Complete novice looking for his first vintage Omega. Budget?

danielhurst

Also, another stupid question coming up! When it comes to movements, what's best to look for, I would really like one with an Automatic movement, whether this is in budget or not...for example, is the name of the movement for example like your @Peemacgee 2481 is that a movement specific to the Tissot Seastar, your model...or is that a movement that is found in all Tissot watches from 1960-1970? Hope that makes sense! 😀

Peemacgee

actually SS is generally more sort after so commands a higher price than gold cap / fill / plate
if it doesn't need new parts a service for an automatic can be had for sub £200 (yes I know this is your purchase budget!)
manual watches are a little cheaper (to buy and service) and those with additional complications (think Speedy) will cost several hundred to service

KstateSkier

Some of the members have already recommended this but as someone who just got into high dollar swiss watches a few years back I would like to echo their statements. Hang out on this forum for 6 months while saving up your $$$. I guarantee in 6 months you'll not only have garnered a buttload of knowledge but whatever timepiece you thought you wanted initially will be long purged from your memory and you'll be lusting for something different.

Example: I joined this forum because I had purchased a new Planet Ocean. After several months on here my attention turned towards vintage and specifically speedmasters.

Lastly, welcome to OF! Enjoy yourself!

Peemacgee

here's a couple of links to auctions for Tissot Seastar
I haven't checked them for authenticity
so do your research so that you know what you are looking at
remember you need to add 25%

https://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/...0123/lot-d83ec102-e658-44ca-ae4c-a739011848e7

https://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/...0073/lot-07e65855-e02e-4147-a714-a73700fdbe13

https://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/...0079/lot-49fbf540-b0ba-46a8-8d9f-a72501092fae

ConElPueblo

Just as a heads up, you should know that the 80's were a bit of a "bad" time for most mechanical watch makers. No real innovation in the field and designs from that time are rather dated now. The early 70's is a good era for mechanical watches, but designs are starting to get more, eh, "funky", than "classy" to put it in one way. Most of the classic designs we think of today when discussing vintage watches are really mid-fifties to mid/late-sixties references.

danielhurst

Oh right, well I never knew that! If I'm honest I prefer a gold face, however, I knew that the only real way to get a good gold watch was to get gold infill. What's the gold cap / fill / plate? Would you be able to possibly to show me some examples? 😀

Peemacgee

in simple terms
cap is a thick layer of gold wrapped around a base metal body often used on good quality watches (like Constellations )
fill and plate are thinner layers of 'applied' gold
use the search function for gold cap I'm sure it will throw up some hits
in the mean time 3 Connies - 1 SS, 1 yellow gold cap, 1 pink gold cap
(But they're not in your price range I'm afraid !)

danielhurst

Thank's for these.

I'll keep my eyes open on eBay. In terms of the best Tissot make for my budget, is the Seastar where I stand with it? Or is there anything above (within my budget) 😀