Help with purchasing my Omega

D

Posts

5

Likes

1

Dishil63

·Jun 16, 2022

Hi there, this is my first post on the forum, I am also a young collector of omega watches and own a omega 565 sea master and other branded vintage watches. Today I really would appreciate for the community here to step in and help me check wether I should purchase this watch or not. My long term plan is to send it to omega for a service and dial restoration if they do that. I am just wondering if the watch matches the description of the seller. The seller has mentioned that the dial, case and the moment are all original to each other, I believe the glass on it is not original. Could you please help me decide on whether it is a good watch to purchase ? Thanks in advance.

 

Posts

20,200

Likes

46,855

Dan S

·Jun 16, 2022

It doesn't make sense to me to buy a watch in poor condition and then spend an outrageous amount of money on factory restoration. Why not be patient and hunt for a watch that is in good condition.

 

Posts

1,171

Likes

2,432

Nepomuceño

·Jun 16, 2022

I agree with Dan. If you’re going to pay a premium you should expect it to be in great condition and serviced. This watch is rough in every department. Dial is damaged, movement is quite tired, and that case is chewed up. Best advice is to be patient and avoid these types of watches that are money pits.

 

D

Posts

5

Likes

1

Dishil63

·Jun 17, 2022

Thank you so much yeah I was confused as it is a black dial and that's what I'm looking for a reasonably priced and no painted dial. I was actually looking for a 565 I have but prices are outrageous and most of them are repainted. anyway, thanks for the help again and ill back out from this deal then.

 

Posts

5,455

Likes

8,492

Peemacgee

·Jun 17, 2022

Welcome @Dishil63
As above, the watch case and movt are a mess.

The dial is interesting - degraded but quite pleasing in a ‘faithful old dog’ kind of way.
But you wouldn’t want to pay a premium for it.

however, whilst I believe there are some Constellation dials with onyx inserts only at 12, 3, 6 & 9, it does appear to have onyx inserts only at 12 and 9 which was never an Omega design feature. ( especially on a lumed watch dial)

 

D

Posts

5

Likes

1

Dishil63

·Jun 17, 2022

Thanks mate, do you recommend any books that I could use to learn more about antique omega watches?

 

Posts

2,466

Likes

3,434

Pvt-Public

·Jun 17, 2022

Peemacgee

Welcome @Dishil63
however, whilst I believe there are some Constellation dials with onyx inserts only at 12, 3, 6 & 9, it does appear to have onyx inserts only at 12 and 9 which was never an Omega design feature. ( especially on a lumed watch dial)

I agree except there is no lume on the dial at all, nor spots where it looks like lume was removed, and the date window is tilted. My opinion is, while the dial may not have been repainted the furniture certainly was removed and/replaced for some reason. I’d buy it, but only if I could get it for $100 or less. LOL

 

Posts

5,455

Likes

8,492

Peemacgee

·Jun 17, 2022

D Dishil63

Thanks mate, do you recommend any books that I could use to learn more about antique omega watches?

there is AJTT (a journey through time) but it’s expensive, and a book on Seamasters I believe.

for constellations try Desmond excellent web site ‘Constellation collectors blog’

 

Posts

9,591

Likes

27,598

ConElPueblo

·Jun 17, 2022

Pvt-Public

I agree except there is no lume on the dial at all, nor spots where it looks like lume was removed, and the date window is tilted. My opinion is, while the dial may not have been repainted the furniture certainly was removed and/replaced for some reason. I’d buy it, but only if I could get it for $100 or less. LOL

The indices at 1-2, 4-5, 7-8 and 10-11 have cut-outs for lume at the bottom. I guess it could have been cleaned harshly, which could explain some of the wear.

 

Posts

2,466

Likes

3,434

Pvt-Public

·Jun 17, 2022

I'm guessing the furniture was removed/replaced at some point because:
a. there is a scratch that appears to go under the lume end of the 5 o'clock indice.
b. indices with lume "pockets" and no evidence there was ever any lume on the dial.
c. date window installed crooked.

 

Posts

2,470

Likes

6,468

seekingseaquest

·Jun 17, 2022

The caseback should have a gold medallion, not steel. Lots of question marks on this one.

 

Posts

7,858

Likes

56,992

TexOmega

·Jun 17, 2022

Yikes

A parts watch for somebody, brought back to life by somebody to sell to anybody with a novice eye.

 

Posts

9,591

Likes

27,598

ConElPueblo

·Jun 17, 2022

Pvt-Public

I'm guessing the furniture was removed/replaced at some point because:
a. there is a scratch that appears to go under the lume end of the 5 o'clock indice.
b. indices with lume "pockets" and no evidence there was ever any lume on the dial.
c. date window installed crooked.

a. there is massive loss of black paint a number of places on this dial, including underneath other markers. Harsh cleaning can result in paint loss.
b. If a dial has been cleaned and the lacquer removed, there will usually be no trace of lume.
c. I don't think it is. It is probably due to the shape of the dial that it appears crooked from some angles. In photo 1 and 3 it looks as straight as I would expect from a Constellation.

Why would someone bother to replace all furniture anyway? The dial print is correct, so it wasn't due to redialing. Apart from the 9 o'clock marker, all of them are correct.