Community Stories

Can anyone offer help with this watch please

S
Posts
63
Likes
57
Maskelyne Maskelyne
I think that the watch and bracelet with it´s high glossy gilt dial is stunning. Just get it serviced by a watchmaker familiar to vintage watches, and also replace the crystal. I reckon that you are going to use it and not selling it and I asses the watch as all genuine.
I say it again - the dial is stunning in my opinion 😀
Thank you. Yes, I intend to keep it. I don’t think selling it would yield much financially, or at least enough to offset the sentimental value.

It is striking in its unusual appearance.
 
TexOmega
Posts
7,924
Likes
57,291
I just love roller coaster rides.....congratulations.

I think I covered why it starts and stops on its' own, an automatic has a 360degree rotor that winds it as you manipulate it. And as I stated, I wouldn't actually wind it by the crown till serviced.

Do not send to Omega, for them to warranty it, anything they deem substandard will be replaced, and you may or may not get the original parts(dial/hands/crown!!!!!!!!) back. They will also polish it whether you instruct otherwise, sometimes.

A WM with experience with vintage watches is the person to seek, and members here can recommend a few if you state where you are located.
 
MtV
Posts
3,199
Likes
12,620
Also: Thanks for posting the pictures here, responding well to some initial doubts about the originality of your Connie and putting in effort with your research. I’m sure you’ll enjoy this fine watch for years to come after a service. 😀
 
janice&fred
Posts
4,593
Likes
10,791
Hmmm...It's probably just me but I got hit hard again for the 2nd time in this thread with Deja Vu. Where are you from again Sockie?
 
S
Posts
63
Likes
57
TexOmega TexOmega
I just love roller coaster rides.....congratulations.

I think I covered why it starts and stops on its' own, an automatic has a 360degree rotor that winds it as you manipulate it. And as I stated, I wouldn't actually wind it by the crown till serviced.

Do not send to Omega, for them to warranty it, anything they deem substandard will be replaced, and you may or may not get the original parts(dial/hands/crown!!!!!!!!) back. They will also polish it whether you instruct otherwise, sometimes.

A WM with experience with vintage watches is the person to seek, and members here can recommend a few if you state where you are located.
I’m in UK, Scotland, central belt near Glasgow or Edinburgh.
 
PlainVanilla
Posts
861
Likes
1,596
Wow such a fascinating thread! Congrats on the watch! Get it serviced and wear it proudly. 😀
 
Peemacgee
Posts
5,564
Likes
8,622
S Sockie
I’m in UK, Scotland, central belt near Glasgow or Edinburgh.

there are a couple of recommended watchmakers in the UK.
some are members.
Watchguy @Mitka
Chris @ChrisN
STS
Simon Freese (exSTS)

These people know vintage watches and won’t cost an arm and leg or spoil your watch.
If your crystal isn’t cracked have it polished rather than replaced.
 
SkunkPrince
Posts
5,636
Likes
5,792
Peemacgee Peemacgee
If your crystal isn’t cracked have it polished rather than replaced.

Maybe. Some of us (me) disagree because of water resistance. That said, if it has its original crystal, which profile seems to not be available any more, then it might make sense to retain it. But crystal, crown, and seals are usually changed at a service for water resistance reasons.

You'll need to decide for yourself what is more important.
 
bardamu
Posts
1,369
Likes
5,195
Very nice watch and super useful thread, congrats to OP for the assessment.
 
S
Posts
63
Likes
57
So watch has been taken to a jeweller, the back opened, and details noted.

Year 1958
Serial number 16725366

It is being sent off for an estimate of work needing done.

thank you everyone so far!
 
0BBDF58C-2DFC-4AE4-9450-8DD2A4526CB0.jpeg 98DEB18F-B11E-4291-A457-F494C0623155.jpeg
efauser
Posts
8,704
Likes
14,604
Did you get a photo of the inside of the case back? That's where the reference number is. That would answer a lot of questions.
 
Noddyman
Posts
1,116
Likes
1,777
Hi @Sockie,
As per @Peemacgee comments above and my PM yesterday. You need to make sure your jeweller is sending your watch to a reputable watchmaker who understands and is sympathetic towards vintage watches. In the wrong hands it could be ruined forever.
 
Peemacgee
Posts
5,564
Likes
8,622
Hi @Sockie

I was just typing this as @Noddyman replied

Unless the jeweller you mention has a watchmaker renowned for work on vintage watches, (and Omegas in particular) I personally wouldn’t have let them have my watch, even for an estimate.
Whilst not hugely valuable, (It’s still probably a£1500 watch) it is a very unusual example and needs to be treated very very carefully by someone sympathetic to vintage watches.
Too often we’ve seen well-meaning jobbing watchmakers polish a watch to death or scrape old lume off dials as ‘a favour’.
Here’s hoping you get it back untouched and can send it to a specialist.
 
S
Posts
63
Likes
57
Noddyman Noddyman
Hi @Sockie,
As per @Peemacgee comments above and my PM yesterday. You need to make sure your jeweller is sending your watch to a reputable watchmaker who understands and is sympathetic towards vintage watches. In the wrong hands it could be ruined forever.
Thanks. Yes, it is going to a specialist in England for assessment. They say I will get a full evaluation, list of issues/items to be serviced, then renovation options I can chose from.

it was implied that I had two main options: Either do as little as possible to keep it as original as possible for collector resale, or renovate it to a standard where it looks ‘newer’, to wear myself.

Clearly there will be a middle ground in there somewhere. So I will likely be back to ask advice if the forum is willing/not getting sick of this saga .
 
MtV
Posts
3,199
Likes
12,620
S Sockie
So I will likely be back to ask advice if the forum is willing/not getting sick of this saga .

Quite the opposite, actually. 😀 Also, the 2 alleged options do mix. Why wouldn’t you be able to wear a watch that was left in an original condition, albeit cleaned and serviced so that it works perfectly? Doesn’t make sense to me.
 
S
Posts
63
Likes
57
MtV MtV
Quite the opposite, actually. 😀 Also, the 2 alleged options do mix. Why wouldn’t you be able to wear a watch that was left in an original condition, albeit cleaned and serviced so that it works perfectly? Doesn’t make sense to me.
Agreed, but there is a personal choice in there somewhere.

I like things to look new/in a good state. However I am conflicted by the obligation to keep the watch as original as possible.

As mentioned previously, I am totally new to this vintage watch game. So I surely have a lot to learn, not just about this watch, but the ethos of preserving these historical pieces.

The watch will be away for 1-2 weeks initially. So I have time to be further informed by forums such as this. Great stuff so far!
 
S
Posts
63
Likes
57
S Sockie
Agreed, but there is a personal choice in there somewhere.

I like things to look new/in a good state. However I am conflicted by the obligation to keep the watch as original as possible.

As mentioned previously, I am totally new to this vintage watch game. So I surely have a lot to learn, not just about this watch, but the ethos of preserving these historical pieces.

The watch will be away for 1-2 weeks initially. So I have time to be further informed by forums such as this. Great stuff so far!
Also, in a matter of days, I’ve gone from been given the impression that there were issues with the watch’s originality, to now realising that the watch is 100% original and unusual.

The chap who inspected the watch commented that the watch case back was entirely clean inside, and the gasket intact. There was only a single area of dirt around the crown stem, which gave him the impression that the watch had never been opened before.
 
Peemacgee
Posts
5,564
Likes
8,622
Option 1 only please, this is quite a rare watch.
And as @MtV says, then wear it yourself.

All your watch needs is the case and bracelet cleaned in a sonic bath, the movement serviced and cleaned (and parts replaced if need be)
It needs nothing else, unless the lume in the hands require stabilising, or the crystal needs polishing.
no polishing of the case, it will look much much better after a sonic bath, I promise.

it will be interesting to see what they quote for a basic service. (Especially with the jeweller’s markup)

did they say who they were sending it to?
 
PlainVanilla
Posts
861
Likes
1,596
I second the other members here. Get it cleaned and serviced but kept in its original state. It looks stunning. You can spice things up by changing straps. Leather on Monday, steel bracelet on Tuesday, Nato on Wednesday...
 
84 More Posts...
Sign up or log in to reply...

Similar threads

B

Help with identifying this watch please

bob123 Vintage Omega Watches Help, Discussion and Advice
Canuck
Canuck
Posts
4
Views
310
N

Can anyone help me with this watch?

Niblo Vintage Omega Watches Help, Discussion and Advice
DON
DON
Posts
2
Views
259
jove14

Does anyone know the maker of this watch please

jove14 Unique Watches & Complications
jove14
jove14
Posts
5
Views
1K
rahbarin

Help with this watch please

rahbarin Vintage Omega Watches Help, Discussion and Advice
rahbarin
rahbarin
Posts
15
Views
1K
tsaballin09878

Help with this watch

tsaballin09878 Vintage Omega Watches Help, Discussion and Advice
Fulton8or
Fulton8or
Posts
4
Views
1K
L

Help identifying anything wrong with this watch

Leomf Vintage Omega Watches Help, Discussion and Advice
SOG53
SOG53
Posts
3
Views
2K