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Nervous owner of my first swiss watch

tarun3232
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I was gifted a omega seamaster ref 2222.8000 and I had went to the omega boutique in the mall of Millenia in Orlando. I am a big James bond fan and being a college student, I've always wanted an Omega. This was my first luxury watch and was gifted to me by my girlfriend. It being a older timepiece for cost reasons obviously , the omega ad was suspicious and berated me on where I had gotten the watch and said the finish was not genuine. Alas, I have the original box and papers with the (undated) warranty card as well as the pictograms. Alas I am asking members here, was it a jealous AD or is this watch gen? If needed I can verify the serial via pm.

omega8.webp omega7.webp omega6.webp omega5.webp omega4.webp omega3.webp omega2.webp omega1.webp
 
tarun3232
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Needless to say after that visit I was appalled at how poorly they treated me and it really momentarily shocked my pride of the customer service omega was talked about. Yes I am still excited about this being the same watch worn in casino royale!
 
Bruce235
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I am no expert,
I wonder about the caseback and one end link.
Also the hands.
There are some good fakes out there.
Interest to hear what the experts have to say

Screenshot_20241010_111833_Chrome.webp
 
Scarecrow Boat
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tarun3232 tarun3232
Alas I am asking members here, was it a jealous AD or is this watch gen?
Jealous ad? Why would they be jealous? Did you take the watch to the ad to be authenticated? One thing you should know is the staff at ad’s/ob’s aren’t experts on all things Omega and are just sales men and women. You might luck out and run into someone that really loves watches, but many are there to make sales, not authenticate watches as that isn’t their role.

From the photos you shared, the watch looks genuine. I don’t see any red flags. If you want to have someone look into the serial number, you can politely message @Archer and see if he has time to verify the serial to the reference.

Also, you have a really cool gf.
 
tarun3232
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Scarecrow Boat Scarecrow Boat
Jealous ad? Why would they be jealous? Did you take the watch to the ad to be authenticated? One thing you should know is the staff at ad’s/ob’s aren’t experts on all things Omega and are just sales men and women. You might luck out and run into someone that really loves watches, but many are there to make sales, not authenticate watches as that isn’t their role.

From the photos you shared, the watch looks genuine. I don’t see any red flags. If you want to have someone look into the serial number, you can politely message @Archer and see if he has time to verify the serial to the reference.
Hi Scarecrow, yes I did take it to an omega botique, who dismissed me essentially. I called other botiques and they said the only way to authenticate it is by sending it in for service, which I dont quite have the funds for yet.
 
tarun3232
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Again elated to join the omega community and will keep this watch till I die. Special watch, special lady, and special community to be a part of 😀. Now its time to buy an aston to pair with.
 
bsowers34
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tarun3232 tarun3232
Again elated to join the omega community and will keep this watch till I die. Special watch, special lady, and special community to be a part of 😀. Now its time to buy an aston to pair with
Welcome. It looks good to me, but you probably need to get the serial number checked out. Great looking watch though.
 
502 to right
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I don't see anything worrying with what you've posted. I own a 2220.80 and see no red flags. OB is probably trying to scare you into buying something new from them. But, as noted above, SA's at an Omega OB can be very hit or miss as to what they know--especially about models that are not in the current lineup.

If you are still worried, take it to a good independent watchmaker and have them open the caseback and check the movement. The serial number on the movement should match the case. And it will be clear as day if it's a fake Omega based on how the movement looks.
Edited:
 
Dan S
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Did you gf indicate where she purchased the watch? I'm not seeing anything concerning, just wondering because it's possible that she may have purchased it from a very reputable pre-owned watch dealer, in which case I'd have even more confidence.
 
STANDY
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Looks OK, taking a watch you bought from somewhere else to someone that sells watches.
Can you see the Rub here. (Probably had six people that month with fake Omega,s asking for verification. We get more than 6 a week here !!)

It’s a 15+ year old model so do you think the salesperson you got had been at the boutique for 15+ years.

Find out all you need once you get it serviced by an Omega account watchmaker. People you pay money to for goods and services are always nicer 😉
 
tarun3232
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Dan S Dan S
Did you gf indicate where she purchased the watch? I'm not seeing anything concerning, just wondering because it's possible that she may have purchased it from a very reputable pre-owned watch dealer, in which case I'd have even more confidence.
She bought it from a website called abbeyfive.com the watch came with the original hang tag, box, pictograms, warranty card and a full bracelet. Polished so the finish is shiny. It was plastic-wrapped and looked mint when I opened it.
 
tarun3232
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STANDY STANDY
Looks OK, taking a watch you bought from somewhere else to someone that sells watches.
Can you see the Rub here. (Probably had six people that month with fake Omega,s asking for verification. We get more than 6 a week here !!)

It’s a 15+ year old model so do you think the salesperson you got had been at the boutique for 15+ years.

Find out all you need once you get it serviced by an Omega account watchmaker. People you pay money to for goods and services are always nicer 😉
I never considered this viewpoint and I totally see why they would be annoyed. I figured/ treated them as omega experts who would be able to take care of any omega customer for resizing etc. sort of say how car dealers service vehicles that customers haven’t bought from that particular location.
 
STANDY
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tarun3232 tarun3232
I never considered this viewpoint and I totally see why they would be annoyed. I figured/ treated them as omega experts who would be able to take care of any omega customer for resizing etc. sort of say how car dealers service vehicles that customers haven’t bought from that particular location.
As you can see, this is the place you get good friendly advice from Omega experts 😜

Rare to find a salesperson at any boutique Rolex, Breitling, Omega or anywhere that’s passionate about watches like say 20years ago. Last place I went I think I knew more about a new watch out than the salesman.
 
PandaSPUR
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tarun3232 tarun3232
I never considered this viewpoint and I totally see why they would be annoyed. I figured/ treated them as omega experts who would be able to take care of any omega customer for resizing etc. sort of say how car dealers service vehicles that customers haven’t bought from that particular location.
The bigger boutiques are usually more like what you're imagining here. More of the "brand ambassador" expectation vs sleazy sales guy.
The mall boutiques might not even be corporate owned/operated like the standalone brick and mortar boutiques.

I've been to a few of both and never had a good experience with the mall ones. Sorry you had that crap experience, and I hope it doesn't put you off from the brand as a whole.
 
dsio
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This watch looks fine, the AD staff work for commission so the ones that aren’t good at building relationships or don’t intend to be there long can sometimes take the approach that if you’re not making them money you’re costing them money and be rude.
 
Laneside
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On holiday in US I went into several Omega Boutiques. The staff were polite offering champagne or coffee etc. Once they realised I was an unlikely sale their demeanour changed a bit. Only to be expected when they're on commission.
 
mjb
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I'm no expert but the watch looks OK. You do have a rockin' GF, she's probably a keeper!

You can (someone please correct me if I'm wrong) send it to Omega for a quote to get it serviced. If it's fake, they'll tell you. It would be a good idea to have it serviced, just because of age, but if you can't afford it (around $700 these days) just say "no thanks" and they'll send it back. You're just out some postage to get some piece of mind.
 
502 to right
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Any salesperson who treated the OP rudely is a fool. But that's the world we live in today. This was an opportunity to invest some time in a future customer, even if he was not intending to buy that day. And let's not act like the SA spending 10 quality minutes with the OP was going to keep them from making any sales that day--they simply aren't that busy.


And here's my 2220.80 on a Forstner bullet bracelet:

IMG_8710.webp
 
502 to right
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tarun3232 tarun3232
She bought it from a website called abbeyfive.com the watch came with the original hang tag, box, pictograms, warranty card and a full bracelet. Polished so the finish is shiny. It was plastic-wrapped and looked mint when I opened it.

The finishing looks fine to me. It's brushed where it should be and polished where it should be. And if you ever get it serviced by Omega it will come back looking brand new.
 
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