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Japanese Market model?

D
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All,

I want to replace a vintage Seamaster I sold a while back.

I'm interested in the style of the 166.010. Pretty much all the units I see for sale (on Chrono24 at least) are located in Japan. Held mostly by a small handful of dealers.

Was this a Japan only model?

I'm not an investor, I wear my watches. Is these somewhere (apart from these excellent fora) where can I learn more about these models before pulling the trigger?
 
filfb22
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Good morning to you.

I am a proud owner of a 166.009 that likely came from Japan as well. There are some models that are were produced to be marketed only inside Japan but the 166.010 should come from the International Collection.
The answer to why there are so many from Japan can be answered by looking at the sheer number of vintage Omega for sale in Japan... on Chrono24 when you look for a reference usually the first to appear are sold from Japan.

Your 166.010 should have a caliber 565, so it has a quick-date-set function activated by pulling the crown.

Case size and shape shoud be quite the same between the 010 and the 009. My 009 is a lovely watch, sized a bit on the smaller side but stunning both on a BoR bracelet and on a leather strap.

Please post some pictures of the watch you are looking to buy, there are experienced forum members that can help you save quite a bit of money. Usually, for my experience, older Omegas from Japan usually need a service, keep that in mind when considering the whole price.

I'll attach a Omega link and some pictures from a catalogue... have a fun time learing about your maybe future watch! Also, keep looking on the forum using the reference number

https://www.omegawatches.com/it-it/watch-omega-seamaster-special-st-166-0010

2.jpeg 1.jpeg
 
D
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filfb: many thanks. I'm drooling. Big lugs, onyx markers, BOR, MMMmmmm!

krogerfoot: Interesting read, many thanks.

A few years back I wound up getting a few Omega's from Japan. They were contemporary (at least for me) impulse buys - reduced speedy and an AT2500. I had to service them both.

I have not purchased older units from Japan and am reticent about the wide range in prices for 'similar' cosmetic appearance. This leaves me wondering about the movement condition.
 
Dan S
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D Drof14
I have not purchased older units from Japan and am reticent about the wide range in prices for 'similar' cosmetic appearance. This leaves me wondering about the movement condition.
You will often find multiple listings for the same watch in Japan, from sellers who do not have the watch in hand, but plan to purchase the watch and send it to you after you pay them for it. They are basically proposing to act as a middleman, but don't disclose this. Their asking prices are often wildly inflated. I would urge you to buy only from a seller who physically has the watch in hand, either through eBay, a direct website, or Yahoo Japan through a proxy bidder, although the last carries significant risk.

Also, I don't know how experienced you are in judging the condition of vintage watches, but price is extremely sensitive to nuanced condition/originality issues, like case finish and polishing.
 
filfb22
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D Drof14
filfb: many thanks. I'm drooling. Big lugs, onyx markers, BOR, MMMmmmm!

krogerfoot: Interesting read, many thanks.

A few years back I wound up getting a few Omega's from Japan. They were contemporary (at least for me) impulse buys - reduced speedy and an AT2500. I had to service them both.

I have not purchased older units from Japan and am reticent about the wide range in prices for 'similar' cosmetic appearance. This leaves me wondering about the movement condition.

I agree 100% with what @Dan S said. That's why I urged you to share pictures of the watch you are planning to buy.

In general, as I have learnt on this forum if you see a watch listed multiple times on eBay is worth a minute looking for it on japanese proxy websites to know, at least, how much negotiation space you have.

Moreover, some japanese seller will sell a "serviced" watch that in fact was just slightly polished. Sometimes it is worth to take a risk, sometimes better look for a better one (talking as someone who bought a ""serviced"" Omega that had inside handmade parts just to own a rare dial and now has to pay a quite hefty sum to have it run smoothly).
 
D
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Many thanks for your help, I will avail myself of your kind offers of help. I'll wait until I have educated myself further, so I'll be more targeted and less of a nuisance.

I bought first vintage watch maybe 30 years back, when Cooksey Shugart was the go to. I still managed to score a fair bit of tat over the years, so I'm grateful for the knowledge this site offers.

My sincere thanks
 
D
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I'm jumping the gun a little bit, but this has been catching my eye lately. Your thoughts gents?
Screen Shot 2023-11-05 at 9.54.29 pm.png Screen Shot 2023-11-05 at 9.54.47 pm.png
 
Pixitfecit
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Some dotting on dial, wrong crown and hands a bit dirty. Beside a nice crosshair dial and onyx markers and BoR. Surely wearable and nice but not a perfect one. Depends on how much condition matters to you.
 
D
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Thanks. I can live with some patina, but are the original crowns hard to source?
Is it difficult to source links (I have an 8" wrist) for BOR bracelets?
Also, should the seconds hard reach the minute track?
Edited:
 
Pixitfecit
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They are not easy to find, but sometimes appear. You can find links for BOR but mostly quite expensive. Seconds hand could be a service part.
 
filfb22
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D Drof14
I'm jumping the gun a little bit, but this has been catching my eye lately. Your thoughts gents?
Screen Shot 2023-11-05 at 9.54.29 pm.png Screen Shot 2023-11-05 at 9.54.47 pm.png
Movement picture. On the left, bottom half of the image, I see a bit of rust... you may not want that, speaking as someone who committed this mistake on a 166.009.
Also, as usual with JPN listings, there is a LOT of light on that watch... and I can spot some blemishes on the case and legs. Make your choise wisely 😀
 
D
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Gents,

May I paddle my feet in your pools of wisdom? Can you cast a flinty eye over these pics and advise pls?

I understand a service will be required (fingerprints on the rotor, etc). While the dial is not perfect, some patina is tolerable.

Thanks in anticipation.
Screen Shot 2024-02-11 at 12.28.56 am.png Screen Shot 2024-02-11 at 12.29.20 am.png
 
krogerfoot
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Hard to say without a clear photo of the dial. Looks like an original crown but I have recently learned the hard way how compromised these can be. There is a disturbing mark on the largest gear visible in that movement photo.

Yahoo Auctions in Japan usually has a wide selection of the 166.010 family of watches. I often facilitate purchases of these for members here, if you need help.
 
SOG53
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I find buying from Yahoo Japan a bit quirky. You need to sign up and open account with a proxy bidder like From Japan or similar and they bid for you. Some sellers don’t like to sell to proxy bidders and may cancel your bid. But once you get used to it you can find some nice watches. returns are tricky so don’t count on that. And they can’t ship exotic straps at least to US so be aware of that.
maybe best to take @krogerfoot offer and ask for a bit of help to start.
Closer is a reputable seller on EB and Yahoo Japan. They also sell on Rakuten and other retailers and you can get same item for further discount need to check out how that works.
Anyway enjoy the hunt and I would not bid until you have researched your watch and know all the options and issues to watch for.
 
Davidt
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Looks like there’s spotting on the dial and some corrosion inside the case threads.
This is not a rare model and I see no reason to compromise on condition. Ideally you’ll find a good condition one at a good price, but failing that, it’s better to pay slightly more for one in good condition. Paying a low (or worse, a high) price for an average example is the worst thing to do.
 
krogerfoot
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SOG53 SOG53
I find buying from Yahoo Japan a bit quirky. You need to sign up and open account with a proxy bidder like From Japan or similar and they bid for you. Some sellers don’t like to sell to proxy bidders and may cancel your bid. But once you get used to it you can find some nice watches. returns are tricky so don’t count on that. And they can’t ship exotic straps at least to US so be aware of that.
maybe best to take @krogerfoot offer and ask for a bit of help to start.
Closer is a reputable seller on EB and Yahoo Japan. They also sell on Rakuten and other retailers and you can get same item for further discount need to check out how that works.
Anyway enjoy the hunt and I would not bid until you have researched your watch and know all the options and issues to watch for.
Buying from Closer on eBay is a good bet as they rotate their watches between EB and YA. Their selection is cannily priced so if you see something that looks like a bargain there’s generally a reason for it, but they make an effort to present the watches honestly.
 
D
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Many thanks for the assistance gents. I have had some good experience with closer on C24, if there's a problem they will sort it.

@krogerfoot - you have a PM
 
Davidt
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D Drof14
Many thanks for the assistance gents. I have had some good experience with closer on C24, if there's a problem they will sort it.

@krogerfoot - you have a PM

They won’t sort condition issues such as dial spotting/staining and case corrosion. They’ll just say return it at your cost.

I wouldn’t buy this watch. I’d keep looking for a better example at a similar price or add a bit to my budget and buy one of their better examples.
 
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