Condition Condition Condition And Other Pieces Of Advice

LouS

Information, interspersed with wise-ass remarks, will follow.

SandyinAnaheim

So, when you say not to polish, I take it you mean machine polish? Is there any harm in polishing at home with metal polish? I polish my Yachtmaster every two to three months and the grime and tarnish that come off the band are embarrassing! A little metal polish and the steam cleaner make my watch look pretty spiffy and not the least bit damaged or "thinner".

MSNWatch

Those who hoard most definitely also wear! Everyone I know who hoards gets to that point usually after many years of learning, loving and yes most definitely wearing these beauties.

MSNWatch

If there is one thing to remember forever in collecting vintage omegas, it is that condition is first and foremost. Of course the piece has to be original in the first place but if there is one lesson that has been imparted to me and one I wish to pass on it is that.

As I have stated in another thread, it is far better to overpay for an excellent original vintage omega than to underpay for one in below average or average condition. My greatest regrets in this hobby have been not overpaying for excellent examples - if only I could raise my offer some more for these long gone and in many cases never to be seen for sale again examples.

Other rules I TRY to live by:

Better to have 1 excellent piece than 3-4 so-so ones.

Never sell to a dealer - you will never get close to what your watch is worth.

Ebay is the best place to get nice vintage omegas at reasonable prices IF and only IF you have the knowledge and patience to sift through the many many crappy pieces.

If you do not know the seller always pay via paypal using your credit card - that way you will have some recourse if the deal goes wrong - and if you do enough deals something will inevitably not go your way.

You should have 1 or 2 trusted watchmakers preferably someone local. And when you have something repaired be explicit about what you want done and not done - I attach an index card with written instructions for every watch I have serviced - want to make sure everything is crystal clear.

dsio

A bad 321 movement can be a nightmare to fix and a serial number that doesn't fit with the age of the watch can significantly reduce the value of it so especially on a 321 I'd be wanting a squiz at that movement.

cicindela

There are No dumb questions here.

dsio

I'd compare the serial to the age and subreference of the watch, make sure that matches. Then check some of the other features like the coupling yoke, which is symmetrical for early pre-pros and asymmetrical for later movements. Then as a non-watchmaker I just look for missing screws, missing or damaged components, obvious abuse like screwdriver gouges or wrecked screwheads and rust. I can't evaluate its condition the way a watchmaker could but if I can see several parts missing or damaged or rust over the steel components I can get a basic idea of whether its a nice clean movement or a junker.