Hey Everyone-

I just purchased a vintage Omega wrist watch as a gift, and was hoping to learn more about this watch. I read in one place that watches similar to this one used to be pocket watch, and it has since been modified to become a wrist watch. I'm not sure if this is reliable information, and would love to learn more about it. Any info, background and education you can send my way will be greatly appreciated.

I bought this watch on eBay, and have the following information on it:
Omega Antique 1916-23 Swiss Gold-Plated Art Deco Mens Watch Omega Skeleton

Technical information:
* Diameter of the case: 48 mm
* Diameter of the case with crown: 53 mm
* Diameter of the dial: 40 mm
* Thickness: 15 mm
* Band size: 22 mm

Information received on watch:
I bring to your attention; very rare antique Swiss collectables, ART DECO unique mechanical men’s wrist watch OMEGA SKELETON decorated with the highest quality. It is improbably wonderful and rarest Omega Skeleton! This watch from pocket was altered in wrist watch. M ENGRAVINGany watchmakers tried re-made pocket watches into wristwatches. But you understand; the military operations and Time incidents, couldn't able to protect an old watch-case in good condition.The stainless steel case, new custom made, fantastic, builds specially for this excellent OMEGA movement. This watch have beautiful high-grade movement with rare caliber 18 SPB, and which signed OMEGA and serial number 5702933. This serial number dates this watch 1916-1923 as per published production numbers. In such excellent condition comes across very seldom! The gold-plated movement handwork engraved. This beautiful wristwatch has the original magic gold-plated movement in an excellent status which was very well saved, considering age of this watch and has been in addition updated and engraved by the craftsman. Each part of the mechanism, each millimeter it is decorated by a magnificent magic ornament. The bridges have in addition to extensive skeletonization have been gorgeously engraved as well. On face side and back side, dome glass is crystal. To the watch a watchband is added in a gift. The watch has been restored, checked and calibrated by a master watchmaker and is in good running condition. This unique watch was kept till our time in excellent condition. Photos are of the actual watch. Getting such thing you do good capital investment. Every year the price for them will increase only! This watch is a stylish acquisition for collectors, 100% satisfaction, and good present or for everyday use!

 

Jessica: where was the seller of the watch located? I hope it wasn't the Ukraine.

 

Oh no. Jessica, can you return it? The terms do say 100% satisfaction. You could do so much better with that amount of funds. Not that it isn't a good looking watch, but it's not worth anywhere near that sum.

 

Wow, thanks everyone. That's a huge help. I'll see what I can do, to get this worked out. If you have any suggestions on a great resource for purchasing vintage/antique watches, I'm all ears. I've always been an Omega person, but am open to any quality vintage men's watch. This is a gift that is for someone who has everything, so I'm looking outside the box for a unique gift.

 

I think you're on the right track with a vintage Omega. We can help you vet the candidates if you post pics or a link to the listings, whether on eBay or elsewhere.

 

These watches are interesting. This is not one of the best examples.
I have been watching this group designing watches now for about ten years. During that time they have become increasingly professional in the selection of their design themes and the execution of their designs. Other brands are also recreated with new case designs and high quality re-manufactured movements. What they are doing, at the level of the quality that is now being achieved is difficult and special. Of course traditional watch enthusiasts who are collectors or in the business see it as a challenge to their sacred cows. In some cases extremely advance manufacturing technologies are being used. It will be difficult for the watch industry to duplicate some of these designs at a commercial price.

Then there is the charm. They are one-off, pieces of art work, sculpture if you may that moves and tells time. Little time machines made of metal and glass with a leather band.

They are getting better and better, some are very well done, artistic in character and impressive. All are experimental jewelry art, some marching along to what is avant garde in the watch design profession. Because they are avant garde not all of them are wonderful, but some are. Pick that one and you will have a watch that in company of new much more expensive timepieces will receive much more interest, because they are historic. Old movements that have been "saved". Encapsulated in a new case that is unique and "The only one".

They are making one-off watches, which is what happened in the beginning of the industry. For this they are being criticised. It is also interesting that the corporate watch designers have recently been inspired by antique and historic watches in many ways.

DETMANGUSTA

 

I think the main issue here is that they are being sold as something they are not and the sellers are misleading people who don't know any better. If the "artisans" who make these items believe in their work then they should not feel the need to try to deceive people and describe them as something they are not. They are nothing more than scoundrels and ruffians in my opinion.

 

You are not talking about the same watches that I am.
Tell the egg carton story to Andy Warhol or any other contemporary artist that takes common elements and adds artistic content. That is what I am talking about, not kits on Alibaba.

 

I stated right at the beginning what I was talking about, only one-off special watches. I have a wonderful hand made movement, signed, made in the late 1800s with the original enamel dial and hands that has been preserved and installed in a unique and new stainless case that has wonderful graphics and form language. It a real piece of art work, any watch enthusiast finds it captivating as it also has a back observation window. The sound of this hand made piece is amazing, almost as good as an LT1 twin-turbo Corvette at six grand.

To be clear, just read my piece again, I am not trying to insult you or lead people to spend money on junk. Like everything else some people will buy in ignorance. When I bought the watch described above I was assured that it ran and it was in excellent mechanical condition and it was. There always has to be some trust. At my discretion I wear a piece of horological history, more important to me than anyone else that I know.

Those are the watches that I am talking about.

DETMANGUSTA

 

“Nobody ever lost a dollar by underestimating the taste of the American public.”

and

“There's a sucker born every minute.”

Both attributed to P.T.Barnum and somewhat apposite to this thread

With regard to my own personal thoughts, if the op likes the watch, is happy with the price paid, then wear it in good health. Just don't expect everyone else to share your opinion. Shilling the product however, endears a poster to no-one.

 

i had this same question with kiev clone LEICA came_as -------- O.K. if the p_ice is low

 

If you like the look of the watch and are happy with the price, then all is well.

IMO however there are two things to remember.

1. It is not an Omega watch. It's an Omega movement in a generic case/dial/hands etc.

2. If you came to sell at any point, it is very likely that you would take a huge hit on the price.

Personally, I'd be looking at the trusted sellers in the FS section here for a nice, original vintage Omega.