I posted last week about my wife purchasing a vintage watch as an anniversary gift, and the dealer who basically used her naivete and sold her poorly executed redial JLC (https://omegaforums.net/threads/jlc-lecoultre-power-reserve-1940s.53878/). Well, I confronted the dealer on Wednesday and (after a 10 minute debate about whether or not refinished dial watches are worth as much or more than original) he agreed to take the watch back and provide me with a replacement - heavily discounted if I find something more expensive that I like. He had dozens of watches with him and I quickly zeroed in on a few that I like, and would love any thoughts from the forum. If you've owned any of these or have any recommendations, please chime in! I'm leaning towards the Seamaster, but I also really like the Angelus. I'm going to go ahead and post his prices with each watch, but as we've already established, this guy is a bit of a predator so they're high. I haven't fully researched these - I'm sure I wont sleep this weekend until I have! 1. 1960s Omega Seamaster Cal 321 2. 1960s Angelus Chrono ($2869) 3. 1960s LeJour Chrono ($2269) 4. Omega DeVille Dynamic SS Blue Dial ($1500) 5. 1950's Gallet SS 2 Reg Chrono ($1989) - Need to find an original dial on this one. Might be touched up. 6. Last one just for fun. It's a quartz, but it's a 70's Heuer, new old-stock. ($1,689)
Of these the Deville looks repainted, but I'm no expert, might be the pic and the Gallet ...Well it might or might not be OK ...Not the quartz.
I'm not an expert by any means, and it may be the lighting but some of those pieces look heavily polished, not to mention overpriced as you noted. The Carrera case looks in ok shape, can see sunburst clearly on it, but the Seamaster 321 case looks very polished unless it's the reflection. How were they in person?
Dishonest seller who sells you a redial. Why you would consider buying anything further from him is beyond me. Take your hard earned cash and go elsewhere
Since it was the wife that purchased the watch, she should get to punch him in the balls and slap him in the face!
See there are people who buy old watches because they are cool. They want them to look good and don't mind a restoration or redial. Then there is the dealer who needs to pay rent and make a profit. Sometimes he sells collector grade and sometimes he restores, redials and sells. I have used a guy who does both and also has an excellent but expensive watch and clock repair & restoration service. He's done three watches for me and I've bought two from him. I have had that same OP conversation with him and I can guarantee that he doesnt want me anywhere near his sales counter when he's talking to a customer off the street. However ... his restoration and redial work is of high quality as compared to the gift watch. The OP dealer seems like a total d.ck. I'd walk away.
Don't misconstrue my attempt to be objective. Actually after the redial vs original conversation and watching him in action I wanted to hit my guy too. I've found another service closer to home. Ball punching.
I'd say work to get your money back and don't look back. Marking up at that price and peddling redials to unsuspecting customers is not somebody I'd want to deal with. Did you look for paper clips in the movements?
Get your money back and buy one elses none of them are that great. The Omega Chrono best of the bad bunch
It is. Lesson learned. He served his purpose. Almost tagged you as I figured you'd weigh in! Seriously I was in there on a Saturday waiting to pick up a very old watch he'd just overhauled. Customer came in ogling my Tri Compax started asking my opinions about how to get into vintage and the owner had me out of the place in a jiffy. I'd been needling him about his redial business. Familiarity breeds contempt.
