New to watches...have some questions!

And manual winding watches. Both can be wound by hand. Automatics are kept wound by the movement of the wearer. Manual watches will wind down until the spring is wound again, usually every day or two.
For many watch enthusiasts the winding and setting of the watch is ritual. A pleasant reminder of the person that may have given him the watch or that they may of inherited the watch from, or a special moment in time.

Auto or manual wind. The latter tend to be a bit cheaper. Also the styling comes into it. Late 60s and 70s watches have a more chunky, angular style which some people like and others do not. Eg I wouldn't personally wear this Seamaster Cosmic: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Omega-Sea...761614?hash=item1eb51f88ce:g:tw8AAOSwdzVXlROh - but some people would love it, it has an excellent movement and this looks like a good example.But don't rush to buy it on my word alone!

Annoyingly, I can't find an example on ebay of a good typical auto Seamaster of the 552 (no-date) or 565 (date) calibre which would be my personal choice. So here are two not brilliant photos, the first one of my calibre 552 Seamaster De Ville which is the sort of thing I might suggest. You may be able to see the imperfections on the dial - I can live with them. The other is a regular 552 Seamaster. It has a cross hair dial which tends to add to the desirability and hence the price. As you can see, I prefer the clean simplicity of the no-date dial. Note the "clover leaf" crowns (= winders) - these are right for the early to mid 60s but were often replaced during service by much bigger, and I think unsuitable, crowns.

Obviously, I don't know anything about your husband, and I'm sure that whatever you get will be appreciated. However, whether it will get worn a lot is a different matter. For example, vintage watches tend to be smaller than the current norm of 38mm and upwards and some wearers find them too small for their tastes. Then there is the question of appearance. to a lot of the collector/enthusiast community, signs of ageing/honest use/wear and tear are all part of the appeal and will be appreciated over refinished examples. This may not be the case for a gift recipient. Where a collector may see patina, a recipient may see only damage and will not be attracted to the watch.

That's why earlier I asked for some more information about the recipient's tastes. I would hate to steer you in the wrong direction by assuming my tastes are those of your husband

And just to help your research, you may like to have a look here to see what is available from a bricks and mortar retailer in the UK. You can sort the results by ascending price. https://www.parkersjewellers.co.uk/omega-watches.html Please note, I have no connection with, nor do I endorse (or warn against) this retailer. I mention them only as a research resource to help you make a decision.

thanks everyone i really appreciate it. I've taken your advice (braved eBay also!) and managed to narrow it down to 5 i like in the price range. I would say this watch would just be a special occasion type watch, not an everyday, while he would appreciate some of the imperfections, id like to get one in as good a state as possible for the age. i know it's been said before that opinions on here can be unwanted but i would appreciate some honest feedback on the following if you could, are they authentic, good models, good condition for their age, appropriately priced etc, and would you be happy with one as a gift?? i realise the ebay ones may go up in price

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/rare-vint...391755?hash=item1c6b117a0b:g:hoEAAOSwsTxXkmYS
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Rare-Vint...742235?hash=item568a6f5f9b:g:BS4AAOSwARZXkR5-
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MENS-OMEG...971350?hash=item3605b4d616:g:i8QAAOSwepJXXYci
https://www.parkersjewellers.co.uk/omega-seamaster-gold-plated-quartz.html - not sure if this one is expensive for 80's quartz?
http://www.vintagetimewatches.com/product/omega-seamaster-cal-1110-automatic-mens-watch/ - see also http://tinypic.com/r/25rc84g/9 http://tinypic.com/r/4gg6cg/9

Here's my thoughts on these FWIW but please DON'T do anything until others have commented as there are far more experienced collectors here than me and you need their input as I may get things wrong! I am a relative novice in a forum with plenty of experts and I'm not that comfortable with giving advice in any real depth. You are in the difficult position of having to learn your way through a minefield from scratch in a limited time and I don't envy you.

Your first two look overpolished to me. The first also has the wrong crown and some odd pits in the case back. The second is a very dated dress style made with no second hand which is not an appealing look, and why is the case back a different colour from the top? Big shiny photos and gushing descriptions often lure people in and this seller (I presume it is the same person from the near identicality of the wording and similar locations) often gets big bucks for watches that look good but a collector wouldn't touch. Three looks all correct with a good dial and all original but is very bright and looks like it's just been put on the buffing wheel. I can't see anything wrong with the fourth but yuck it's quartz, this is a dealer so you will pay a premium and these are plentiful and largely unwanted. The fifth is just plain ugly and sellers always have a hard time moving these on. To pay a dealer premium for either of the last two is adding insult to injury. Just my opinion.

To sum up, I think you could do better but who knows what will turn up in the next few weeks? The third watch is the only one even worth considering IMO, but this seller does tend to achieve high prices. Again please wait for others to comment as I may have missed something.

If You pay through paypal it doesn't matter it is a watch forum or ebay, You are always protected as a buyer.

Just to add to the mix, this https://www.parkersjewellers.co.uk/omega-day-date-megaquartz-32khz-wristwatch.html caught my eye. Reasonably sized by today's standards and looks clean from the photos. Others better versed in theses will be better able to evaluate it, but if I was given it as a gift, I'd not be unhappy 😉

Then again, I'm not looking at this from a collector perspective, but rather trying to put myself in the mindset of a potential non-collector recipient.

Welcome to the forum 😀

It's a tight equation you have to square, here:
- limited time
- limited knowledge of a topic that can be looked from a very technical angle
- buying for someone else

The more time you spend here, the more things you will learn about spotting "fake" from "true" watches and parts, as well as inconsciously gather bias you against certain types of watches. See how people are actually trying to lure you away from quartzes... (not that I disagree! but) these behavious will actually kinda slow you down as opposed to enable you to move faster, which is going against your first constraint 😀 We also have to recognize that most people don't mind if a watch has been relumed, or if it has a service crown... Some of the members here are pretty hardcore about that, and, again, it doesn't always help make the right (affordable) decision.

Net, given that you're open-minded and not that prejudiced, keep picking those watch ads you like and you think your husband would, too, and throw them here - Maybe OF members won't instantly all vouch for one specific one, but at least they will help you weed out the "wrong" ones 😀 As someone said above "You are in the difficult position of having to learn your way through a minefield from scratch in a limited time".

(personnally, and not being an expert myself, so just judging by the looks of it and not going into the "details", I like this one a lot:
http://www.ebay.de/itm/232023971350?clk_rvr_id=1067749581737&rmvSB=true)

😀
Paul

Thanks guys, ill keep looking on here and eBay then. Really do appreciate the help. I think I've definitely narrowed down the style and hopefully one will come up that is just right! I have since i started this thread already discounted a lot online due to them not looking "right" so your advice has already helped a lot even though i haven't purchased anything yet!

I think this is a nice watch: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/OMEGA-Gol...779057?hash=item33bc32d131:g:TjgAAOSwbPxXPzO1.
It's a bit over your budget even without a service, but there is a best offer option. If I were going for this I'd try £425 and see what happens. He claims all is original and it certainly looks that way. It's manual not automatic, which is hopefully not an issue. The case, dial and movement all appear in excellent condition, just a bit grubby round the gasket but that is to be expected. The crown is right for it, the subsecond dial is (to my mind) an elegant configuration, and the linen dial finish - see close up - is quite beautiful. And it comes with an Omega buckle. It doesn't have the magic Seamaster name but still this is pure class, the kind of watch I would enjoy as a gift. Again - it's all down to personal taste and only you know your husband's.

ADDED: Just looked at this again and I'm not sure if the hands are right or not so perhaps someone else might offer an opinion.

The third one caught my attention yesterday and I thought about posting a link for you, but there was a lot of information coming at you. The third is nice, It may be a little over polished but it is a gift that should look good coming out. On the whole, the watch appears to be an honest one.


Edward its funny you single out the third watch. I saw that watch yesterday and immediately thought I should post a link for NTW1.

I just saw Lonestar's post. He singled out the same watch as well.

That seller does tend to buff up his watches for the photos, but he appears honest in his descriptions. He seems to have a significant following and his watches usually sell well, often doing better than comparable ones with other ebay sellers. He has a mix of very good and overpolished watches with some redials, and his buyers don't always seem to discriminate. I think it's a case of them falling for the glossy photos rather than the watch, but I have never seen him list anything actively misleading, he will say if the dial is original and it's up to the buyer after all. On previous form this watch could well go over £500.

I would be nterested to know what you make of the link in my last post. Please say if I've missed anything important as I don't want to mislead OP.

Not sure if you had seen this, but I think a full set (box, ...) looks pretty darn cool as a vintage present!!!

https://omegaforums.net/threads/ome...or-set-in-great-condition-14k-on-steel.41028/

@JohnSteed - maybe you could convince this possible buyer?

Thanks everyone. Unfortunately I missed out on the ebay watch. Went for almost 600 in the end, not sure if that was a normal price for that one or not. will keep looking! I do like the one Edward has linked any advice on the hands? What line of watch is it?

How about a first series geneve dynamic? They are both cool and understated at the same time. Obviously I don't you or your husband and it is different in style from everything that you have offered up so far. It doesn t hurt to have a look. You will find many on ebay and many of them look nice and shiney because they have replacement bracelets and dials, from a collectors point of view this is not a good thing but for your purposes it won t matter a lot, if you do like the look of them then post links to potential watches so to avoid overpaying or getting a pile of crap.

I'm not surprised the other watch went high. If you look at the seller's Me page, he has over 500 followers so he's
popular = won't be cheap.

An image search of the subsecond dial one I linked to shows most 269s have straight hands, but I did find one or two others like this one and I think it's probably ok. The only drawback is that it's about £150 overpriced. I now realise why, as it's also listed on dealer website retrovintagewatch.com so not a private seller = again, won't be cheap.

Decent Seamasters crop up regularly on ebay but it is a waiting game and unfortunately I can't see anything suitable in your price range at present. If it didn't have to be an Omega, a chronograph is always a good "bloke" choice. I quite like this one, which has a respectable Landeron movement, the dial seems ok (to me), the price is not outrageous and the seller says it's been serviced so is ready to wear. Omega chronos are way out of your price range but Ollech and Wajs is a good mid-range name:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/272306559073?ssPageName=STRK:MESINDXX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1436.l2649

This is very nice if the dial is untouched. The description doesn't explicitly say, which always makes me a bit wary but the overall condition is consistent. It's either a extremely nice, near mint dial or a very convincing refinish, I don't know which, but perhaps some more experienced person might tip you off.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/391516938494?ssPageName=STRK:MESINDXX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1436.l2649

I like the cal 269 one above, I like the additional detail, but have a question. On the omega vintage checker the watch that comes up as 121.001 is a similar watch but has numbers on the dial instead of dashes. The serial number ties with the date on the 121.001 (65). Should this be ok?
Also, this one is a 269 and not a sea master speed master etc. Are there lots of models not under one of the main titles so to speak?would 495 be ok considering its a one off purchase?

There are lots of "no name" Omegas. I don't think that 269 will rush out as it is very expensive, and although I think it's very nice it's not got the obvious appeal of the Seamaster name to draw in the collectors so I'd imagine you are fairly safe keeping it in reserve a bit longer. I hesitate to say what you should spend, as it comes down to getting what you want within your budget and what the extra is worth to you in terms of saving time, hassle and worry. I would very much like someone else to comment on the 269 as so far you've only got my thoughts and I repeat that my knowledge is limited. Bear in mind also that unless a watch is serviced when you buy it, it really is a bad idea to wear it straight off.