Need help! 1950-1960s ladies cocktail watch

xahafr · Feb 21, 2021

Hi all! I found this omega vintage cocktail watch in a flea market in France. The seller told me it’s from an old lady who’s been wearing it for years. I love it but cannot tell it’s authenticity and would love to know if it’s worth paying 1200€ for it.

She claimed the watch is in 18ct gold with diamonds, and she’s not sure about the year, roughly from the 60s or before. Can you please help have a look (with very limited pictures, I know) that if this is legit and worth buying? The price I’ll be paying is only for the watch, without box or certificate. I’m thinking the watch is in fair condition only and I may have to pay to have it repaired (like the glass surface)? Any ideas are highly appreciated!!

cvalue13 · Feb 21, 2021

Assuming the watch is legitimate (more in that below), the value of this watch is still essentially only the value of the diamonds and gold. The watch itself does not have a lot of additional value beyond the precious metals and stones.

Accordingly, you would be best off determining the value (and legitimacy) of the diamonds and gold.

As for the legitimacy of the watch, it is incredibly difficult to say much from these photos, for this type of watch. It’s in a style that is consistent with lady’s watches from the period.

JimInOz · Feb 21, 2021

A completely genuine Omega Saphette, a line introduced for Ladies in the 1950s.

As previously noted, the value lies in the scrap gold and diamond content.

Unfortunate I know, but they are not highly collectible and this watch would only appeal to somebody with a lot of disposable cash and a significant other half who was really in to vintage Omegas.

Syrte · Feb 21, 2021

Welcome, just to confirm the hallmarks you see on the case and the watch are French « eagle head » 18 karats gold hallmarks.
However I can’t imagine this weight in gold is worth much.
I once had a very heavy 14k watch case assessed and it was no more than 120 euros or so....
prices of gold have gone up a lot but I can’t imagine this could be worth more than 500 euros (and even that I doubt).

If you really love it, ask the seller to weigh it, calculate how much that is worth - and bring her 600 euros in cash.
See what she does when he sees the cash.

You might be paying more than it’s stricly worth, but if you absolutely love it you decide if it’s worth it to you.
You will need to pay for a service if you want to make it your everyday watch. In Paris the can cost up to 200 -250 euros depending on which watchmaker you use, many people use watchmakers outside Paris.
Replacing the « glass » crystal is not so expensive.

You can even show the seller this thread on your phone,
here’s a summary into French of what’s been written above:

Voici ce que disent les specialistes Omega de ce forum de collectionneurs internationaux specialistes de la marque:

Cette montre est en or mais c’est un style qui n’est actuellement pas du tout en vogue chez les collectionneurs.
Sa seule valeur est celle de la valeur de l’or au poids, les brillants sont petits et leur valeur est negligeable.
Etant donne que la montre est petite et la quantite d’or limitee (bracelet et boitier sont en or 18 carats avec poincon francais tete d’aigle mais le mecanisme a l’interieur est en acier), cette montre ne vaut absolument pas 1200 euros.

xahafr · Feb 21, 2021

Syrte
Welcome, just to confirm the hallmarks you see on the case and the watch are French « eagle head » 18 karats gold hallmarks.
However I can’t imagine this weight in gold is worth much.
I once had a very heavy 14k watch case assessed and it was no more than 120 euros or so....
prices of gold have gone up a lot but I can’t imagine this could be worth more than 500 euros (and even that I doubt).

If you really love it, ask the seller to weigh it, calculate how much that is worth - and bring her 600 euros in cash.
See what she does when he sees the cash.

You might be paying more than it’s stricly worth, but if you absolutely love it you decide if it’s worth it to you.
You will need to pay for a service if you want to make it your everyday watch. In Paris the can cost up to 200 -250 euros depending on which watchmaker you use, many people use watchmakers outside Paris.
Replacing the « glass » crystal is not so expensive.

You can even show the seller this thread on your phone,
here’s a summary into French of what’s been written above:

Voici ce que disent les specialistes Omega de ce forum de collectionneurs internationaux specialistes de la marque:

Cette montre est en or mais c’est un style qui n’est actuellement pas du tout en vogue chez les collectionneurs.
Sa seule valeur est celle de la valeur de l’or au poids, les brillants sont petits et leur valeur est negligeable.
Etant donne que la montre est petite et la quantite d’or limitee (bracelet et boitier sont en or 18 carats avec poincon francais tete d’aigle mais le mecanisme a l’interieur est en acier), cette montre ne vaut absolument pas 1200 euros.

Wow! Thank you! That’s very helpful! I definitely had no idea about the reselling price of this watch but you explained so clearly! Any idea how to check it’s authenticity?

xahafr · Feb 21, 2021

JimInOz
A completely genuine Omega Saphette, a line introduced for Ladies in the 1950s.

As previously noted, the value lies in the scrap gold and diamond content.

Unfortunate I know, but they are not highly collectible and this watch would only appeal to somebody with a lot of disposable cash and a significant other half who was really in to vintage Omegas.

Thanks for identifying the collection!

cvalue13 · Feb 21, 2021

Syrte
However I can’t imagine this weight in gold is worth much.

so t forget the two diamonds 😉

Canuck · Feb 21, 2021

I had to convert the € to $ (Canadian) for a perspective on what the seller is asking. It come to $1,844 Cdn. (no snide comments on the value of a Canadian dollar. Please). The watch is indeed a Sapphette model. The beautifully faceted glass is actually synthetic sapphire. I think you indicated there was damage to the crystal? It will be hard/impossible to replace with an equivalent new one. Much discussion has estimated scrap value of the gold plus the diamonds is all the watch is worth. That assessment would be based on what someone who doesn’t like, or plan to use the watch would make. However, if you like it and would pay to have it serviced, then actually use it, that assessment seems rather harsh. But the price does seem rather high to me. Maybe make them an offer that you are comfortable, say, in the € 600 range. There won’t likely be a long line-up wanting to buy it.

Deafboy · Feb 21, 2021

Recently I calculate the gold content of solid gold14k Hamilton Ardmore based on the weight of the case. The case has mass of 10.6 g which 0.34 ounce. At 1472 Euro/ounce this corresponds to 500 Euro if it were pure gold. Because it is 14k, the gold value of the watch is 291 Euro. This watch is substantially more massive than a ladies cocktail watch. My guess the gold value of the cocktail watch is less than 150 Euro.

Syrte · Feb 21, 2021

X xahafr
how to check it’s authenticity?

@JimInOz already told you it’s authentic, he knows just by looking at it— that’s why you come to a forum like this.
He said it’s « A completely genuine Omega Saphette ».

Canuck
I The beautifully faceted glass is actually synthetic sapphire. I think you indicated there was damage to the crystal? It will be hard/impossible to replace with an equivalent new one..

Could the existing crystal be repolished? When you say « synthetic saphire », is it acrylic or mineral? Maybe the damage is not as extensive as the OP thinks.

Deafboy
My guess the gold value of the cocktail watch is less than 150 Euro.

That would make total sense, however and since the seller is asking for a ridiculous 1200 euros, I doubt they will go any lower than 600.
If Ms @xahafr is a collector 600 is probably too much, but if she just wants to buy one watch and fell in love with it, paying a bit too much is okay if she can afford it.
I don’t think it would be so easy to find another gold bracelet which matches the watch so well.
This bracelet is actually really nice, most of those cocktail watches are found on awfully gaudy over-the-top bracelet which I would find unwearable, this one is quite subdued and elegant IMHO.

X350 XJR · Feb 21, 2021

Syrte
Could the existing crystal be repolished? When you say « synthetic saphire », is it acrylic or mineral?

Mineral, basically the same material modern sapphire crystals are made of.

Need help! 1950-1960s ladies cocktail watch

xahafr

cvalue13

JimInOz

Syrte

xahafr

xahafr

cvalue13

Canuck

Deafboy

Syrte

X350 XJR

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