that case). If I use this criteria, I pretty much eliminate many "good looking" watches described as minty (many from Powersellers with good feedback).

    Am I missing something here?? I’m keen to get a good classic Omega and I’m told that once you get your first vintage Omega, it becomes a disease and you end up with a fleet, my only concern is that I don’t want to be “DUPED”.
    Any help would be immensely appreciated.
     
  2. ulackfocus Sep 26, 2012

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    There are a lot of shenanigans on eBay. The one thing all sellers have in common is they want your money. Some are honest, some are not. Caveat Emptor. You can always ask here about potential purchases. We often comment / critique listings for members.

    The first thing you should know is that automatic Seamaster De Villes (SMDV) were only offered from 1963 to 1967. The words Seamaster and De Ville didn't appear on an automatic watch before 1963, and sometime in late 1967 the De Ville became it's own line separate from the Seamaster line.

    The other thing is that the Omega Vintage Database is incomplete.
     
  3. cicindela Steve @ ΩF Staff Member Sep 26, 2012

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    You are welcome to vet any pieces here. You can even ask about value
     
  4. timetraveller Sep 27, 2012

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    Thanks for your help guys! I appreciate it.
    There are a few that I currently have my eye on, if you wouldn't mind critiquing them?
    #1SEAMASTER AUTO SS
    http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-MEN...127906165?pt=Wristwatches&hash=item337c401375Purchases made through these links may earn this site a commission from the eBay Partner Network
    #2Omega Seamaster 18k Yellow Gold Manual Wind Watch Caliber 267 Circa 1956
    http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Ome...985660192?pt=Wristwatches&hash=item4abc3c7b20Purchases made through these links may earn this site a commission from the eBay Partner Network
    #3 1964 Vintage Omegas Seamaster De Ville Automatic Stainless Steel
    http://www.ebay.com/itm/1964-Vintag...975143855?pt=Wristwatches&hash=item416b6c73afPurchases made through these links may earn this site a commission from the eBay Partner Network
    #4, 1969 GOLD CAPPED OMEGA SEAMASTER AUTO WATCH.
    http://www.ebay.com/itm/CLASSIC-196...460456163?pt=Wristwatches&hash=item5199122ce3Purchases made through these links may earn this site a commission from the eBay Partner Network
    #5, 1958 Seamaster
    http://www.ebay.com/itm/CLASSIC-195...547037374?pt=Wristwatches&hash=item519e3b4cbePurchases made through these links may earn this site a commission from the eBay Partner Network
    #6 Seamaster
    http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Ome...856373058?pt=Wristwatches&hash=item35c01cb342Purchases made through these links may earn this site a commission from the eBay Partner Network
    #7 Vintage Omega Seamaster
    http://www.ebay.com/itm/MENS-OMEGA-...914249542?pt=Wristwatches&hash=item336f83ef46Purchases made through these links may earn this site a commission from the eBay Partner Network
    #8, 1957 seamaster
    http://www.ebay.com/itm/1957-Omega-...990277039?pt=Wristwatches&hash=item4abc82edafPurchases made through these links may earn this site a commission from the eBay Partner Network
    #9 196 seamaster
    http://www.ebay.com/itm/1964-Vintag...975143855?pt=Wristwatches&hash=item416b6c73afPurchases made through these links may earn this site a commission from the eBay Partner Network
     
  5. MSNWatch Vintage Omega Aficionado Staff Member Sep 27, 2012

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    Looked at all of them. Considering condition and price, none of the watches look interesting to me.
     
  6. timetraveller Sep 28, 2012

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    Fair enough,
    What about these..
    http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Omega-Au...00813493090?pt=AU_Watches&hash=item2ec16abb62Purchases made through these links may earn this site a commission from the eBay Partner Network
    &
    http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/330797462465?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649Purchases made through these links may earn this site a commission from the eBay Partner Network
     
  7. ulackfocus Sep 28, 2012

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    1) Too expensive.
    2) Ick. Parts watch at best given the condition.
    3) WAY too high. These sell for $500 - $625 in MINT condition. With that stained dial, I can't see it going for more than $400.
    4) Again, too high of a price. Dials with that bad of a case of measels won't bring the kind of money the seller is asking. He'd be lucky to get $475.
    5) There's been moisture in that watch and the asking price is several hundred more that it's worth.
    6) Man, it seems ALL the eBay sellers are asking premuim prices for substandard watches. Pass on this too.
    7) A bit more realistic on the price but not in good condition.
    8) Hmmmm, there's a recurring theme developing. Pass on this also.
    9) Same listing as #3.


    1) Meh. $300 tops, and that's only if I could get the seller to show me better & bigger pics to be sure it isn't a redial and the case hasn't been polished to death.
    2) Geez, no bids with a starting price of $750? :rolleyes: Probably because $450 would have been a more realistic place to start.