Buying vintage Seamaster for my Father-In-Law

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Moe_Wilensky

·Oct 13, 2016

Hello internet.

Hoping for some advice on buying a vintage omega wrist watch (shocker, I know), and possibly a link to someone reputable on here that has what I am looking for.

I've never bought a watch before and I've never bought anything on eBay either (and would like to keep it that way), so needless to say I am out of my element on many accounts.

I am trying to find a watch for my father-in-law who is retiring from nearly 50 years as a family doctor.

Ideal watch:

-Probably a Seamaster
-Super simple (day date at most)
-Solid gold (really sweet stainless watch could work)
-Small diameter face (look good on a smaller wrist)
-Original dial (little patina is fine/desirable)
-Automatic
-Cool looking relief image in case back
-budget really depends on what I am getting, how much I like it and how much faith I have in the seller.

I like vintage items to tell a story so natural wear is good, but I also dont want to have to invest a bunch to get it ready to give.

If nothing else I would love to know what to look out for (good and bad), or just nerd out on some nice watches. I've never been into them before but going down the internet Omega rabbit hole has definitely made me understand the appeal,

Thanks in advance.

Ill post some pics from eBay of the sort of aesthetic I am looking for...

Edited: Oct 14, 2016

 

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Moe_Wilensky

·Oct 13, 2016

Some Pictures to give an idea of the aesthetic I am after...

Edited: Oct 13, 2016

 

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Foo2rama

·Oct 13, 2016·Keeps his worms in a ball instead of a can.

Well there is a lot to learn and a lot of traps out there with bad sellers and bad watches.

Im not sure anyone here will vet 7 watches for you and do all the research and price checking. I can recommend the sales section on this forum. The sellers are all known members in good standing and the watches should be correctly described.

 

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Moe_Wilensky

·Oct 13, 2016

Thanks foo2.

I am definitely hoping that a seller on this forum will have something that works. The eBay links are just to give an idea of what I am looking for, sorry for the confusion. I'll delete the links and just post pictures.

Edited: Oct 14, 2016

 

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Foo2rama

·Oct 13, 2016·Keeps his worms in a ball instead of a can.

Moe_Wilensky

Thanks foo2.

I am definitely hoping the a seller on this forum will have something that works. The eBay links are just to give an idea of what I am looking for, sorry for the confusion. I'll delete the links and just post pictures.

No it's fine please leave them.

 

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Moe_Wilensky

·Oct 14, 2016

Items I've considered from eBay, but did not pull the trigger for one reason or another.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/131961630114
https://www.ebay.com/itm/232107628256
https://www.ebay.com/itm/131961631560
https://www.ebay.com/itm/291900292424
https://www.ebay.com/itm/391585940686
https://www.ebay.com/itm/142138684264
https://www.ebay.com/itm/162222120413

 

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Moe_Wilensky

·Oct 14, 2016

Probably a little rough, but I still like the look

Edited: Oct 14, 2016

 

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Edward53

·Oct 14, 2016

I've never seen an original Seamaster crosshair dial where the lines stop for the text.

 

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Moe_Wilensky

·Oct 14, 2016

Edward53

I've never seen an original Seamaster crosshair dial where the lines stop for the text.

Noted. Thanks for the insight. This is exact the sort of stuff I'd like to know.

 

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Edward53

·Oct 14, 2016

Of the ebay links you posted:
1 is a glaring redial. Note the heavy, wonky lettering and minute markers different distances from the hour markers.
2 looks real to me but lugs overpolished (all sharpness lost) and well overpriced.
3 looks real to me but lugs damaged and non-Omega case so not ideal.
4 I am sure this is a redial. Script looks heavy and minute markers in wrong place.
5 "OMEGA" on the dial seems to start off ok and then loses it! What's going on there? Only 3 photos is not good enough.
6 has taken a few knocks but looks all genuine to me.
7 looks fine to me. It only has one "T" next to "Swiss Made" but I think some were made like this (not 100% sure).
So basically, buying a vintage Omega is full of traps for the newcomer. It's not something to be rushed.

 

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ConElPueblo

·Oct 14, 2016

Edward53

I've never seen an original Seamaster crosshair dial where the lines stop for the text.

Loads of the 70's models have that - this one doesn't strike me as being awfully wrong, could well be a 10XX version. Still not very good looking, though!

 

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Edward53

·Oct 14, 2016

ConElPueblo

Loads of the 70's models have that - this one doesn't strike me as being awfully wrong, could well be a 10XX version. Still not very good looking, though!

Accepted, the Cosmics etc do and I should have qualified that statement. But I've never seen it in a 60s model and the case shown above is very 60s-looking, 500 or 600 series I would have thought and that type of dial doesn't seem right to me. I could be wrong and I'm willing to stand corrected, one never stops learning!

 

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Moe_Wilensky

·Oct 14, 2016

Thanks all, appreciate the input. What I am really looking for is a watch for sale on this site that has a similar aesthetic to the watches I posted. I am really hoping to avoid eBay entirely. I have perused the for sale forums but I am have trouble fibdi g exactly what I am looking for. Any advice for a post (location and content) that more effective at accomplishing this? Seems I can't post in the wanted section.

Thanks again...

 

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tyrantlizardrex

·Oct 14, 2016

How about this absoloute stunner that @cristos71 has up for sale?

https://omegaforums.net/threads/omega-ref-2619-guilloche-dial-rose-gold.46907/#post-558876

 

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Moe_Wilensky

·Oct 14, 2016

tyrantlizardrex

How about this absoloute stunner that @cristos71 has up for sale?

https://omegaforums.net/threads/omega-ref-2619-guilloche-dial-rose-gold.46907/#post-558876

This one is on my list, my concern is that it is a bit heavier looking than I had hoped for (and a few mm wider than the 33 or 34 than seems to be the smallest I see around).

 

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tyrantlizardrex

·Oct 14, 2016

A 34mm watch is going to wear incredibly small for most men... 36mm is a real sweet spot... not as chunky as modern offerings... great for sliding under a shirt cuff... large enough to be read with ease.

And this watch is just darned cool. 😎

 

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Moe_Wilensky

·Oct 14, 2016

tyrantlizardrex

A 34mm watch is going to wear incredibly small for most men... 36mm is a real sweet spot... not as chunky as modern offerings... great for sliding under a shirt cuff... large enough to be read with ease.

And this watch is just darned cool. 😎

Noted.

And to expose the depth of my ignorance... what does the little dial do?

 

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Moe_Wilensky

·Oct 14, 2016

Also, any thoughts on why "PayPal accepted only for established OF member"? I thought PP was safe for everyone...

 

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tyrantlizardrex

·Oct 14, 2016

Moe_Wilensky

Noted.

And to expose the depth of my ignorance... what does the little dial do?

That's what's known as a sub seconds dial.

Moe_Wilensky

Also, any thoughts on why "PayPal accepted only for established OF member"? I thought PP was safe for everyone...

PayPal carries risk for sellers. A buyer could say they didn't receive the watch, get their money back... and the seller is screwed.

With a bank transfer its safer for the seller, but no protection for the buyer.

Those that have been around a while, build up good trading relations, and the trust that goes with those.

 

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Moe_Wilensky

·Oct 14, 2016

Oh to live in a world without jerks...