The store that he bought it from is right in Pennsylvania from a Jeweler inside a mall that I have at least heard of before. I live in Maryland so I’m pretty close. Is a US warranty card normal if the watch was purchased in the US?
Good Morning all! I've lurked around these forums and watchuseek before, but this is actually my first post here. I recently graduated, and I have been looking for a Quartz Omega Seamaster 300m 41mm full-size ref.2541.80 as a graduation gift to myself.
I found this listing first on chrono24, so first I did research about that website because I hadn't heard of it until yesterday. What I saw was essentially to try and stay away from private sellers (and this guy is). I contacted him explaining my situation, and he seemed very understanding and has answered all my questions so far. So far here is everything I have gathered (link is at the bottom):
He has also been on eBay since 2014 and is also listing this watch on eBay. He has great reviews and he has sold several watches in the past.
His warranty card checks out as being from a store in Pennsylvania where he claims to live, work, and to have gone to school. The serial number on the card also matches the serial number on the watch. I wanted to call the Jeweler, but COVID-19 -_-
He gave me his Facebook information and a list of a few groups he is in there, like Omega Owners, Dive Watch Owners, etc. which I was able to confirm. He said he is also a member on watchuseek, but not here. And that he has really only been a buyer there, and not much of a poster. He said he bought this watch originally as a graduation gift to himself, and that he is 39 now. Meaning he would have been 21 when he bought the watch, which totally makes sense.
The watch looks to be in good shape and seems authentic from the pictures. I am waiting to hear back from him about its service history.
Lastly as a question to the community, If I were to purchase this watch, would it be safer to do so on Ebay or chrono24? Everything really seems to be in order. Maybe I am just being overcautious?
TLDR; Is this listing the real deal?
Link: https://www.chrono24.com/omega/25418000-seamaster-300m--id15169125.htm
I don't think the watch you're looking at is in very good cosmetic condition. The lighting isn't fantastic in the seller's pictures, but the bracelet and the underside of the lugs all look very scuffed up. Are you really set on getting a 2541.80? If not, I strongly recommend spending a little extra and getting a 2531.80 instead. It took me about 6 weeks, but late last year I was able to find a recently serviced 2531.80 in excellent condition for ~$500 more than the watch you're looking at.
If the guy selling has owned it since 2002, can you assume he has had the watch serviced at some time? The listing shows an Omega service red watch pouch and the bag has bracelet pins which I can assume were replaced. He should have a service report for the watch or he has bought a few little things to add to the sales pitch which would arouse suspicion in my eyes. Ask more questions about service history if any, watch does look ok but if no service card from Omega and he has all the original cards and a service pouch I’d be inclined to walk away. Plenty of these watches available. Congratulations on graduating, welcome to the forum and good luck with everything. First proper watch I ever bought myself to commemorate a promotion.
A question about this sort of high end quartz watch.
Do these need servicing as often as mechanical watches?
If so what sort of prices would one expect for a full service?
I have a fairly good quality, though unbranded, Japanese quartz watch I got as a gift over thirty years ago and it still runs like a top. Only recently has it begun to gain a second or two per week, for thirty years it ran for as long as three years at a time between battery changes without gaining or losing a second. I suspect there may be an incompatibility with more recently manufactured batteries of the same number causing it to gain time, since I've read of a number of issues, some very destructive, with more recent batteries in older watches, even high end watches.
I'd read that most quartz watches use plastic bearings that don't require lubrication, are bearings in high end quartz metal?
Lastly is the OP watch a mixed quartz/mechanical?
I'm not a great fan of quartz watches but would like to know more about their history of development and mechanical details.
I recently purchased a Citizen Eco drive Chronograph and it awakened my interest. Excellent watch BTW.
Quartz watch movements do not need servicing as often as mechanical movements do. The loads on the pivots are very low, and all of that is explained here:
https://omegaforums.net/threads/quartz-watches-some-information-some-may-find-interesting.5475/
Jewels in higher end quartz watches are corundum - the same material used for jewels in mechanical watches.
I don't know what you mean by "mixed quartz/mechanical"? It is an analog quartz watch, so has a wheel train in it, but is powered by a battery and the timing is controlled by a quartz crystal.
Thanks.
I had meant to say "Jewels" rather than "metal".
"I don't know what you mean by "mixed quartz/mechanical"?
I've seen the term used, not sure what was meant by it.
