ok Ive fallen hard for these amazing watches I have brietlings and IWC but bought myself a second moon watch and absolutely love. and like most of you one just is not enough. so I purchased a nos panda dial '1969" and a complete nos case thinking ok just need an 1861 or 861 nos movement .thinking I would have a nos watch that didn't need servicing for 500 plus .wrong .what is my best route have no problem with a used movement providing it has no issues.who on this fourm should I seek expert advice from.thank you in advance

 

Start searching eBay.

 

I need one also, so let me know if you find a spare..
My project has a display back, and i am being that similar cal 871 movements will fit in this, which can be found in cheaper chronos.

 

I will. what have we gotten ourselves into?

 

I bought a snoopy dial, snoopy display back and some hands.
Thinking i will go the 871 route, as will always be a franken..

 

From experience - You've got yourself into something that takes serious commitment (time and financial)...


Putting this sort of watch together, while rewarding, is not cheap or quick to do it properly.

You've got a couple of options:

- Buy a decent, running 861/1861 - You're reasonably going to pay close to $1,000+ for either.

- Source another Cal.861 watch as a "donor" (such as a Speedmaster Mark II or various older Omegas) with a running movement, and transplant it into the Moonwatch case. This might cost $1500-$2500 but you can recover your costs by selling the Mark II Case/Dial etc.

- Buy a beaten and broken Cal.861 like I did... and Prepare yourself to invest (insert large budget) dollars to restore, adjust and regulate it (see this thread).

If you can stretch the budget, I feel that only the third option gives you a Speedmaster with a really cool story (old movement given a second chance in a shiny new case); the other options are just Franken watches for the sake of it.

Good luck!

 

Wonder if you can't look for a Tissot with an 861. I have one of T's 861 chronos that was super cheap and ferociously ugly (as well as in poor exterior shape) and will not hesitate to cannibalize it for an Omega rescue project I have lined up. Just need to get around to it.

 

Lemania makes the movement that the Omega Cal.861/1861 is based on - there might be slight differences in the Tissot version to be wary of (I'm not 100% sure).

 

Fair enough. Will report.

 

Ashley great advice . However too late case and dial in hand . for some strange it's in my DNA to do things difficult did it with my classic BMW m3. . Stupid romantic lol . Fingers crossed I might have my nos movement thru a good friend Thats has an omega connection . The method to my madness was by passing the 500 + service on a used one. I already have one . And since it not vintage yet all the dings and scratches that come with one .

 

You can't purchase this movement from Omega (I've asked) so chances are the movement you are getting will need to be serviced.

Cheers, Al

 

I know that's what made me jump off cliff . By the time I contacted him . Cart was befor the horse lol

 

Ofrei sells 1861s, but like everything on Ofrei it's pretty expensive

http://www.ofrei.com/page624.html

You can wait and stake out eBay, and get lucky for a bit cheaper. A couple of 1861s sold recently for around $1000-$1200, new, or so the seller says.

Your best bet is to watch ebay for Omega watches with caliber 861 like the Omega Mark II. They go around $900+ on ebay but will need servicing.

 

Have you ordered one of these and received a proper Omega 1861? I only ask because I'm not clear what they are selling, if anything. It's initially labeled as a "Lemania/Omega 1861" and at one point he says "You deserve a fine watch like this one your wrist. See your Omega dealer for more details."

And the price of $1861 for an 1861 seems a little odd...

Cheers, Al

 

Not personally. I rarely if ever buy from Ofrei, only on some things they happen to have that I need asap and could not find anywhere else. I think everything they have is overpriced. But you make a good point on the pricing being $1861, seems off...

I guess I dont order from Ofrei enough to have a sense of their true business dealings, but I figure a company such as Ofrei, which is mentioned frequently on forums wouldn't mislead at this level (buying one thing and getting something completely different).