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Chrono24 vs eBay watch purchase

mutha1966
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As a new comer to purchasing a vintage watch, is Chrono24 a better place to focus a search if you are trying to avoid some of the common pitfalls? I understand eBay may offer a diamond in the rough provided the buyer has knowledge/experience, but I’m trying to minimize variables. My intent isn’t for investing, but rather to have an aesthetically pleasing, reliable watch ( 60s Seamaster automatic or manual) to wear on an occasional basis. Thank you for your thoughts.
 
gbesq
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There are good watches and a lot of junk on both platforms. Chrono24 tends to be more expensive, but with far fewer scams than eBay. Both sites offer fairly robust buyer protection. If you’re a beginner, your best bet is to wait until you see something that appeals to you in the private watch sales forum right here on OF. It’s where you’re most likely to find an authentic vintage or modern Omega (and other brands too) in good condition at a fair price.
 
RevZMan123
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Yes, there are unscrupulous sellers on all platforms. Nothing really stopping someone from putting up a shady item but at least here it will get called out. Chrono24 has a decent return policy and eBay has their annoying eval program -- which since they have a track record of misauthenticating boxes and bracelets and the such, it's best you do YOUR research and do YOUR due diligence and ask all YOUR questions BEFORE you buy, not AFTER.
 
Dan S
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You are very well protected on eBay as a buyer. Annoying so, from a seller's perspective. Most of the watches are junk, but some of them are good, and @dsio posts some examples on the eBay thread. C24 has better watch in general, but there are no auctions, and the asking prices are almost uniformly ridiculous.
 
mutha1966
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Thank you for the feedback. I’m trying to tread carefully through what, at times, appears to be a minefield. If it were a vintage car, I’d have no issues, but watches are a different ball game for me.
 
mydeafcat
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gbesq gbesq
There are good watches and a lot of junk on both platforms. Chrono24 tends to be more expensive, but with far fewer scams than eBay. Both sites offer fairly robust buyer protection. If you’re a beginner, your best bet is to wait until you see something that appeals to you in the private watch sales forum right here on OF. It’s where you’re most likely to find an authentic vintage or modern Omega (and other brands too) in good condition at a fair price.

This. 100%. OF is far and away your safest and fairest bet. It’s also a treasure trove of priceless information shared by passionate watch collectors and fanciers.

It’s a damn good thing you came here first!

Here’s your first reading assignment:
https://omegaforums.net/threads/learn-how-to-fish.52603/
 
mutha1966
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Thanks for the info, and I’ve completed my reading assignment prior to first post! I have been reading up on the process of locating and buying a vintage watch, just not comfortable with pulling the trigger.
Questions: As far as movements, are the automatic and manual versions from the 60’s equally dependable for normal use? Following purchase, is it wise to launch the watch to a reputable watch maker for service regardless of its history? Finally, I haven’t located a post recommending specific vintage Omega servicing shops; does such a post exist?
 
Spruce
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In some cases, you can get different sellers offering the same watch.

I bought a 166.010 on Chrono24 from a Japanese seller. The same actual watch was simultaneously offered on eBay by a number of sellers with a 30/40% mark up.
 
wagudc
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mutha1966 mutha1966
Questions: As far as movements, are the automatic and manual versions from the 60’s equally dependable for normal use? Following purchase, is it wise to launch the watch to a reputable watch maker for service regardless of its history?

A serviced Omega movement from the 60s should be quite reliable, automatic or reliable. If the seller provides proof of service from a reputable watchmaker that is good enough. Otherwise, it is a question of how well you know / trust the seller.

mutha1966 mutha1966
Finally, I haven’t located a post recommending specific vintage Omega servicing shops; does such a post exist?

This is location dependent. Start with a google site search with the name of your nearest city, e.g.
upload_2023-11-7_7-35-44.png


In addition to the Private Sales forum here, I would also check out the Watches For Sale forum. It mostly has dealers selling modern watches, but some sellers specialize in vintage pieces, for example @nanjingcigaretes.
 
wagudc
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mutha1966 mutha1966
All great info and recommendations. I am drawn to the watch in the link below, but not sure if I’m not seeing something that should stand out as a warning flag.

https://www.chrono24.com/omega/seamaster--id29970699.htm

I'm afraid that watch is a redial, i.e. the dial has been repainted which massively reduces the value. One huge tell is that Omega would never print minute markers on top of the applied indices. You can also clearly see white paint on the edge of the 4:00 marker. The case has also been severely polished. You want to pass on this one.

I would spend some time with this thread:
https://omegaforums.net/threads/learn-how-to-fish.52603/

upload_2023-11-7_7-52-35.png
 
mydeafcat
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mutha1966 mutha1966
All great info and recommendations. I am drawn to the watch in the link below, but not sure if I’m not seeing something that should stand out as a warning flag.

https://www.chrono24.com/omega/seamaster--id29970699.htm

if you love the 600, a pity you didn't see @dsio post one from eBay on Sunday! Beautiful watch with Arabic numerals. This is a great thread to follow.
https://omegaforums.net/threads/rec...-not-for-inquiries.1790/page-428#post-2256492

When I joined OF in late 2017, these and similar Seamasters were cheap as chips, as they say. Not any longer but deals can be found. Be patient! And do not send your new acquisition to Omega. A qualified watchmaker will ensure it runs well yet keep it's original provenance. A local watchmaker here in Vancouver once told me the manual movements Omega used in the 60's are among his favourites. I have 3 from that era and they run excellently.
 
SOG53
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Follow the recommended watches on eBay thread regularly to get an idea what decent watches look like, and what references appeal to you. Then spend time researching references you like and you will learn a lot. Follow Private Sales and also Watches for Sale (dealers) on OF.
Don’t waste your efforts at this point by poring over boatloads of eBay and Chrono listings with an untrained eye. Focus first on reviewing vetted material here to learn. Many new members post one poor watch after another from eBay and Chrono for advice here. It’s not the best way to learn and also not the most efficient use of OF members time.
However, AFTER you have done your research and find something of interest then that is a good time to bring it here BEFORE you buy, giving your assessment and asking for opinions. Just my thoughts on learning and making an informed purchase.
 
Davidt
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Reading this thread it’s occurred to me that although I’ve bought over 100 vintage watches, probably 50+ of which were from eBay, I haven’t bought a single one from C24.

From my perspective, eBay has mostly trash but with a twice daily search, a diamond in the rough pops up fairly frequently, but you do have to know your onions. EBay has a lot of detractors but I love it as a buyer.
C24 on the other hand just never seemed to strike a favourable balance between barn find watches, price and adequate buyer protection to grab my attention.
 
E
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As a newbie, I found the buyer protection/authenticity guarantee on Ebay MUCH better than C24. Ebay has the watch sent to a professional inspection house to ensure it is as-listed/authentic. C24's guarantee is that you have 14 days on your own to figure out if it is authentic, and as a newbie I'm not confident I could spot a really good fake, nor know a watchmaker I can completely trust to make the judgement for me (and then, could I see them in 2 weeks?).
 
Sharp
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Davidt Davidt
Reading this thread it’s occurred to me that although I’ve bought over 100 vintage watches, probably 50+ of which were from eBay, I haven’t bought a single one from C24.

From my perspective, eBay has mostly trash but with a twice daily search, a diamond in the rough pops up fairly frequently, but you do have to know your onions. EBay has a lot of detractors but I love it as a buyer.
C24 on the other hand just never seemed to strike a favourable balance between barn find watches, price and adequate buyer protection to grab my attention.

I am in the same boat, I have dozens of lovely things on eBay over the years since around 2006, both pocket and wristwatches, but I have never once spotted a watch I deemed worth buying on Chrono24. I have not even come close to hitting the buy button. I wonder if we are bad at searching 😜. Maybe it just depends what you are looking for?

Most recent eBay purchase was a fairly humble 167.005 369 dial with papers a couple of weeks ago, the cleanest with this dial I have seen.

IMG_5311 (1).jpg
 
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