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Help! Real or fake? - 1952 Seamaster

hpmp109
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Hi everyone,

I have no experience in spotting the difference between real and fake Omegas. I found this one on eBay and the seller agreed to sell it to me for £500. Firstly, is this a good price? And secondly, is the watch real or fake?

Here is the description of the watch:

Mens Omega Seamaster Auto Cal 354 14k Gold Filled Gloss Black Dial 1952 Vintage.

Beautiful Omega Seamaster Bumper Automatic with signed Dial Crown and Movement.Calibre 354 case has been ultrasonically cleaned,winds runs and sets well.Serial number 13784525 which places manufacture to 1952.Measures 43.3x 34.6 case is 14 k gold filled dial has been beautifully restored to gloss black with applied gold Omega.The hour minute and second hands are in good order.Guaranteed genuine Omega.

Thanks for your help everyone! I didn't want to purchase the watch without knowing 😀

Best,

Barry.

Here are some photos:

IMG_20210828_083829.jpg IMG_20210828_083819.jpg IMG_20210828_083802.jpg IMG_20210828_083747.jpg IMG_20210828_083732.jpg IMG_20210828_083718.jpg IMG_20210828_083704.jpg IMG_20210828_083650.jpg IMG_20210828_083635.jpg IMG_20210828_083618.jpg
 
Fallout Boy
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hpmp109 hpmp109
Thanks for your help everyone! I didn't want to purchase the watch without knowing

Right first step! 👍

hpmp109 hpmp109
dial has been beautifully restored to gloss black with applied gold Omega

hm.... the seller does not want to cheat , so if this is OK for you: try to negociate....

Hoever: the design of this watch is beautiful!
 
hpmp109
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Fallout Boy Fallout Boy
Right first step! 👍



hm.... the seller does not want to cheat , so if this is OK for you: try to negociate....

Hoever: the design of this watch is beautiful!

I have already managed to negotiate the price down to £500 from £600.

But I just want to know if the watch is fake or real before buying!
 
Spruce
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Hi Barry,
And welcome.
“Restored”, in almost all watch sales is a euphemism for “repainted” and most collectors would not collect a repainted dial, however nicely it has been done.
The movement looks very clean and in good condition for a 70 year old watch which is a positive.
The case has been highly polished IMHO. A problem with gold capped cases is that they can wear thin in parts and the brass underneath can tarnish. Obviously, sellers give them a wipe with a jewellers cloth before photographing. The crown looks okay
In general terms, 50s Omega bumpers, nice as they are, tend to fetch lower prices than later movements.
If you’re just buying it to wear, then it looks nice.
But, all that apart, and to answer your question, I think it’s genuine.
 
Spruce
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And, for comparison purposes, this is my ‘unrestored’ 1954 bumper with a cal 354 movement.
I think I paid about the same as you about two years ago

upload_2021-8-28_9-22-27.jpeg
 
hpmp109
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Spruce Spruce
Hi Barry,
And welcome.
“Restored”, in almost all watch sales is a euphemism for “repainted” and most collectors would not collect a repainted dial, however nicely it has been done.
The movement looks very clean and in good condition for a 70 year old watch which is a positive.
The case has been highly polished IMHO. A problem with gold capped cases is that they can wear thin in parts and the brass underneath can tarnish. Obviously, sellers give them a wipe with a jewellers cloth before photographing. The crown looks okay
In general terms, 50s Omega bumpers, nice as they are, tend to fetch lower prices than later movements.
If you’re just buying it to wear, then it looks nice.
But, all that apart, and to answer your question, I think it’s genuine.

Thanks for the info, Spruce. I really like the black dial and am not too concerned about it being restored -- the watch is to be worn daily.

I guess the only thing I wanted to double-check was if it was a knock-off fake in some way. But it sounds like it's all original apart from the restored dial? If that's the case, I think I'll go ahead and purchase!
 
MtV
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hpmp109 hpmp109
I guess the only thing I wanted to double-check was if it was a knock-off fake in some way. But it sounds like it's all original apart from the restored dial? If that's the case, I think I'll go ahead and purchase!

It’s not a knock-off fake. The question “fake or real?” is very vague and allows for many different interpretations. We regularly have threads here in which people ask the exact same question, only to come to the conclusion it’s “fake” due to the repainted dial. One man’s fake is another man’s real.

Summary: No collector value with the redone dial and the polished case, I’d also ask for a gold second hand as this one seems to be steel and therefore not fitting the rest of the watch?
Case and movement are Omega, though, if you like it and are prepared to pay this amount go ahead.
 
hpmp109
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MtV MtV
It’s not a knock-off fake. The question “fake or real?” is very vague and allows for many different interpretations. We regularly have threads here in which people ask the exact same question, only to come to the conclusion it’s “fake” due to the repainted dial. One man’s fake is another man’s real.

Summary: No collector value with the redone dial and the polished case, I’d also ask for a gold second hand as this one seems to be steel and therefore not fitting the rest of the watch?
Case and movement are Omega, though, if you like it and are prepared to pay this amount go ahead.
Thanks Mtv! Lots learned already. I've gone ahead and purchased the watch. I like the black dial and I prefer vintage styles anyway.

Thanks everyone
 
hpmp109
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One final question. I'd like to replace the strap with a Milanese one. What size should I order for this particular watch? I am presented with 18, 21 and 22mm as choices.
 
Spruce
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hpmp109 hpmp109
One final question. I'd like to replace the strap with a Milanese one. What size should I order for this particular watch? I am presented with 18, 21 and 22mm as choices.
Enjoy the watch and post a photo on WRUW.
You can buy replica Omega buckles on eBay or Etsy, but remember that you normally need a 16mm buckle for an18mm strap
 
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