Do Omegas go up in value?

Spruce

Well, in one way I think you may be right. Old Omegas (I’ve assumed this thread is about old Omegas) may not go up in value but, in the last four or five years, they’ve certainly gone up in price.

I’m not posting about pristine collectibles, Constellations, Speedmasters etc, but regular vintage Omegas, whether in good condition or not, are fetching prices far greater than when I started collecting in the not too distant past and what I might have once hoped to pick up for £200-300 is now priced at £500-750.

lindo

It is just a matter of time......

Donn Chambers

True, but if you buy that older Omega today for 500-750 GBP, is there any guarantee that it is will be worth 1000-1500 a few years from now? 10 years from now? I wouldn’t want to take that bet with an Omega. With a Rolex, maybe, but only because non watch collectors flock to them and spend stupid money to have that name on their wrist. (And, BTW, I just purchased an older Rolex Explorer, but I also waited until I found a piece that was on the low end of current market rates. I bought it because I wanted the watch, not because I expected it to go up in value).

Donn Chambers

True, but if you buy that older Omega today for 500-750 GBP, is there any guarantee that it is will be worth 1000-1500 a few years from now? 10 years from now? I wouldn’t want to take that bet with an Omega. With a Rolex, maybe, but only because non watch collectors flock to them and spend stupid money to have that name on their wrist. (And, BTW, I just purchased an older Rolex Explorer, but I also waited until I found a piece that was on the low end of current market rates. I bought it because I wanted the watch, not because I expected it to go up in value).

ScDevon

(Peeve of mine). It isn't helping that Omega /Swatch have ABANDONED parts support on older movements combined with their stubborn attitude about selling parts to your friendly local watchmaker. How hard could it POSSIBLY be to make another run of repair parts for at least the more popular movements with today's technology?

I realize that it isn't always in their best interest to keep antiques going, but you'd think that a high end Swiss brand would take pride in keeping older watches running practically forever. I've read that you are SOL on even Rolex core movement parts after 30 years. WTF? A watch is "just getting broken in" after 30 years to me.

ScDevon

Why should Swatch care what level of service people get on a 1960s or 1970s watch?

ScDevon

They don't get to have it both ways (in customer's eyes anyway). They don't get to care about the level of service on antique watches that they won't even support themselves anymore. Of course, you can have almost any movement part made if you're willing to pay, but now we're talking about serious restorations and not just collector's items.

ScDevon

They don't get to have it both ways (in customer's eyes anyway). They don't get to care about the level of service on antique watches that they won't even support themselves anymore. Of course, you can have almost any movement part made if you're willing to pay, but now we're talking about serious restorations and not just collector's items.

ScDevon

Obviously. Omega isn't even obligated to offer a warranty at all even on new watches. They could sell all new watches "as is-no warranty expressed or implied" if they want to. The thread is about the perceived value of vintage Omega watches and if they increase/decrease in value and why. I'm suggesting that the recent parts restrictions are at least a thorn in the side of hobbiests and collectors and is probably affecting the value and collectability of some pieces especially the "sweet spot" of 1950s and 1960s Swiss watches.

I'll never need another thing from Omega in my lifetime. Frankly, watches made after 1970 don't interest me much and I've hoarded most of what I'll need for the rest of my life. Why care then? Because it affects the hobby negatively. It probably will result in some nice vintage pieces getting scrapped or at least abandoned in drawers rather than being worn and enjoyed.