Hi Folks, I recently bought a Seamaster Cosmic with a calibre 752 inside. Well, the watch arrived today and I am a bit disappointed, because it runs 3 seconds per hour too fast. Is that a normal imprecision for this calibre or should I send it back? Here is the link to the auction: http://m.ebay.de/itm/Omega-Seamaster-COSMIC-Automatic-/121776836349?nav=SEARCHPurchases made through these links may earn this site a commission from the eBay Partner Network
75x is a very reliable movement. It probably needs to be serviced and adjusted. Get it to a watch maker. Always factor a service into the price of a vintage watch. Best of luck!
Thanks for your reply! I see your point, But it says in the ad that the watch got an overhaul recently and rund very precise. The price was not exactly a steal so I am a bit undecided now...
Just because it says overhauled, you do not know the quality of the work (or it was really done), nor does that mean it was timed correctly. Running very precise is real subjective. Precise compared to what? And what would you expect the seller to say? After all you are buying something that is used. Every pocket watch I buy, I at least clean and oil. I haven't graduated to wrist watches so they go to a watchmaker for a clean/oil/adjust. Sometimes even if the seller provides paperwork that it was done, I have it done again.
Guys, philosophical discussions about the meaning of precision is not exactly what helps a vintage newbie in this situation. All I am asking for is your experience with the cal 752 and what I can expect from it. I also found out that the reserve only lasts for a couple of hours, which surprises me as well. Oddboy, thanks, I also thought about this. Will see what the seller says!
So we're looking at what, 1minute and 13 seconds fast per day. Maybe not chronometer worthy but I could live with it. I couldn't live with a short reserve. Are you sure it got good and wound? It sure takes a pretty picture...
It should have a 40hr power reserve. Wind in manually 60 full turns, then see how long it runs. If it is less than 30hrs, then it needs a service. 1minute plus a day is also a clear sign it needs a service. A good watchmaker should be able to get a movement like this to +/-10sec per day.
For a new to you vintage watch circa 1970 seems a good service would help a great deal!! Doesn't seem much else to be concerned with. A service would also ferret out issues....if any Best wishes.
Most dealers in vintage watches know that no potential buyer is going to be prepared to re-imburse the dealer for a thorough, professional service. Over and above a fair price for the watch. So what constitutes a thorough service in many instances is a lick and a promise. You need to sort out the run time problem, first. Either wear it full time for 24-hours so it winds fully. OR wind it manually by winding it with the crown for 30 seconds or so. Then make a judgement on the run time. If you still only get 3 or 4 hours run time, I'd suggest return it. Otherwise, get a quote from a repair shop on what they deem the condition to be, and ask the vendor to split with you. OR simply return it. In my view, if you buy a used watch from someone you don't know, and it doesn't need a bunch of work, consider it a bonus! And, if you were expecting us to provide a complete answer to your questions, it really isn't possible without the chance to examine the watch.
As above have said get any watch you buy second hand serviced. Few hundred dollars and piece of mind for the next 5 years. All good, could have been a brick in the parcel...........
Great, thanks guys, very helpful and great to get so many replies. Probably a silly question, but can you tell me in what position the crowd needs to be so that it winds the reserve? Couldn't figure it out so far. Standard position does not seem to do anything, pulling it out to level one moves the hands and second level seems to be for the day date only. Oh, and if anyone knows an Omega specialist in Germany, I'd be more than happy to get a hint! Here ist a picture, by the way:
If you want to wind the movement do not pull out the crown - just turn the winding crown. If you put the watch near to your ear while you wind it you can hear the winding action inside... hope this helps erich
Thank you Erich, it worked and the reserve now lasted longer. But I had to put a lot of force on the crown to turn it then heard it klicking inside. Now what also is strange is that if I pull out the crown once to adjust the time, the second hand actually does not stop but keeps running. I have never seen that before and actually am wondering if this is normal. The seller days he does not pay repair costs and only offers me to return the item if i am not happy. I like the watch but I am unsure if it is worth to invest another couple of hundred bucks given what i paid already. What do you think?
Normal to have to exert force to wind it. It WILL wind itself, after all, on your wrist. This older calibre is not equipped with a hack, like modern Quartz watches are, so it will keep running when you set the hands. Are you certain you are ready for the differences between mechanical watches, and quartz that you are likely more accustomed to? Why not return it and buy a Quartz?
My friend's 1022 is more or less from the same time (I was thibking??) and the hand stood still after pulling the crown, so I was wondering if the 752 Should do the same. I never had a quartz watch and I don't like quartz watches. Please don't speculate ;-) But I am new to vintage watches, hence all my questions! I already learned though that the emotional ups and downs they give their owners are similar to vintage cars...
I always plan on a full service unless I purchase from someone I trust who says it has been serviced, and count on $300 or so for this kind of watch. I did not look at the photos, but there are a lot of factors that help determine price, and I'd say this was towards the top of the range. I adjust my 561 and 751 Connies maybe every 2 months (I take trains to work). My Seamaster movements after servicing are pretty much the same. My first Constellation was a front loader that the persons I gave it to did not really understand, and I learned a lot from that experience. I have spent as much servicing it as I did for the purchase, and more than it is worth in total. These are all judgement calls, but you need to know the possibilities and make decisions. If you like it, service it and wear it.
The 1022 has a hack which stops the watch when in a hand setting position as you will see in the link to Roland Ranfft's movement archive. http://www.ranfft.de/cgi-bin/bidfun-db.cgi?10&ranfft&&2uswk&Omega_1022
You decided the watch was worth it already. It's a great looking watch with a great quality movement. If you envision yourself keeping it for a long time, you would be servicing the watch every 5 years as a matter of responsible ownership. Start now, pay for service and consider the cost of service just that-a part of ownership that will occur every so often.