Found Seamaster Deville need advice!

Akanai · Jan 11, 2021

Hey Team!

I recently came into possession of a Seamaster Deville, Hoping to get more information on it as well get some opinions on some issues I've noticed:

1. It says "Automatic" on the dial but it's a hand wound watch. Is this a concern? What's this mean?

2. The bezel on the north end of the watch is slightly lifted and not snug like the rest of it, it seems like whoever serviced it last didn't do a proper job and i've noticed some staining on the face because of it.

3. The lugs have some wear and the gold seems to be rubbing off on the corner. My understanding is these seamsters are supposed to be solid gold.

With all this...does this mean i have a franken watch?

Any expertise will be supportive! thank you.

X350 XJR · Jan 11, 2021

1 - What makes you think it's a hand wind?

2 - Well that happens sometimes when an amateur works on a watch. May have an incorrect crystal.

3 - Actually these are more often gold-filed, which is what you have.

Perfectly genuine, but not in the best of condition.

Dan S · Jan 11, 2021

One thing I would add is that the staining on the dial is unlikely to be related to the bezel. The watch just has a lot of condition issues. As I magnified the images, I also noticed missing inlay in the minute hand.

As to the manual vs auto-winding, that's an interesting question that we can't answer without seeing the inside. I have seen some crazy things, including automatic movements with the auto-winding parts completely removed. Or it could be present and non-functional. Or perhaps you just don't understand how automatic movements work. We don't know, based on the information provided.

Or maybe it just needs a new battery. 😁

Akanai · Jan 12, 2021

X350 XJR
1 - What makes you think it's a hand wind?

2 - Well that happens sometimes when an amateur works on a watch. May have an incorrect crystal.

3 - Actually these are more often gold-filed, which is what you have.

Perfectly genuine, but not in the best of condition.

Thanks for your response! Good to know. The watch stops...but when i wind it works? I have had a panerai and just moving it around makes it go...so I'm assuming it's a hand wound watch?

Also, looking at the casing in the back...noticed all the seamasters have "waterproof" written on it. So many questions. Thank you for the help!

Akanai · Jan 12, 2021

Dan S
One thing I would add is that the staining on the dial is unlikely to be related to the bezel. The watch just has a lot of condition issues. As I magnified the images, I also noticed missing inlay in the minute hand.

As to the manual vs auto-winding, that's an interesting question that we can't answer without seeing the inside. I have seen some crazy things, including automatic movements with the auto-winding parts completely removed. Or it could be present and non-functional. Or perhaps you just don't understand how automatic movements work. We don't know, based on the information provided.

Or maybe it just needs a new battery. 😁

Definitely not a quartz! 😀 The watch works when I wind it and stops working. My experience with automatic is only with my panerai (that I lost!) and my understanding is just moving it around made it work...never had to touch the crown. This guy requires twisting of the crown to work. Also have a question about the case as it doesn't say "waterproof" on it. Weird no?

Archer · Jan 12, 2021

Just a note on terminology as it's generally used...

Hand wound - this refers to watches that can only be wound using the crown.

Automatic watches - these are watches that wind by the movement of your wrist, but they can also be wound using the crown like a hand wound watch can (with some exceptions, mainly cheaper Asian movements).

Your watch is an automatic watch, that can also be wound using the crown.

Cheers, Al

nkhandekar · Jan 12, 2021

It may be the photography, but it seems that the lugs are bent...this is especially clear on the verso view...outwards on the upper side and inwards on the lower side. I have had a couple of these watches and sometimes the crystal and bezel are not pressed back in place (its a front loading watch, so the crystal and bezel come off to gain access to the guts) and it leaves a gap. It's an easy fix in my experience. There is also a small notch along this seam for a case opening tool, and that is meant to be there. I would look for a better example myself.

Akanai · Jan 13, 2021

I was wrong about most of it!

it’s a hand wound automatic (which I wasnt familiar with), took it to a watch makers and let me know it’s all original. Here’s a look at the movement

Dan S · Jan 13, 2021

Ok, I'm confused. Didn't the OP suggest that the autowinding wasn't working properly?

Passover · Jan 13, 2021

A Akanai
I was wrong about most of it!

it’s a hand wound automatic (which I wasnt familiar with), took it to a watch makers and let me know it’s all original. Here’s a look at the movement

Belive Al, its an automatic watch

"Automatic watches - these are watches that wind by the movement of your wrist, but they can also be wound using the crown like a hand wound watch can (with some exceptions, mainly cheaper Asian movements).

Your watch is an automatic watch, that can also be wound using the crown.

Cheers, Al"

EDIT:
http://www.ranfft.de/cgi-bin/bidfun-db.cgi?10&ranfft&0&2uswk&Omega_563

Found Seamaster Deville need advice!

Akanai

X350 XJR

Dan S

Akanai

Akanai

Archer

nkhandekar

Akanai

Dan S

Passover

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