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If you were interested in a 1977 watch...

Annapolis
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I'm curious to hear where folks would turn (ie what models you like best) from the 1977 vintage. (This would be the birth-year watch for me.) I'd be looking for something under 1k, hopefully well under that threshold.

I'm drawn to the Constellations from that year---even the quartz ones. But I'm wondering what else is out there that I might be missing.

Adding pics I've downloaded of some of the ones that have caught my eye. To be clear, these are not watches I'm actually looking for authenticity/quality feedback on---I don't even think these are currently for sale. Just sample pics.

It seems like a year with relatively limited options as far was what's readily available at the usual sources---at least among US sellers, which is where I'd probably focus...
 
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wilderbeast
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Hello from a fellow 1977-born enthusiast. The late 70s were not a great time for Omega as the Quartz crisis hit many Swiss watch companies and forced some tough cost-saving measures, but I think that many of the models out there from this time are under-appreciated, even if they lack the finesse and workmanship of earlier vintages.

My birth year watch was a gift and one I hadn’t looked at before (I have a wish to add a 1977 Speedy to my stable one day but they are tough to pinpoint without an EOA). It’s a quartz Seamaster and, I believe, still very presentable. These are relatively easy to find and well within your budget.

happy hunting!

1959E444-0275-4AAE-B403-1029B4F76703.jpeg
 
Charlemagne1333
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Not quite your birth year but a Seamaster 145.024 ‘Jedi’, a la Chuck Maddox, would be a neat touch given you were born in the same year as the original Star Wars film was released. Unfortunately you’d have to be a Jedi to procure one for under 1K. Can’t go wrong with a Connie though
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Annapolis
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My Star Wars obsessed 8yo would love that, but those are a bit beyond my reach price-wise, as you say. And slick as they are, I tend to prefer very stripped-down simple designs. Suppose my taste is rather boring, actually: very plain dials, stainless rather than gold. More Tatooine than Coruscant. 😀
 
wilderbeast
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You should be able to find plenty meeting your criteria within your budget, probably in both automatic and quartz variants. Apart from Connies, you could also look at Seamasters and Genèves, though the latter are not usually that collectible in this period and can look really very generic.
 
jB1128
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A 1977 birth year Speedmaster Professional 145.022-76 is the one for me. Unfortunately for the OP, it would be a tall task to obtain one for under $1K these days...
IMG_2568.jpg
 
jB1128
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If I was shopping, had a firm cap at $1000 and wanted something now that was from 1977, then I would probably try to pursue something like this Seamaster automatic - reference 166.0204. Maybe not this exact example, as it looks pretty polished and a bit grimy:
s-l1600.jpg

This is currently listed on eBay below $1K USD here:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/OMEGA-SEAM...188926?hash=item5481751d3e:g:aZ8AAOSwPA1ec2aj
Edited:
 
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Mods
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First year of production for the Rolex Oysterquartz and my accidental birth year watch

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rob#1
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You can pick up automatic Seamasters from that era for well under $1,000, I much prefer the smooth second hand movement over the single click of the quartz - here’s mine from 76

2E022F24-BA27-4AA3-8DD0-7421F165EC25.png
 
wilderbeast
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jB1128 jB1128
A 1977 birth year Speedmaster Professional 145.022-76 is the one for me. Unfortunately for the OP, it would be a tall task to obtain one for under $1K these days...
IMG_2568.jpg
Gorgeous! That’s exactly what’s on my list...
 
wagudc
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Annapolis Annapolis
I'm curious to hear where folks would turn (ie what models you like best) from the 1977 vintage. (This would be the birth-year watch for me.) I'd be looking for something under 1k, hopefully well under that threshold.

I'm drawn to the Constellations from that year---even the quartz ones. But I'm wondering what else is out there that I might be missing.

Adding pics I've downloaded of some of the ones that have caught my eye. To be clear, these are not watches I'm actually looking for authenticity/quality feedback on---I don't even think these are currently for sale. Just sample pics.

It seems like a year with relatively limited options as far was what's readily available at the usual sources---at least among US sellers, which is where I'd probably focus...

I would consider an F300 tuning fork watch. There is a nice one in the private sales forum for $550. It is a 70s watch, you would have to check the serial number.
 
jB1128
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wagudc wagudc
I would consider an F300 tuning fork watch. There is a nice one in the private sales forum for $550. It is a 70s watch, you would have to check the serial number.

^ What he said. 100% 👍
 
asrnj77
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Easy. Seiko 6309 Turtle. You’ll be able to get a 1977 one just from reading the serial number on the back case, no extract required.
 
timjohn
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Annapolis Annapolis
Suppose my taste is rather boring, actually: very plain dials, stainless rather than gold. More Tatooine than Coruscant.
Plain and well-designed is really hard to pull off. Try the Grand Seiko 45** watches. Fabulous 36,000hz movements, plain dials, great finishing and easy to bring in under $1k

Screenshot 2020-04-17 at 15.14.42.png
 
Annapolis
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Appreciate these replies. I do like the f300s too. Damn hard (for me) to find ones with 40xxxxxxx serial no.s, though. So many crappy movement pics on eBay to squint through, and a lot of folks with no movement pics at all. (The ones currently listed on this site are both earlier specimens.) Anyway, I'm not in a hurry---will keep searching. If anyone notices a decent '77 Connie or f300---or a Seamaster---feel free to pm me, please. (The Speedmasters are awesome, but out of reach and probably less my style anyway.)
 
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