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I got one of my grail watches - old Seamaster

vintage hab
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Congrats. I think 8 months to find exactly the vintage you wanted is a relatively short time in the scheme of things, but certainly you worked for it, so well done. You've inspired me to renew my on-and-off watch search
The problem is what on earth will you do with your time now?!? 馃槈
 
DaveK
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The research, indeed the whole journey, often makes the watch that much more special. Those are the ones that you will appreciate the most.
 
Mensur
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Rudi99 Rudi99
It might not be a NOS, maybe some will say the dial is even damaged! Or that the case has too many dings and dangs. I don't mind, for me it is perfect the way it is, with history and personality

What a gorgeous watch! Absolutely agree that a few dings give a watch so much more character.
 
Rudi99
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krogerfoot krogerfoot
Spiffy. It's always great when someone shares their particular enthusiasm in this way, without competitiveness or covetousness. This is why I enjoy this forum. I'm sure I'm not alone in thinking that.

To elaborate: I have a similar old Seamaster, not nearly as handsome or distinctive and certainly not worth a ton of money, but I like it. And now my appreciation for it is renewed after reading @Rudi99's story and I remember what attracted me to it and how I decided to get it, and it will probably be on my wrist tomorrow.

I was glad to read that, thanks. OF can be great, and I also like it the most when it comes to just sharing the passion. Please do share a picture of yours later!

LesXL LesXL
Congrats on your successful quest! Really nice to appreciate your excitement and joy through your written words.
Enjoy it for many more decades!

Thank you for the kind words. 馃榾

janice&fred janice&fred
Gorgeous examples you guys have and may I add my sub second version?

testingomegas017.jpg

That is a stunner! Never seen that dial variant before, and that with subdial! Now I feel compelled to also seek for a BoR... Damn 馃檮

Alex Cheers Alex Cheers
Nice story! Enjoy your watch! Maybe I find my grail Speedmaster in a similar way someday 馃榾

Herzlichen Gl眉ckwunsch 馃憤

Danke sehr!
 
Rudi99
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Dsplash Dsplash
Very nice, congrats! Love that simple design from the 50s!
A little hello from a not-so-distant cousin
DB90470C-52DD-4606-A276-053C0E310573.jpeg


Also, there is one for sale on a local website looking quite similar, but with a 354 movement, is it the same ref?
BA34AF47-79A2-428F-B55F-BD7AD5119FF0.jpeg

Thanks for commenting and sharing your piece. I do have a sweet spot for those vintage OPs, Air Kings and also the bubblebacks and hope to come across and acquire one of those eventually!

The watch you saw on a local shop looks also really nice with slightly heavier patina. It should be a reference 2577 if the caliber is the 354 (bumper), which dates it to between 1948 and 1954 and is therefore -the- original Seamaster. One can say mine is already a spinoff or continuation of the original with a slightly different case and caliber 500 or 501 (full automatic).

The thing is: the watch you saw should have a slightly different case with lugs that are drilled and a tad slender. Like this:

Omega-seamaster-2577-11.jpg


If you pay close attention, you'll see it is extremely similar but not quite the same case. Maybe a swapped case? I hope not, as the watch looks really cool.

Edit: after doing some more research, I found other examples of Seamasters with cal 354 which already have the same case as the later cal 501. Those should be of the later period of production of the reference, which is around 1954, first year of production of my reference and therefore being kind of a transition. I am pretty sure the watch you saw in this shop fits in that category. 馃摉
Edited:
 
Rudi99
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Nobel Prize Nobel Prize
congratulations!! I love the Espresso cup pic.!

Thanks, but... It is actually a cactus!! Haha 馃槈
IMG_20210113_211430.jpg


I was trying to look for the best place in the house to take some shots and I thought "Yeah, it looks friendlier with it lol"

Gotcha 馃榿
 
Rudi99
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vintage hab vintage hab
Congrats. I think 8 months to find exactly the vintage you wanted is a relatively short time in the scheme of things, but certainly you worked for it, so well done. You've inspired me to renew my on-and-off watch search
The problem is what on earth will you do with your time now?!? 馃槈

Thanks for the kind words. It is true, I know hardcore collectors sometimes spend years looking for a specific watch and mine is not that rare, it was just that I had a very specific idea of a watch in mind (even the numbers on the dial). But it totally paid off and I feel great to now wear it!

Good luck with your hunt!

DaveK DaveK
The research, indeed the whole journey, often makes the watch that much more special. Those are the ones that you will appreciate the most.

Now I see that 100%, thanks for the comment, Dave!

Mensur Mensur
What a gorgeous watch! Absolutely agree that a few dings give a watch so much more character.

Thanks!

jaguar11 jaguar11
Quite fantastic. Enjoy in good health!!

Thank you!

Snowman Snowman
My 1953 seamaster say鈥檚 hello


C3A967BD-DEB0-42F6-9CF2-3D8B4C6A3577.jpeg

Woah, now you are really showing off... I didn't even know rose gold Seamasters from this reference even existed!! I saw hundreds of pictures in the last months but that is a first! Nice catch! 馃憤
 
padders
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Snowman's gold watch above is presumably a bumper ref not a full rotor 2846, based on the date. It certainly is very pretty.
 
X350 XJR
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Very nice, glad your hard work paid off!
 
Spruce
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SkunkPrince SkunkPrince
I recently learned that Genteel makes straps with the embossed line unique to Omega (and Lemania).

https://www.genteel-handmade.com

Might set off that watch of yours quite nicely.

They look very nice but they appear to cost what I normally pay for the actual watch 馃槈
 
SkunkPrince
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Spruce Spruce
They look very nice but they appear to cost what I normally pay for the actual watch 馃槈
All in or go away! 馃榿
 
Rudi99
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X350 XJR X350 XJR
Very nice, glad your hard work paid off!
Dan S Dan S
Very nice find. Congrats!
Patrik83 Patrik83
Love the patina on this one 馃憤

Thank you dear gentlemen for your kind comments!
 
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