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Subagent
·Hello,
New here, and completely capable of violating etiquette through ignorance. Sorry in advance. Anyhow, thank you for your time. TLDR: see last paragraph.
I am in the US, in the Metro DC area. I picked up this Seamaster at a Flea Market in the waning days of the last century. IIRC, the serial number put it 1952-3. At the time, I was collecting vintage Seamasters and Constellations. I was concerned that it was a re-dial, but the seller assured me that is was a fresh estate find, that had languished in a drawer since it was new.
I would not have believed him if not for the smoothness of the bump winding. No scraping, or clunking, or other annoyances. Swish, boing, swish, boing-- all very harmonious. It is gold capped (if that's still what folks still call that), rather than electro-plated (if that's the right word), with a steel back.
My parents were visiting us, around 25 years ago, when I noticed my father was wearing a quartz watch that he got free with a subscription to US News & World Reports. The print version. He liked it because the dial read: "USN," and he was a Navy man. I suggested that he could do better, and that he should pick one of my Omegas to wear instead. Most of them were steel, and this was the only one that matched his wedding ring.
He wore the watch, every day, for about 10 years, and actually received a few unsolicited, admiring comments. Eventually it fell victim to the usual wear on the bumper automatic winding parts, and began scraping and grinding. By then I had moved on to newer, larger watches. I hooked him up with my last remaining vintage piece, an early Eterna-matic, and put the Seamaster in a drawer.
My parents have been gone for a few years now, and I am now retired. My own tastes have moved towards smaller cased watches. This coincides with wrists getting much skinnier through aging and weight loss. Bottom line: I cannot find a new or vintage watch that I prefer over this one, for less than many thousands of dollars. To me, it is every bit as handsome as a Calatrava. It was conventional wisdom back when I was collecting, that it was impossible to find anyone who could really repair and service these movements. For me, in this instance, it is worth revisiting the situation.
I am willing to send it off to Omega Restoration, which I know can be a long and expensive proposition. But before that I would like ask:
Can anyone recommend a US-based repair service capable of securing or making the necessary parts to return this Seamaster to its prime? My local guys seem capable of servicing the going train, escapement, etc., but not the automatic winding.
Thanks!
Chris
New here, and completely capable of violating etiquette through ignorance. Sorry in advance. Anyhow, thank you for your time. TLDR: see last paragraph.
I am in the US, in the Metro DC area. I picked up this Seamaster at a Flea Market in the waning days of the last century. IIRC, the serial number put it 1952-3. At the time, I was collecting vintage Seamasters and Constellations. I was concerned that it was a re-dial, but the seller assured me that is was a fresh estate find, that had languished in a drawer since it was new.
I would not have believed him if not for the smoothness of the bump winding. No scraping, or clunking, or other annoyances. Swish, boing, swish, boing-- all very harmonious. It is gold capped (if that's still what folks still call that), rather than electro-plated (if that's the right word), with a steel back.
My parents were visiting us, around 25 years ago, when I noticed my father was wearing a quartz watch that he got free with a subscription to US News & World Reports. The print version. He liked it because the dial read: "USN," and he was a Navy man. I suggested that he could do better, and that he should pick one of my Omegas to wear instead. Most of them were steel, and this was the only one that matched his wedding ring.
He wore the watch, every day, for about 10 years, and actually received a few unsolicited, admiring comments. Eventually it fell victim to the usual wear on the bumper automatic winding parts, and began scraping and grinding. By then I had moved on to newer, larger watches. I hooked him up with my last remaining vintage piece, an early Eterna-matic, and put the Seamaster in a drawer.
My parents have been gone for a few years now, and I am now retired. My own tastes have moved towards smaller cased watches. This coincides with wrists getting much skinnier through aging and weight loss. Bottom line: I cannot find a new or vintage watch that I prefer over this one, for less than many thousands of dollars. To me, it is every bit as handsome as a Calatrava. It was conventional wisdom back when I was collecting, that it was impossible to find anyone who could really repair and service these movements. For me, in this instance, it is worth revisiting the situation.
I am willing to send it off to Omega Restoration, which I know can be a long and expensive proposition. But before that I would like ask:
Can anyone recommend a US-based repair service capable of securing or making the necessary parts to return this Seamaster to its prime? My local guys seem capable of servicing the going train, escapement, etc., but not the automatic winding.
Thanks!
Chris
