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New to forum, advice needed

R
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Hi I’m new on here and was looking for some advice on the attached, I can’t screen grab any other photos unfortunately but more can be found here: https://www.antiques-atlas.com/antique/9ct_omega_de_ville/as218a1345.

I have wanted a gold omega for a while but seems there are many fakes about so very nervous to spend £1200 and it turn out to be a fake! Does it look genuine? The description is as follows:
▼
9ctOmega De Ville
Automatic
Calibre 552
24 Jewels
Omega 9ct case hallmarked London 1972.
Omega stainless steel gold plated buckle.
Omega crown.
Approximate dimensions: diameter excluding winder 33mm.
New Leather strap.
Serviced and working well.
Movement guaranteed for 12 months.
Supplied in a modern watch box.

 
764B5746-91B1-4F50-A341-42D354B49548.jpeg
chipsotoole
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While it might not be fake it looks like a redial. The lack of any other pictures makes further comment difficult. 9ct gold isn't that exciting.. 1200 is silly money. Be patient, stick around, do some research...you can get a peach of a watch for half that
 
wilderbeast
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Welcome, and well done for posting here before buying!

You’ll find that dealers will charge a premium for watches that you can get for less if you explore other channels and if you're patient. For that money you could get a nice Constellation. But it may be that it’s the De Villes that get your juices flowing.

a couple of other things for you to consider:

1. look at other gold Omega models and focus on the one you really want. If it is a De Ville, you can get one for less than this, in original condition. Ultimately, the way to avoid fakes and redials is to study lots and lots of images of your target references. There are some great resources here that can help.
2. 33mm will wear small on the wrist compared to modern watches and, whilst you do get used to it, you need to be sure that this smaller size is what you want
3. It’s good practice to get a fresh service for any vintage piece you buy and this is a cost to factor in. The only exception is if you have a proven service receipt from the seller and that you know that the service was a full and thorough one.

Get yourself an avatar, stick around and read widely here. Good luck in your hunt!
 
R
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wilderbeast wilderbeast
Welcome, and well done for posting here before buying!

You’ll find that dealers will charge a premium for watches that you can get for less if you explore other channels and if you're patient. For that money you could get a nice Constellation. But it may be that it’s the De Villes that get your juices flowing.

a couple of other things for you to consider:

1. look at other gold Omega models and focus on the one you really want. If it is a De Ville, you can get one for less than this, in original condition. Ultimately, the way to avoid fakes and redials is to study lots and lots of images of your target references. There are some great resources here that can help.
2. 33mm will wear small on the wrist compared to modern watches and, whilst you do get used to it, you need to be sure that this smaller size is what you want
3. It’s good practice to get a fresh service for any vintage piece you buy and this is a cost to factor in. The only exception is if you have a proven service receipt from the seller and that you know that the service was a full and thorough one.

Get yourself an avatar, stick around and read widely here. Good luck in your hunt!
T
chipsotoole chipsotoole
While it might not be fake it looks like a redial. The lack of any other pictures makes further comment difficult. 9ct gold isn't that exciting.. 1200 is silly money. Be patient, stick around, do some research...you can get a peach of a watch for half that


thanks very much for all the advice! I would rather pay a little more as long as from a reputable dealer because all the auction sites scare me! I’m female so the smaller size would probably fit me better. I have been looking for a long time on just the right piece, preference 14 or 18k of course but also don’t want to spend the 2k plus sometimes being asked. I’ll keep looking though and really do appreciate all the advice.
 
R
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wilderbeast wilderbeast
Welcome, and well done for posting here before buying!

You’ll find that dealers will charge a premium for watches that you can get for less if you explore other channels and if you're patient. For that money you could get a nice Constellation. But it may be that it’s the De Villes that get your juices flowing.

a couple of other things for you to consider:

1. look at other gold Omega models and focus on the one you really want. If it is a De Ville, you can get one for less than this, in original condition. Ultimately, the way to avoid fakes and redials is to study lots and lots of images of your target references. There are some great resources here that can help.
2. 33mm will wear small on the wrist compared to modern watches and, whilst you do get used to it, you need to be sure that this smaller size is what you want
3. It’s good practice to get a fresh service for any vintage piece you buy and this is a cost to factor in. The only exception is if you have a proven service receipt from the seller and that you know that the service was a full and thorough one.

Get yourself an avatar, stick around and read widely here. Good luck in your hunt!
Thanks for all your suggestions! Btw what does ‘get yourself an avatar’ mean?
 
jsducote
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R Rio@1
I would rather pay a little more as long as from a reputable dealer
What makes you think this is a) a reputable dealer, and b) a reputable dealer that knows the correct value of wristwatches?

R Rio@1
I’m female so the smaller size would probably fit me better
Wear what you like and like what you wear. If someone else has a problem with it, they'll have to find a way to cope. I suggest drinking.

R Rio@1
I have been looking for a long time on just the right piece
Patience. Good things come to those who wait. Better things come to those who click "Buy It Now."

R Rio@1
what does ‘get yourself an avatar’ mean?
Avatar = The little picture next to our names.
 
wilderbeast
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R Rio@1
Thanks for all your suggestions! Btw what does ‘get yourself an avatar’ mean?
Members are encouraged to add a picture to their profile (can be anything - I’ve rather unimaginatively gone for one of my watches). It helps you to be distinguished from other members.

sounds like you’ve got a clear focus for what you want and this is a good place to vet pieces you’re interested in before purchase. Best of luck!
 
Lacazema
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R Rio@1
T



thanks very much for all the advice! I would rather pay a little more as long as from a reputable dealer because all the auction sites scare me! I’m female so the smaller size would probably fit me better. I have been looking for a long time on just the right piece, preference 14 or 18k of course but also don’t want to spend the 2k plus sometimes being asked. I’ll keep looking though and really do appreciate all the advice.

If you want to pay a premium on buying from a "dealer" rather than play the Ebay game then you might want to take a look at https://www.chrono24.com/ who's a watch marketplace website where you can buy from prefessional dealers rather than from the "average joe"

I'll also suggest taking a look at the forums private sales section, https://omegaforums.net/forums/private-watch-sales/, where members sell some of their watches. These forum members usually have a selling track record within the forum and can be trusted.
 
Edward53
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Lacazema Lacazema
If you want to pay a premium on buying from a "dealer" rather than play the Ebay game then you might want to take a look at https://www.chrono24.com/ who's a watch marketplace website where you can buy from prefessional dealers rather than from the "average joe".

No!! Chrono24 is NOT a safe place for a novice! Plenty of professional dealers are no better than sharks and there is considerable danger of ending up with a redialled, overpolished, worn-out piece of what collectors would regard as junk.
 
wilderbeast
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O OMEGAWD2020
33 is too small. I know people will go back and forth about 36 being absolutely perfect or way too small but 33 is too small. Also, 36 is absolutely perfect. 33 is too small.
Seems to me the lady knows what she wants.

And, as has been discussed here many times, there are plenty of people who recognise that a smaller diameter is easily adjusted to. This one's 32mm and I love wearing it:

477B7921-B761-4F2C-BB27-1D5809258812.jpeg
 
DaveK
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O OMEGAWD2020
33 is too small. I know people will go back and forth about 36 being absolutely perfect or way too small but 33 is too small. Also, 36 is absolutely perfect. 33 is too small.
33mm can be fine on a smaller wrist. Women esp can pull it off, and reap the reward of a great watch at a lower price
 
redzer007
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O OMEGAWD2020
OK, fair enough. 33mm is too small except if the watch is for a small woman, an infant or to be used as a collar for a cat (a small cat). Also, the watch face can be used as a wall clock in a doll house. I should have considered the possibility that this watch was intended as dollhouse furniture or for a cat that may live in a dollhouse or for a small woman that may or may not own either a cat or a dollhouse or both. Possibly 3 of these watches are required and would indeed be ideal.

I suspect that in reality a 36mm would be best.

Or maybe you are just wrong.
 
OmegaP99
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R Rio@1
thanks very much for all the advice! I would rather pay a little more as long as from a reputable dealer because all the auction sites scare me! I’m female so the smaller size would probably fit me better. I have been looking for a long time on just the right piece, preference 14 or 18k of course but also don’t want to spend the 2k plus sometimes being asked. I’ll keep looking though and really do appreciate all the advice.

I think you can find all these preferences within your price range, and smaller pieces do tend to attract fewer bidders so likely even find a bargain. As you may know 14k and 18k will appear more "gold" but there were also many vintage watches made in rose gold, red gold, & pink gold. Feel free to post images here of other possible choices if you would like more feedback, we're all nerds like that!
Also, welcome to the forum!
 
SkunkPrince
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O OMEGAWD2020
OK, fair enough. 33mm is too small except if the watch is for a small woman, an infant or to be used as a collar for a cat (a small cat).
Who pissed on your cornflakes?

WWII watches are 33mm or smaller. I can wear those. I have WWI-era watches, including Omega, that are 33mm or smaller. I can wear those too. Plenty of people are wearing vintage American-made Hamiltons, those are certainly smaller than 33mm.

Don't make the mistake of thinking your personal preference is some kind of rule. It's not.
 
gatorcpa
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O OMEGAWD2020
33 is too small. I know people will go back and forth about 36 being absolutely perfect or way too small but 33 is too small. Also, 36 is absolutely perfect. 33 is too small.
That is your opinion and you are entitled to it.

However, I have circular watches as small as 28mm that fit my 7” wrist perfectly well.

There is a member here who goes about 6’3” and his wrists are a lot larger than mine and he wears them small on occasion.

It’s always nice to have an open mind.
gatorcpa
 
JwRosenthal
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Welcome to the forum Rio. Your best tool is research, there is plenty here and there are pitfalls when buying vintage- some of us learned the hard way despite the wealth of information out there. Like University, the goal isn’t to teach you what to think but teach you how to think. Hopefully your new found interested in vintage watches will encourage you to learn more about them and become knowledgable enough to make informed choices.
As for size, I wear everything from 28mm- 44mm, it’s all about context- long sleeves vs short, casual vs dressier- always a different watch for any occasion.
We have many female members here who wear everything from 19mm vintage cocktail watches to large pieces like Panarai and military chronographs- it’s all about your taste and what speaks to you.
The classified’s here is a safe place to buy. The listings are member vetted and they are usually fairly priced and always described honestly (or they get called out and usually removed).
There are no stupid questions in learning about watches (well there are some but those threads usually go sideways fast), so feel free to make new posts while you learn.
 
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