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vintagelady
·Hello All -
After diligently wading through the wealth of hard-won wisdom here, I'm hoping I don't illicit eye-rolls in regards to my beginner's questions... The background: my real obsession is fine vintage and antique jewelry, but have recently made my first foray into watches. My parents wanted to present me with a watch for graduate school, and left it to me to pick one. My dear mother is very satisfied with a retail Bulova she just bought herself, so I'm grateful for the free reign. I took my time and did quite a bit of research - I read articles on Omega, GQ, Hodinkee, AskMen, eBay, GentlemensGazette, aBlogtoWatch... (I found the under-representation of women in this collecting field completely unexpected; there are some beautiful fine dress watches for ladies out there!). Being more of an expert in jewelry, the advice [for novices] I got made sense: buy something you like (not just for investment), do your research (for authenticity), when in doubt gold/plat/rhod is better than plastic, gold plate or fill, consider how/when/where you plan to wear the piece, and finally, factor in possible repair/restoration/maintenance costs.
I chose Omega because I was surprised at the competitive prices of quality women's vintage pieces were relation to Cartier, PP, Rolex, etc. I also wanted a piece with the backing of an established, respectable house. I ended up settling on the watch pictured, purchased through an experienced, 100% rated eBay seller. I did match up the serial number, model and case numbers, as well as cross reference numerous pictures beforehand. The only thing I asked about was the crown - I noticed it did not have the Omega symbol, which my reading says most likely changed to an aftermarket crown during past maintenance/repair. The seller admitted the crown was probably aftermarket, but that he did not touch the watches he bought - he does not do repairs or cleaning. I felt the purchase was a safe one, with the numbers all corresponding and more importantly, the purchase price being very reasonable considering the gold weight.
The watch is a 17 jewel 481 from the 1950's (1958?), and has a solid 14k YG case and bracelet. It is said to "run and keep time" (hasn't arrived yet), though I plan to get it serviced anyway (Omega's website designates this a Cat. 4, "Very Old Calibre"). I always take newly acquired antique jewelry to my jeweler to ensure there are no loose stones, cracked links, etc. I'm sure watches are the same!
Keeping in mind I plan to wear the watch daily and not sell it for profit, my questions are as follows:
1) I know my research said the dial is the most important and sensitive part, and not to alter it at all/redial if possible. Based on the pictures, should an attempt be made to clean the dial?
2) Is it important to replace the crown with an corresponding one from Omega now, if ever?
3) Would it devalue the piece to add a 14k YG safety chain?
4) Where should I go for service? This is the final thing I haven't been able to figure out. Some say only Omega After-Sales Service, others say an authorized dealer, some say a reputable watchmaker/professional.
I know my situation is a bit different than the majority of posts here, since this is a woman's watch and has one foot in the watch world and one in the jewelry world. Any advice or even opinions would be welcome - I've definitely wandered into unfamiliar territory here, but even though I don't see myself as a watch collector (yet?), I do love the value and history of older pieces, and don't want to cause careless destruction. Apologies for the lengthy dissertation, and thank you!
After diligently wading through the wealth of hard-won wisdom here, I'm hoping I don't illicit eye-rolls in regards to my beginner's questions... The background: my real obsession is fine vintage and antique jewelry, but have recently made my first foray into watches. My parents wanted to present me with a watch for graduate school, and left it to me to pick one. My dear mother is very satisfied with a retail Bulova she just bought herself, so I'm grateful for the free reign. I took my time and did quite a bit of research - I read articles on Omega, GQ, Hodinkee, AskMen, eBay, GentlemensGazette, aBlogtoWatch... (I found the under-representation of women in this collecting field completely unexpected; there are some beautiful fine dress watches for ladies out there!). Being more of an expert in jewelry, the advice [for novices] I got made sense: buy something you like (not just for investment), do your research (for authenticity), when in doubt gold/plat/rhod is better than plastic, gold plate or fill, consider how/when/where you plan to wear the piece, and finally, factor in possible repair/restoration/maintenance costs.
I chose Omega because I was surprised at the competitive prices of quality women's vintage pieces were relation to Cartier, PP, Rolex, etc. I also wanted a piece with the backing of an established, respectable house. I ended up settling on the watch pictured, purchased through an experienced, 100% rated eBay seller. I did match up the serial number, model and case numbers, as well as cross reference numerous pictures beforehand. The only thing I asked about was the crown - I noticed it did not have the Omega symbol, which my reading says most likely changed to an aftermarket crown during past maintenance/repair. The seller admitted the crown was probably aftermarket, but that he did not touch the watches he bought - he does not do repairs or cleaning. I felt the purchase was a safe one, with the numbers all corresponding and more importantly, the purchase price being very reasonable considering the gold weight.
The watch is a 17 jewel 481 from the 1950's (1958?), and has a solid 14k YG case and bracelet. It is said to "run and keep time" (hasn't arrived yet), though I plan to get it serviced anyway (Omega's website designates this a Cat. 4, "Very Old Calibre"). I always take newly acquired antique jewelry to my jeweler to ensure there are no loose stones, cracked links, etc. I'm sure watches are the same!
Keeping in mind I plan to wear the watch daily and not sell it for profit, my questions are as follows:
1) I know my research said the dial is the most important and sensitive part, and not to alter it at all/redial if possible. Based on the pictures, should an attempt be made to clean the dial?
2) Is it important to replace the crown with an corresponding one from Omega now, if ever?
3) Would it devalue the piece to add a 14k YG safety chain?
4) Where should I go for service? This is the final thing I haven't been able to figure out. Some say only Omega After-Sales Service, others say an authorized dealer, some say a reputable watchmaker/professional.
I know my situation is a bit different than the majority of posts here, since this is a woman's watch and has one foot in the watch world and one in the jewelry world. Any advice or even opinions would be welcome - I've definitely wandered into unfamiliar territory here, but even though I don't see myself as a watch collector (yet?), I do love the value and history of older pieces, and don't want to cause careless destruction. Apologies for the lengthy dissertation, and thank you!
