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Is this right decision for husbands 60th, 1961 Seamaster?

V
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Well everyone, I came here for advice & help, and got it and I am extremely grateful to you all, thank you. But after asking for a photo of the dial & back of the watch & enquiring about the warranty & service I have received the reply below.
Sadly this has now really put me off, I could cry as I’ve made so much effort trying to do this, researched as best as could, asked for advice from others, but clearly you need to be an experienced collector with connections to even make this idea possible
“Sorry no more photos. There seems to get lots going on in the background with other people getting involved after we agreed price so lets cancel the offering”.

 
ChrisN
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Hi Vicky

If the watch is really as good as it appears and was going to be serviced and sold with a warranty, then why would they care if comments were made in this thread? It seems an odd attitude from them so, perhaps it's a blessing in disguise? I am sure they will have other customers and there are definitely other watches for you so, it's just been a waste of some time. But, I can see it's disheartening.

Best wishes, Chris
 
Syrte
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Hi Vicky, so sorry to hear.
But does this not mean there was something fishy about the warranty he was offering?
You did everything perfectly and a reputable seller selling a good watch should be able to let a client do due diligence.
We have a saying which is, “buy the seller”.
A good seller is a key condition to making a good deal— and you have exposed the flaw in this one.
So you should be proud of yourself- give yourself a break, and you will find a nice watch from a good seller.

All the best

PS you should be aware service is one of the areas where there’s room for manoeuver by someone taking advantage of an unsuspecting client. Service means the watch must be dissassembled entirely, inspected piece by piece. People who cut corners just do targetted cleaning around some sensitive parts of the “engine” without dismounting the watch. It works for timekeeping for a while but may damage the movement in the long run.
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Walrus
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Sorry to hear that Vicky but tbh with a response like that I’d be glad I didn’t do business with them. That just seems off to me however the fact you are that upset about it is disheartening. I will make sure I never deal with that seller that response just turned me off. What a couple pictures? Big deal. I really wish I could help you I did have a 61 seamaster for a while but it’s in China now. Sorry it played out like that left a bad taste in my mouth. You are in a price range where you can get something nice that would make anyone who appreciates watches happy but I understand the birth year thing. Maybe you shouldn’t have asked a bunch of watch nerds for help they blew up your pick. You can just pick something nice up and show your husband this thread and prove to him a bunch of omega nerds ruined his B-day. Not me of course let me just go edit some posts I made.
 
apsm100
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Don't feel bad! This watch was an easy pass.

It sucks that you won't have a gift ready, but finding the "right" watch will be worth it.

There will be many more opportunities and be happy that you avoided a hefty newbie tax. 😀
 
ChrisN
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And, I meant to say that the chances of that watch being from 1961 are about one in three. The online serial number lookups are not that accurate so without an archive extract from Omega, the exact date can't be known. This is the lookup I use and it says it's about + or - 1 or 2 years.
https://chronomaddox.com/omega_serial_numbers.html

Good luck with the hunt, Chris
 
Screwbacks
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V VickyG
My dear husband turns 60 in April and I wanted something special from the family to him so I started on my Vintage Omega search. He isn’t ‘into’ watches but doesn’t like the modern huge face watches & thought maybe putting it onto a genuine Nato fabric strap (for comfort as he doesn’t like metal straps!) & then getting the Nato chrome bars engraved if possible could all add up to a very deserved & special gift for him.

why not consider scouting also for a 1961 connie piepan, instead of limiting your choice to only one. they are both excellent vintage omega watches for any gift plan.😉👍
 
Deafboy
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Screwbacks Screwbacks
why not consider scouting also for a 1961 connie piepan, instead of limiting your choice to only one. they are both excellent vintage omega watches for any gift plan.😉👍

Constellation "Piepan" are beautiful watches (I have two!) but I find the "Dog Leg" version is very dressy.
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Socks
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Vicky,

I couldn't work out from the thread whether you had bought it or not until the last few posts. I was not going to pass comment on the vendor as personally I have had no direct dealings with them. I have posted like others on here about their slightly questionable listings, but this is a shocker. If you are reading this (which I expect you are) shame on you. If your watch was what you said it was then where's the big issue with providing them? Not least it would have vindicated you on here. Yes, price may be steep but if you are selling an honest watch, the price is with the beholder.
 
Socks
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Vicky,

How long have you got to secure this gift? or do what Syrte has suggested and bring your husband along in the process (thus removing the deadline). I think we all feel slightly guilty that your sale collapsed (because of feedback on here), even though it was probably the right result.

Surely the might of the OF can find Vicky a suitable replacement?
 
Shabbaz
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If Vicky ditch the birthyear thing it will be really easy to find a replacement. If she holds on to the birthyear thing, the only way to buy a watch is to buy it with a extract that confirms it's a 1961. And that will be nearly impossible. Because nobody offers sub 1k watch with a extract. So my advice is, ditch the birthyear thing and the world of wonderful omega's is at your feet!
Edited:
 
amcclell
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I agree - killer dial and will go with anything. The 2xx movements are among the best of the manual winders Omega made.
 
Dan S
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I suspect that the seller was reading this thread and was unhappy about some things that were said, and maybe he was getting worried that the OP would buy the watch and then return it. Still, it seems pretty unprofessional to me. Given the way he preps and prices his watches, he should be able to tolerate a few comments. And he clearly targets a market that isn't particularly knowledgable, so he should be willing to answer questions.

OP: The birth-year focus is what makes this so difficult. Is it really necessary? Obviously you know your husband, but if I put myself in your husband's position, I think I would be very happy with an excellent vintage watch that you chose for me, and the particular year wouldn't matter. My wife bought me a watch for my birthday once, and I never gave the year of manufacture a second thought.
Edited:
 
V
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Walrus Walrus
Sorry to hear that Vicky but tbh with a response like that I’d be glad I didn’t do business with them. That just seems off to me however the fact you are that upset about it is disheartening. I will make sure I never deal with that seller that response just turned me off. What a couple pictures? Big deal. I really wish I could help you I did have a 61 seamaster for a while but it’s in China now. Sorry it played out like that left a bad taste in my mouth. You are in a price range where you can get something nice that would make anyone who appreciates watches happy but I understand the birth year thing. Maybe you shouldn’t have asked a bunch of watch nerds for help they blew up your pick. You can just pick something nice up and show your husband this thread and prove to him a bunch of omega nerds ruined his B-day. Not me of course let me just go edit some posts I made.
Socks Socks
Vicky,

I couldn't work out from the thread whether you had bought it or not until the last few posts. I was not going to pass comment on the vendor as personally I have had no direct dealings with them. I have posted like others on here about their slightly questionable listings, but this is a shocker. If you are reading this (which I expect you are) shame on you. If your watch was what you said it was then where's the big issue with providing them? Not least it would have vindicated you on here. Yes, price may be steep but if you are selling an honest watch, the price is with the beholder.

Yes reading all posts for which I am grateful for but I’m not sure if this is a pop at me as it was never my intention to question a dealers integrity. But sorry I think if a buyer wants a few more details they should get them & for the buyer it is a big issue!
I have been very grateful for people’s kind input in what right now feels a very (very) questionable market place unless you know someone in this field you can trust, or are an experienced collector (of which I think it’s very clear I am neither).
But if I’ve asked for more details as the buyer & they aren’t forthcoming I really don’t feel I have to vindicate myself on here for what I’ve done. I wanted sound advice totally realising that ultimately the price is what anyone is happy to pay, but a colleague suggested I ask questions due to the listing being unclear as to the service it was getting or the details of a warranty on either the listing or on their on-line shop front. The suggestion to get a closer up picture of the front & back I thought was a good idea especially with not being able to see the watch before you buy. Again I am truly sorry if I have offended anyone on here who has been kind enough to comment.

I am back to the drawing board, dropping the 1961 year but keeping to ‘60’s and will keep going in my endeavours. The area we live in the UK leaves little option to source or buy locally, and with the current climate these past few month no option to travel anywhere else.
 
Shabbaz
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V VickyG
I am back to the drawing board, dropping the 1961 year but keeping to ‘60’s and will keep going in my endeavours
Yes! You've designed a whole new drawing board. You've opened the way to the most fantastic omega designs and now the hunt really begins. With a £ 1400 budget you can go for a killer omega. Although I do like the 166.009. I had a couple of them in the past.
 
Screenshot_20210309-153859_Gallery.jpg
BlackTalon
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If someone is trying to separate you from ~$1,800 USD than they should be willing to take a few minutes to answer more questions, take/ send a couple digital photos, etc. The dealer likely cut things off because they know what they really have and what it is worth, and they do not want to sell it for that. Someone else will overpay for it in a bit.
 
Syrte
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@VickyG since I suggested you ask a number of questions and reminded you you have every right to cancel a sale, I apologize if I caused in part this deal to collapse.

However I would have done the same to protect myself if I had forked over that kind of money— and I do think a seller should have something to show for that kind for money.
My thought about it would be, “it was not meant to happen” -you have learned a lot already through this, and are now much better equipped for the next steps.
 
V
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Shabbaz Shabbaz
Yes! You've designed a whole new drawing board. You've opened the way to the most fantastic omega designs and now the hunt really begins. With a £ 1400 budget you can go for a killer omega. Although I do like the 166.009. I had a couple of them in the past.
Thank you, that’s a truly lovely watch, on the brown leather nato strap which comes in 18mm lugs (I almost sound knowledgeable but trust me it’s only from doing the research!) I don’t think my husband would ever look at me again! Again the seamaster is perfect, he was 30+ years in the Royal Navy and we live by the sea now.....you see why I want to pursue the gift & not give up (but yes taken all the good advice to remove the ‘61 criteria!)
 
JwRosenthal
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Sorry this has been a rough start Vickie but you came to the right place. Just to clarify, nobody here is taking a pop at you- it’s all aimed at the dealer who wouldn’t satisfy very simply requests that you made- he obviously has something to hide.

the classifieds here are a playground for vintage omega, we have many members in the UK and the sales area is mod & member monitored so if there is anything shady, we will point it out publicly.
Even though you are a new member, you can PM any seller and start a dialogue, and you can research their credibility within the same sub-section.
Of course you are welcome to ask about any of them here, just paste the link. You may also find something for yourself- this hobby is addictive.
 
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