oops...
Sorry, as I am new here and late to this discussion. I have a 1965 speedmaster professional, 321 caliber. Wore it since i was about 15 (when big watches were not common - at least from what I saw). After 30 years of wear it was pretty beat up. Eventually it stopped working because moisture got in. Sent it to Omega in Biel-Bienne. for about $1200 they restored it. All replacement parts were returned to me. (Face, case, back, hands, springs, some gears...). I could have refused some of the repairs, but I thought I would like to have the watch restored to look as new and flawless as possible. As time has gone on I wondered if I made a mistake on not keeping it as original as possible in the event I wanted to sell it.
Wondering everyone's opinion. Did I destroy its resale value?
But I am now to the point where I wear it because I like how it looks, and i guess i'll just give it to one of my kids eventually.
Is a 321 from 1965, rebuilt by omega more valuable... or less, than one that is all original?
Apologies in advance if silly question.
Thanks

 

Original is more valuable. Do you still have the parts that were removed?

 

You would think that the triviality of a "dot over ninety" is purely a collectors obsession in the eyes of Omega. There are health concerns associated with tritium. So where's the problem?

To satisfy the collector, all they have to do is do as they're told by the owner. Ask vintage Rolex owners how they feel about authorized Rolex service...same issues.

 

Let’s see a photo of your watch.

 

Photos above (hopefully!)

 

So.... I understand the concept of collector vs. want it like new. If I were hypothetically interested in selling it I guess I could just send back to the factory - or some super duper watch repair guy - and have it put back into original parts. The stem is the only thing I’m missing. That would have to be recovered or replaced. And if I did this, would a collector think it’s original? And if it were then considered original... what kind of price range are we talking about for this model (321j and year (1965)?
Anybody got some ideas on this?

Thank you.

 

http://speedmaster101.com/price-chart-2/

 

@jkolinger

I suggest you start a new thread, with photos of your watch?

You will get more focused advice.

 

No, a restored at service watch is not considered original, although it does hold good value. Basically here are your value tiers.

1- Original. Original parts, unpolished. Unserviced or serviced by a vintage specialist.

2- Original but serviced by certified watchmaker or brand service center with only some needed movement parts changed at service. The closer to original parts to the watch model and year the better.

3-Restored with a service dial, hands, bezel or any other part that compromises the original integrity of the watch BUT done by certified watchmaker or brand house with care and respect and hopefully original service parts. The closer (like on 2) to year and model the better.

4- restored with original parts that don’t correspond to the exact model iteration or year of production. The wrong hands or a wrong bezel font or no DON, wrong bracelet etc

5- franken- basically a watch that has no integrity left and carries the value of the sum of its parts. Someone just fished around and built a watch from original parts and then Sells it as a rare, unique, difficult to find safe queen or prototype. Or mysterious time traveler transitional model

6- same as 5 but with non original and fake parts, dial, bezel etc which to collectors carries the approximate value of a paperweight in a cloud based tech company run by an environmentally conscious guy that is allergic to paper..... and can’t lift weights.

 

So I looked up the original paperwork with omega in case it’s interesting. It was 2003 and cost a little more than previously reported.
In their notes they identify it as 1966 although the case back shows 65.
When they told me the case was damaged I figured (not thinking like a collector) it was necessary.
FYI