HELP buy a vintage Omega

ConElPueblo

Hi @sabam1810.

First off: what a great idea.
Secondly: what does he think of wearing an old watch? Is he okay with wearing rather dainty watches? Most of us here are, but I know a lot of people (men) baulk at the thought.

The Seamaster 600 you show is a rather small watch, but other than that a nice piece. Criminally overpriced at £600, but that's another story 😉

Your budget should be plenty for a great vintage watch, don't worry.

perks713

Just want to add that you’ve mentioned manual vs automatic and want to make sure you know the difference.

Manual: needs to be wound daily(ish)

Automatic: the disc on the back (on the right in the picture below) rotates as you move your arm and helps wind the watch.

Neither are battery operated (quartz) and based on you mentioning he likes the way the movements work I’m thinking that you shouldn’t rule out an automatic, just rule out a quartz.

(Not the best photos, I didn’t have many better stores on my phone)

perks713

Just want to add that you’ve mentioned manual vs automatic and want to make sure you know the difference.

Manual: needs to be wound daily(ish)

Automatic: the disc on the back (on the right in the picture below) rotates as you move your arm and helps wind the watch.

Neither are battery operated (quartz) and based on you mentioning he likes the way the movements work I’m thinking that you shouldn’t rule out an automatic, just rule out a quartz.

(Not the best photos, I didn’t have many better stores on my phone)

joeshoup

Yes, this is a lovely idea and if he has any heart at all he'll be totally charmed that you went to the trouble to get him something so cool - especially since fishing for vintage watches is a very treacherous sport!

The sales forums on this site are the safest place in the web to buy a nice vintage Omega. No one can sell here unless they've participated in the community for a while, and the moderators are vigilant for dodgy listings. Of current listings I quite like these:

https://omegaforums.net/threads/omega-seamaster-cosmic-with-technical-dial.100144/

https://omegaforums.net/threads/cle...sshair-dial-price-reduced.98938/#post-1306901

https://omegaforums.net/threads/vin...e-pan-14381-gold-capped-w-boxes-papers.99972/

https://omegaforums.net/threads/omega-168-024-chronometer-cal-564-with-bor-bracelet.94693/

... But there are many more!

Good luck and keep asking questions!

joeshoup

Yes, this is a lovely idea and if he has any heart at all he'll be totally charmed that you went to the trouble to get him something so cool - especially since fishing for vintage watches is a very treacherous sport!

The sales forums on this site are the safest place in the web to buy a nice vintage Omega. No one can sell here unless they've participated in the community for a while, and the moderators are vigilant for dodgy listings. Of current listings I quite like these:

https://omegaforums.net/threads/omega-seamaster-cosmic-with-technical-dial.100144/

https://omegaforums.net/threads/cle...sshair-dial-price-reduced.98938/#post-1306901

https://omegaforums.net/threads/vin...e-pan-14381-gold-capped-w-boxes-papers.99972/

https://omegaforums.net/threads/omega-168-024-chronometer-cal-564-with-bor-bracelet.94693/

... But there are many more!

Good luck and keep asking questions!

S sabam1810

https://omegaforums.net/threads/vin...e-pan-14381-gold-capped-w-boxes-papers.99972/

I’m loving this....as my 1st choice.

Any thoughts anyone?

S sabam1810

On the pie pan above - the strap doesn’t look original and the clasp doesn’t have the omega logo - is that normal?

perks713

It’s common that the bands and buckles are lost to time. You can track down vintage buckles, and you can often find them on the watches sold here but they do add a premium.

Personally, I’d focus mostly on the watch. Bands are generally interchangeable and the material breaks down over time. Finding a nice watch on an original bracelet (metal) is nice but depends on taste. I for one am unlikely to wear a watch on anything other than leather or rubber, but I’m a jeans and T-shirt to work kind of person. If I wore suites or button up shirts more often I might feel differently.

ConElPueblo

I used to own this and can confirm that it is in rather stunning condition. I could imagine it would make a great gift when presented in it's original box 😀

Edit: sorry got it wrong - not my old one 🤦🤦🤦



Non-Omega buckle and - particularly - strap are probably the most common set-up and shouldn't deter you. Old Omega straps will most often be fairly prone to wear or be fragile. New straps will be padded and look a bit weird on a slimmer, vintage watch.

S sabam1810

Straps i can live with.... was hoping for the buckle - fussy I know and I’m sorry. But your right the watch is more important and this one is in amazing condition from all the ones I have seen

DaveK

Given your time restraints, I wouldn’t worry about getting a real omega buckle right now. One can be sourced later. A watchshop can put a buckle onto whatever strap you have (if it is the same size at that end). Many buckles are fake, so you want to take your time with that too. There is an entire thread here somewhere on buckles.

garryboy

Been watching this thread with great interest. I'm also looking for a nice dress watch to go along with my speedmaster moonwatch.

With regards to the OP being in the Uk and the piepan watch being presumably in North America. How does it go with import duty ect on a watch of that value.

MRC

Badly if everyone in this transaction is truthful. Further affiant sayeth not 😉

S sabam1810

I have a feeling I will be spending some time here... and maybe buy another one before myself this time in the future

Edward53

It's best not to undervalue for customs purposes. Ethics aside, insurance in case of loss will be at the declared value, and if the customs decide to look into it there could be the sort of trouble you really don't want in your life. It's not worth trying to save money that way.

Peemacgee

Did you mean this one? - also still available in the sales forum.
https://omegaforums.net/threads/ome...eter-14381-box-and-papers-now-usd-1425.98759/

Two nice Constellations @sabam1810, one pie pan, one dome dial.
Both in good condition, both with cross hairs.
It is rare to find two Constellations like this for sale at the same time, so you are very, very, fortunate if this is what you are looking for.
Bear in mind that you need to factor in (approx) 25% import costs if the watches are outside the EU and a further £200-ish for a service if the watch hasn’t had one in the last 5 years.