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Help please with this ladies Seamaster vintage watch

padders
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J JanieB
I forgot to ask, it is still the actual workings of a Seamaster watch though?
Omega have played fast and loose over the years about what is a Seamaster and what is not. Generally if it says SM on it somewhere, front, back or wherever it will be water resistant to at least 30m and will have gaskets in the caseback and crown. If you don't see gaskets or the place where they would have been its not a Seamaster. Some water resistant models are not Seamasters (eg the Speedmaster series, all modern peices) but no Seamaster has no water resistance. Both models you show above tick the boxes to have been sold as Seamasters but sometimes even when the back has the logo, the dial doesn't.

At the risk of sounding a bit defeatist, with your budget I think you are going to struggle to find something nice. Even if you negotiate the originality minefield and find something that hasn't been messed about, the chances are it will need a service at the least which will add about £200 to your outlay, maybe more. Meaning to hit your budget you really need to find something nice for £100, even in ladies pieces that is a tall order.
Edited:
 
J
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padders padders
That one might have an original dial but has other serious problems. It looks to have bad corrosion on the lugs, though it might just be filthy and the rehaut round the dial is missing which can mean either it has an aftermarket crystal or the dial isnt right for the case. I'd steer well clear of that one.
Thank you Padders, I will give it a miss. Pretty colour dial though 😀
 
Dan S
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I doubt that the dial will look very pink in-person. It has degraded a bit over time and may have a slight pinkish tint, but I suspect it is mainly the lighting of the photo.
 
J
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Well that makes it easier to walk away from Dan, unfortunately us girls sometimes get our heads turned by a pretty colour and forget to focus on the main thing!
 
J
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padders padders
Omega have played fast and loose over the years about what is a Seamaster and what is not. Generally if it says SM on it somewhere, front, back or wherever it will be water resistant to at least 30m and will have gaskets in the caseback and crown. If you don't see gaskets or the place where they would have been its not a Seamaster. Some water resistant models are not Seamasters (eg the Speedmaster series, all modern peices) but no Seamaster has no water resistance. Both models you show above tick the boxes to have been sold as Seamasters but sometimes even when the back has the logo, the dial doesn't.

At the risk of sounding a bit defeatist, with your budget I think you are going to struggle to find something nice. Even if you negotiate the originality minefield and find something that hasn't been messed about, the chances are it will need a service at the least which will add about £200 to your outlay, maybe more. Meaning to hit your budget you really need to find something nice for £100, even in ladies pieces that is a tall order.

Padders, thank you for all your sensible advice. I also came to the conclusion that it was an impossible task, SO, I have actually bought the one without the Seamaster on the dial ( that may be re finished ), as it seems as you say, to be a Seamaster ( the back case inside, photo is very blurry, has it appears all the correct details and even the wording appears again in French, which from some research, seems ok, as certain watches were sent to France to be assembled and the cases made ). I didn't get it for my budget, it was up for £695, but I ended up paying £450
and that is ok, as it was from a watch seller and hopefully it will keep working for a while! This search was way harder than I ever expected, but it did it's job, I think I have a watch I will love and it has distracted me from thinking about the cataract ( and tumour removal) my dog is having in just under 2 weeks. I have been going out of my mind with worry, so the search for my watch was to keep me sane 😀 I shall post photos when I get it ( next week ). Thank you again for all your help. Jane
 
J
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Hello all, I haven't received the watch I have bought yet ( should be tomorrow ), it is the 1958 Seamaster with 30mm case and CAL 471. The inside of the back case was blurry on the photos, but I requested a clearer photo, which is attached. The model is 2816 2 SC, but on the research I did, this dates to 1954 and a bumper movement. Do you think the watch was originally a bumper and has had the 471 movement ( serial number 16407393 ) added at a later date ?
Omega Jane's pic 2.jpg Omega Jane's.jpg Omega seamaster case back ( Jane's ).jpg om 1.jpg om 2.jpg om 3.jpg
 
J
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padders padders
I think that actually says 2916, which is fine for a late 1950s full rotor model. As you know some of us have reservations about the refinished dial but if you like it and it runs well then you should be all set.

https://www.omegawatches.com/en-gb/watch-omega-seamaster-omega-ck-2916
Fantastic, thank you, Padders, I was much more worried about that than the refinished dial - I would of course loved the dial to have been un touched up, but with my budget I decided some compromises would be needed. The seller said the dial was in great condition for a 1958 watch, no mention of a re-finish, but I decided it was the right model, right size and although over budget, just about do-able. Phew, I can look forward to its arrival tomorrow now 😀
 
J
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Good morning all, well my watch has arrived and I am totally in love with it! The dial is a champagne gold sort of colour, I think it is still 2 tone but that could just be the way the light hits the dial. I haven't dared to set the time yet, so I will have to do that. Your opinions are very welcome. Thank you all for helping me to end up with a watch I love.
 
Jane's Omega Seamaster dial 6.jpg Jane's Omega Seamaster dial 5.jpg Jane's Omega Seamaster dial 4.jpg Jane's Omega Seamaster dial 3.jpg
Gabguzro
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Glad you like it! That's what matters. Try to send it for general service with a watchmaker once the budget allows it, to ensure it keeps working for many years. Enjoy it and wear it in good health!
 
J
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Thank you Gabguzro, I have had it on my wrist all day and it has made me smile all day. I shall certainly send it for a service at some point, to keep it going. It is going to be hard to stop looking at Omega watches now, I realise I would probably like a black dial or blue dial at somepoint in the future as well as this one !
 
Gabguzro
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If you're fine with a rectangular shape, maybe you can keep an eye out there for reference 551.074. I've seen it in black and navy dials and it looks really nice. The good thing with the references for ladies is that you can find some stylish/colored dials for lower prices, although sometimes the listings are more generic so you need to hunt for them.

image.bin

34563509-pct6mw1szpoyh6if4byp2a4d-ExtraLarge.jpg
 
J
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Thanks Gabguzro, I do like a rectangular shape, so that will give me something new to look for....😀
 
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