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Need help with Seamaster Pro

N
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Hi All,
First time posting and first time Omega owner. I purchased a watch from eBay and I’m looking for someone to help me identify what I have. The watch was authenticated via eBay’s service but something isn’t adding up to me. It could my inexperience but here’s what I’m dealing with, the watch I purchased was listed as an Mens Omega Seamaster Chronometer watch - Electric Blue Dial - 41MM - 2255.80, my understanding is they model was manufactured in 2000, 2002, 2003, 2007, 2009. The serial number corresponds to a seamaster manufactured in 85 or 86. Also the dial matches that of the newer models while the hands look like that of the 80’s version.
 
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Dan S
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You may want to post the serial number and full reference number. There are people on the forum that have access to Omega's system to check them.
 
Scarecrow Boat
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Are you trying to date the watch by using a serial number dating chart you found online?
 
Archer
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The hands are certainly wrong (should be solid sword hands), and I'm not sure this model ever came with a Cal. 1109.

The serial number is low enough that the only way to get confirmation from Omega, is via an Extract of the Archives, which will cost you 120 CHF.

It's certainly not correct based on the hands alone.
 
N
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Scarecrow Boat Scarecrow Boat
Are you trying to date the watch by using a serial number dating chart you found online?
I was just looking around at different watches and when compared to this one something seemed off so I of course looked online at dating charts on different sites, was looking for something to help me figure out what I have
 
N
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Archer Archer
The hands are certainly wrong (should be solid sword hands), and I'm not sure this model ever came with a Cal. 1109.

The serial number is low enough that the only way to get confirmation from Omega, is via an Extract of the Archives, which will cost you 120 CHF.

It's certainly not correct based on the hands alone.

Thank you, the hands are what prompted me to question things. I just liked the watch and took a risk not knowing enough information
 
Dan S
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N NoctorDumbnuts
I was just looking around at different watches and when compared to this one something seemed off so I of course looked online at dating charts on different sites, was looking for something to help me figure out what I have

I don't think those charts are for watches from the era of this watch.

N NoctorDumbnuts
Thank you, the hands are what prompted me to question things. I just liked the watch and took a risk not knowing enough information

Unfortunately, I think the authentication may make it difficult for you to return it. In principle, once the watch is authenticated it can't be returned for "significantly not as described" reasons. You will have to provide a lot of evidence and convince an eBay rep.
 
Scarecrow Boat
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Dan S Dan S
Unfortunately, I think the authentication may make it difficult for you to return it. In principle, once the watch is authenticated it can't be returned for "significantly not as described" reasons. You will have to provide a lot of evidence and convince an eBay rep.
I agree that it will be very difficult for the OP, specially considering the authenticators do not know the nuances of the different SMP300’s over the years. They were, in this case, just verifying the watch matched the photos of the listing. The OP will need to provide a lot of evidence but even then, they may find a lot of difficulty.

I will say, however, that it is possible to return an item for not matching description, once it has been authenticated. I recently had a successful case, though I had to provide a ton of evidence. Even with that, my case was put on hold for over a week, which exceeded the initial estimated refund date. The “hold” made me nervous but what made me really nervous was my watch “needed to match the condition documented by the authenticators for the return to be approved.” That made me nervous because after the seller shipped the watch, the authenticators had the watch for less than two hours from when they signed for it to when FedEx had picked it up to deliver to me. I knew in that short time frame they couldn’t have documented it that well. I was trying to prove it did not match their documentation, which I provided excessive amount of evidence including written instructions on how to view the issue. There was a dent on the dial that under Indoor & artificial light was very hard to see as the domed crystal distorted it. The sellers images hid it and I honestly missed it for the first few hours. However, after a week of my case being in hold for “further inspection” I was awarded the refund. My watch dial had an undisclosed dent that the seller was trying to argue with me it was due to a “ham fisted authenticator” and even went as far to say that my case will likely be denied because the authenticators approved the watch. Which told me the seller knew about it. I believe the dent happened when they hired a mini mall battery changer to “fully service” the El Primero movement. They included a “service receipt” and I looked them up 👎

But yeah, all that to say, it is very challenging to return for this reason once authenticated. Even with evidence. I understand my case is very different than the OP as I was trying to prove undisclosed damage vs incorrect hands/possible movement.
Edited:
 
padders
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Even if that was straight, and it’s not, what you would have is a 2055.80, since the 2255.80 comes with the 1610 Speedy type bracelet, not the Bond type.

What you actually have is a probably a very early 2531.80 from circa 1994 with a dial swap. The reason I think that is because of the matching movement and case serial numbers, the 1109 movement was used in the very early 2531 Bonds and they do have high 40s to low 50s serial numbers, which as you say is suggestive of an 80s date if you only followed the online lists. The case number shown there (168.1640) is indeed that for for a 2255 (and 2254) not a bond model but that doesn’t fit with the serial so the back might have been changed too as I can’t see how a 1109 movement got into to a 2255 any other way. I guess the movement could have been swapped for an 1109 and the case re-engraved with the older movement serial but I would suggest that is less likely.

The 2255.80 was actually manufactured between 1997 and 2008 and only came with the 1120 movement. AFAIK there are none with serials lower than 60m (though the quartz models have 50m range serials). This watch doesn’t add up.

Send it back. It’s a mod/Franken.
Edited:
 
N
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padders padders
Even if that was straight, and it’s not, what you would have is a 2055.80, since the 2255.80 comes with the 1610 Speedy type bracelet, not the Bond type.

What you actually have is a probably a very early 2531.80 from circa 1994 with a dial swap. The reason I think that is because of the matching movement and case serial numbers, the 1109 movement was used in the very early 2531 Bonds and they do have high 40s to low 50s serial numbers, which as you say is suggestive of an 80s date if you only followed the online lists. The case number shown there (168.1640) is indeed that for for a 2255 (and 2254) not a bond model but that doesn’t fit with the serial so the back might have been changed too as I can’t see how a 1109 movement got into to a 2255 any other way. I guess the movement could have been swapped for an 1109 and the case re-engraved with the older movement serial but I would suggest that is less likely.

The 2255.80 was actually manufactured between 1997 and 2008 and only came with the 1120 movement. AFAIK there are none with serials lower than 60m (though the quartz models have 50m range serials). This watch doesn’t add up.

Send it back. It’s a mod/Franken.


I appreciate the information
 
N
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Scarecrow Boat Scarecrow Boat
OP, if you return the watch for a refund, there is one for sale on our forums

https://omegaforums.net/threads/fully-serviced-omega-seamaster-2255-80-electric-blue.149932/
Thank you, as you mentioned before ebay is basically telling me that since the watch was "authenticated" through their service and the tag was removed they can't do anything for me. I'm talking with the seller so well see what happens. I just don't understand the authentication process...reminds me of Tommy Boy, "if you want me to take a dump in a box and mark it guaranteed i will but then all ive sold you is a guaranteed piece of crap" I bought an authenticated non-authentic watch
 
studeb
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This is something i asked in another thread, Just what does the authentication mean?
Here I think the authenticator, Stoll and Co would say, it is an Omega watch with an Omega movement. Serial number on the case matches the movement. They do not provide a statement do they.
Swapped dials service hands, incorrect crown ? Dont know, dont care!

The ebay listing does specify the movement is an Cal 1120, that may help. But again the seal has been broken......
Edited:
 
L
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Don't know if this would be a viable option, but could OP send the watch to Omega for service, and then Omega would hypothetically reject the watch due to it being a franken. OP could use the documentation Omega provides to him as proof that the watch is inauthentic. The only problems here would be the timeframe this would be done in as well as if Omega would reject the watch and provide documentation.
 
Scarecrow Boat
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L lehippi
Don't know if this would be a viable option, but could OP send the watch to Omega for service, and then Omega would hypothetically reject the watch due to it being a franken.
With the security tape removed, eBay will continue to deny the return request under the assumption the OP tampered with the watch.

@NoctorDumbnuts did you take the movement photos or was that part of the listing? If that was the sellers image and the listing description stated the movement was a 1120 as @studeb said above, that is your best chance at getting your return approved. Not guaranteed and you will have a hell of an uphill battle still… but still worth a shot.
 
padders
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A bit tenuous I know, but there is also the fact that the listing photos will show different hands and bracelet to any official Omega 2255.80 photos so you could maybe challenge it that way. As noted above, if there was a movement shot showing 1109 that is also helpful as Omega's page will show 1120 as the correct movement. If you make enough of a stink with the facts maybe they will revisit it.

ebay is a bloody minefield. I won't sell there anymore and to buy, you need to do your homework first (that is not a pop at the OP, supposedly ebay was protecting him and what's done is done!)
Edited:
 
N
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studeb studeb
This is something i asked in another thread, Just what does the authentication mean?
Here I think the authenticator, Stoll and Co would say, it is an Omega watch with an Omega movement. Serial number on the case matches the movement. They do not provide a statement do they.
Swapped dials service hands, incorrect crown ? Dont know, dont care!

The ebay listing does specify the movement is an Cal 1120, that may help. But again the seal has been broken......

It’s confusing to me…doesn’t matter that the item isn’t as described and wasn’t authenticated correctly all that matters is that the seal has been broken but the only way to verify movement was to break the seal….I don’t get it
 
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