Help with purchasing a vintage Omega Seamaster

Looch · Jun 24, 2021

Hi all,

Hoping this awesome forum will come through again for me 😀

I'm relatively new to the watch game, only having recently inherited an Omega Geneve from my Grandpa.

I really want to purchase a vintage Seamaster but I don't know where to start. I know there are lots of reference numbers/movements out there and I'm a little confused about which ones to pursue/which ones are 'good' vs. 'bad'.

Price is a big one for me too, but I understand that I shouldn't be exclusively looking for a bargain.

Thanks all!

vbrad26 · Jun 24, 2021

Start here.
https://omegaforums.net/threads/learn-how-to-fish.52603/

Then, start finding ones you like and go from there. You've asked a pretty broad and subjective question.
So once you narrow it down a little I'm sure the forum could be more helpful.

Dan S · Jun 24, 2021

I would encourage you not to get too caught up in the model name on the dial. It's mainly just marketing. Spend some time doing research and figure out what is really going to give you joy, and complement your Geneve.

Shabbaz · Jun 24, 2021

L Looch
Hi all,

Hoping this awesome forum will come through again for me 😀

I'm relatively new to the watch game, only having recently inherited an Omega Geneve from my Grandpa.

I really want to purchase a vintage Seamaster but I don't know where to start. I know there are lots of reference numbers/movements out there and I'm a little confused about which ones to pursue/which ones are 'good' vs. 'bad'.

Price is a big one for me too, but I understand that I shouldn't be exclusively looking for a bargain.

Thanks all!

Here we go.
Do you want:

Sport or dress?
Stainless steel or gold?
Which Diameter? 33mm till 45mm?
Budget?
What else is important?

Looch · Jun 24, 2021

Shabbaz
Here we go.
Do you want:

Sport or dress?
Stainless steel or gold?
Which Diameter? 33mm till 45mm?
Budget?
What else is important?

Shabbaz coming through! Thanks so much, lets start:

Sport or dress: Dress
Stainless steel or gold: Stainless steel
Which Diameter: I like smaller sizes so like 35mm - 39mm
Budget: 500-750 CAD
What else is important: silver, white, or champagne dials, patina/no patina doesn't really factor in to my decisions, I prefer dials with no numbers, but I don't mind the 3/6/9/12 dial face.

Looch · Jun 24, 2021

Dan S
I would encourage you not to get too caught up in the model name on the dial. It's mainly just marketing. Spend some time doing research and figure out what is really going to give you joy, and complement your Geneve.

Thanks thats a good point. Makes sense to broaden my search a bit.

Looch · Jun 24, 2021

And ya

Shabbaz
Here we go

And ya Shabbaz, taking what Dan S mentioned, I'm open to other models, with a preference for Seamaster.

SkunkPrince · Jun 24, 2021

Try looking for a CK 2627. You'll need a good watchmaker for that one. See if you can get one with the later 355 movement.

Fallout Boy · Jun 24, 2021

Attention: AFAIK spare parts for 3xx-movements are rare. I personally would avoid these....

SkunkPrince · Jun 24, 2021

Fallout Boy
Attention: AFAIK spare parts for 3xx-movements are rare. I personally would avoid these....

Not that rare, though I will grant perhaps not for a n00b. Frequently the holes for the oscillating weight pinion require bushing.

Shabbaz · Jun 24, 2021

L Looch
Shabbaz coming through! Thanks so much, lets start:

Sport or dress: Dress
Stainless steel or gold: Stainless steel
Which Diameter: I like smaller sizes so like 35mm - 39mm
Budget: 500-750 CAD
What else is important: silver, white, or champagne dials, patina/no patina doesn't really factor in to my decisions, I prefer dials with no numbers, but I don't mind the 3/6/9/12 dial face.

Alrighty. You know 50's and 60's seamasters were mainly 34/35/36mm?

Looch · Jun 24, 2021

Shabbaz
Alrighty. You know 50's and 60's seamasters were mainly 34/35/36mm?

Hey, nope I didn't know that, although I do know that older watches tended to be on the smaller side. That helps narrow it down further for sure. What could be some references from that period that match what I'm looking for? Also thanks so much for helping me with this

Dan S · Jun 24, 2021

L Looch
Shabbaz coming through! Thanks so much, lets start:

Sport or dress: Dress
Stainless steel or gold: Stainless steel
Which Diameter: I like smaller sizes so like 35mm - 39mm
Budget: 500-750 CAD
What else is important: silver, white, or champagne dials, patina/no patina doesn't really factor in to my decisions, I prefer dials with no numbers, but I don't mind the 3/6/9/12 dial face.

The budget is a bit of a challenge, but if they appeal to you, an entry point could be a hand-winding Seamaster 600. Like a 135.011. There are also some Seamaster 30 models that might work, like 135.007.

Shabbaz · Jun 24, 2021

L Looch
Hey, nope I didn't know that, although I do know that older watches tended to be on the smaller side. That helps narrow it down further for sure. What could be some references from that period that match what I'm looking for? Also thanks so much for helping me with this

600. Nice entry level watch and easy to find

Shabbaz · Jun 24, 2021

Or a seamaster de ville for the james bond vibe

MtV · Jun 24, 2021

The examples shown by @Shabbaz are ~34mm in diameter. If that works for you, those can sometimes be picked up in decent condition just within your budget. Don’t be put of by asking prices when searching for those refs - dealers, but also private sellers regularly try to sell them as 1000€+-watches. They aren’t.

Here’s another example that would’ve been within your price range, slightly different look with a stainless steel case and golden furniture. Reference is 136.011.

edit: note that it’s the same ref, these came as Seamaster, Seamaster 600 or Genève-branded.

Looch · Jun 24, 2021

MtV
The examples shown by @Shabbaz are ~34mm in diameter. If that works for you, those can sometimes be picked up in decent condition just within your budget. Don’t be put of by asking prices when searching for those refs - dealers, but also private sellers regularly try to sell them as 1000€+-watches. They aren’t.

Here’s another example that would’ve been within your price range, slightly different look with a stainless steel case and golden furniture. Reference is 136.011.

edit: note that it’s the same ref, these came as Seamaster, Seamaster 600 or Genève-branded.

Awesome, thanks for the tips!

wagudc · Jun 24, 2021

It will take some effort but you probably can find a dress Seamaster in your price range. Also don't forget to factor in the cost of a service, which could put you over budget. It seems that in the last couple of years Seamasters have really gone up, especially those listed on Chrono 24, eBay, Instagram, etc. The private sales forum here sometimes has Seamasters at good prices, but they will go fast.

Here are a couple recent examples (they all are just out of your price range):
https://omegaforums.net/threads/ss-omega-seamaster-de-ville-135-010-630-euro.133196/
https://omegaforums.net/threads/omega-seamaster-166-032-“sparkle-dial”-650€.131987/
https://omegaforums.net/threads/ome...-017-on-bor-serviced-650.132413/#post-1804339

If you are willing to keep an open mind there are plenty of equally good watches that don't bear the Omega Seamaster name that would be in your price range. See:

https://omegaforums.net/threads/rec...tage-new-deals-on-ebay-other-auctions.113139/

If it has got to have "Seamaster" I understand, but you might want to wait until you can up your budget by a bit.

Help with purchasing a vintage Omega Seamaster

Looch

vbrad26

Dan S

Shabbaz

Looch

Looch

Looch

SkunkPrince

Fallout Boy

SkunkPrince

Shabbaz

Looch

Dan S

Shabbaz

Shabbaz

MtV

Looch

wagudc

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