Help! 1st time vintage watch buyer-Seamaster Deville 1967

Hi everyone,

Newbie to the forum and the vintage watch collecting game.

I've been in the market for a watch that I can use as a daily wear and have spied this Rose Gold 1967 Seamaster Deville on Chrono24.

https://www.chrono24.co.uk/omega/se...s-watch-1967-servicedwarranty--id20191362.htm

As someone who is a complete amateur when it comes to this, can any of the kind members on here advise me if this looks like a good example or is it a complete rip off?

Thanks all
Neil

The price is somewhat high. The dial might be refinished, it's hard to tell. As always, if you like it and you'll keep it forever, then it might be a good choice. But try to negotiate a lower price if you do.

We generally recommend checking the sales forum here because the prices will be much better and the watches will be of decent quality.

Which profession -- hog butchering?

Thank you very much Spruce, both for your tips for the forum and insight. This is exactly the sort of thing I was worried about, getting taken for a ride!

It just goes to show as well-this seller has almost flawless feedback and 100% of the customers who bought from him would recommend. That is the sort of thing that someone like me who has very little knowledge about vintage watches would put stock in.

With regards to the dial being repainted, that's not necessarily a deal breaker for me, provided it is done well. I'm not necessarily looking for it to be 100% original so much as faithful to it or doing the original justice, without it being a frankenwatch!

Do you have any other general tips for the kind of things to look out for on watches of this kind? For example, how can you tell that watch has been overpolished?

Once again apologies for my complete lack of knowledge and thanks again for all tips and help offered.

Omega are known for cases with facets and sharp edges and many times contrasting finishes, putting brushed next to polished.

Case refinishing is not something your average watchmaker seems to have been trained in, so facets and edges get blunted. I once had a Certified Master Watchmaker basically melt the lugs off of a stainless case chasing "perfection" in finish. So, it's good to look for sharp edges and profiles that are consistent without thinning or dips.

It's a little-known fact that you can hand-polish a case yourself and improve its appearance, and because you can't create the kind of friction that a buffing wheel with compound has, the case is in no danger unless it has a very thin electroplate. This is both stainless steel and gold.

In most (but not all) cases, minute and second hands will reach the printed minute track. If they don't, it could be either a dial refinish or replacement hands of the wrong length. In the 50s as well with dauphine hands, the hour hand will look "too long". If it doesn't, again suspect a replacement of the wrong length.

When you look at pictures of the movement and caseback, you'll want all of the plates in the movement to be the same color, if possible. If it's not, that's not necessarily an automatic "no", but the price should reflect that damage. Earlier movements will be nickle-plated and the later ones will be copper plated.

Alas, you won't become an expert overnight. Many of us have seen thousands of these watches or at least their picctures over the years and you learn to spot tiny inconsistencies that add up to "run away screaming". Do ask questions, we like to help!

The dial has been refinished in black, in an attempt to make it more desirable. No fly zone, IMHO.

Thanks to all for your replies and advice, it is very much appreciated!

I’m no pedant but those cross hairs would irk me every time I looked at the dial. As would the £2,000 plus mark up.

Good morning Neil
I see Spruce has already said virtually everything in his two posts. All I can add is that it's essential to get your eye in if you are considering spending a large sum like this on a vintage watch. It's best to stay away from Chrono24 as this is a minefield for beginners and any really good things there are soon snapped up by collectors, leaving only the overpriced nonsense behind.
If you have the time, patience and inclination, do some reading up on this forum and some image searches to educate yourself. Realistically there is almost no chance of buying an original black dial SMDV as they are very strongly competed for. The price of the one you linked to is preposterous and if you have an ounce of perfectionism in you then it'll start to niggle you and you'll find how low the resale value is.
Can't say much more except best of luck, E.