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Got two Seamaster 2501.20s - concerned one is not original

BDron
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Hello,

I recently acquired two Seamaster 2501.20s from two different seemingly reputable sellers who are on eBay, Chrono24 and other platforms. One came with box and papers, one did not.

The watch that came without the papers was less expensive and when they both arrived, it actually looked in better condition (clearer crystal, cleaner lume plots) than the more expensive watch that came with papers.

More than that, side-by-side:

  • there is no serial number on the back of the lug (as there is with the box + paper watch)
  • the crown on the watch with no papers seemed to protrude a bit more

Is this clear evidence that the less expensive watch is not all original? I asked the seller if it was and they said yes via eBay chat.

Any help sorting this out is appreciated - thanks
 
padders
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No one can help you without pictures. Why have you bought 2 of them?
 
BDron
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padders padders
No one can help you without pictures. Why have you bought 2 of them?
Not sure if my pics uploaded but hopefully they did. I'd been searching for months for this ref and one became available and then another right after that looked a little nicer so I figured I'd get both and try to sell the one I didn't want to keep.
 
padders
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You might want to try the pics again, they are not showing. I suspect both are legit but the one with no serial started life as a grey market watch and had the serial removed. You may want to take off the caseback and check if it’s been erased from the movement too.
 
BDron
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padders padders
You might want to try the pics again, they are showing. I suspect both are legit but the one with no serial started life as a grey market watch and had the serial removed. You may want to take off the caseback and check if it’s been erased from the movement too.

IMG_9832.webp IMG_9831.webp IMG_9830.webp IMG_9829.webp IMG_9828.webp
 
BDron
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padders padders
You might want to try the pics again, they are not showing. I suspect both are legit but the one with no serial started life as a grey market watch and had the serial removed. You may want to take off the caseback and check if it’s been erased from the movement too.
I see. Thank you. The one with the bracelet has the serial, the one without does not. Could the crown be not original as well?
 
padders
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Maybe. Maybe not. The crown wouldn’t worry me too much, those are routinely replaced at service. A missing serial would. Particularly if it’s not on the movement either.
 
BDron
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padders padders
Maybe. Maybe not. The crown wouldn’t worry me too much, those are routinely replaced at service. A missing serial would. Particularly if it’s not on the movement either.
Thanks very much! Would you recommend I try to remove the case back or is it better to bring to a pro? I have some basic watch tools but I've never done that before.
 
Vercingetorix
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Was a thing back in the day for gray market dealers to polish off the serial number.
 
BDron
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Vercingetorix Vercingetorix
Was a thing back in the day for gray market dealers to polish off the serial number.
What's the advantage of doing that?
 
JimInOz
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BDron BDron
What's the advantage of doing that?
So that Omega head office can't trace back to the original AD or OB who passed them on to the grey market.
If Omega traced back the serial it would result in loss of AD or OB representation for Omega.
 
bazelot
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They are both legit. From my own watches it looks like Omega started putting the serial on the lugs at the 49xxxxxxx mark, before that most of the ones I have seen do not have the serial number on the lugs, only on the movement. The early 90s was a transition period for Omega and the one that has the serial number on the lug probably came out of the factory line a bit later than the one without. I am basing that observation on pre bond 200m dive watches (I have around 10 of them)
 
bazelot
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you should open up the watch and check the serial of the movement
 
BDron
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JimInOz JimInOz
So that Omega head office can't trace back to the original AD or OB who passed them on to the grey market.
If Omega traced back the serial it would result in loss of AD or OB representation for Omega.
Oh, crazy.
bazelot bazelot
They are both legit. From my own watches it looks like Omega started putting the serial on the lugs at the 49xxxxxxx mark, before that most of the ones I have seen do not have the serial number on the lugs, only on the movement. The early 90s was a transition period for Omega and the one that has the serial number on the lug probably came out of the factory line a bit later than the one without. I am basing that observation on pre bond 200m dive watches (I have around 10 of them)
That's great info, thank you.
 
BDron
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bazelot bazelot
you should open up the watch and check the serial of the movement
Any idea if that's an easy thing to do without causing any damage?
 
BDron
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JimInOz JimInOz
So that Omega head office can't trace back to the original AD or OB who passed them on to the grey market.
If Omega traced back the serial it would result in loss of AD or OB representation for Omega.
Crazy!
 
tech396
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BDron BDron
Any idea if that's an easy thing to do without causing any damage?
Yes, an easy thing to do, and without damage when using the correct tool
 
bazelot
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All you need to do is by a tool like that

1741225272404.webp


It cost between $5 and $10
 
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