I’m new to vintage Omega and I’m wanting everyone’s thoughts on the watch below. I have asked seller to take case back off and I am awaiting a response.

Think what I am trying to ask is if this is a good example and do I need to know anything except that hands are original, crown is original, dial isn’t repainted, movement is a 501cal?

If anyone has a watch in this reference they are looking to sell in the UK by all means contact me.

Many thanks Jacob

 

I'd like to get a better look at the color of the hour and minute hands. In those photos, they look to be a different color than the dial furniture and the sweep hand. They do appear to be the right style and length, however, so it's possible they have just lost their plating.

 

So do you think the hands aren’t original?

 

I don’t think that’s what @Dan S is suggesting, although he’ll correct me if I’ve misunderstood.

This is a 60+ year old watch and it looks to me as if the hands, including the sweep second hand, are tarnished.

I suspect that the seller has either polished or changed the crystal, lightly hand polished the case (no problem there) and sensibly opted to leave the dial, hands and indices alone.

 

That's possible, but it's more likely that they have lost their plating, either by corrosion or aggressive cleaning. Either way, if they aren't the same color as the lovely gold applied markers, it's a cosmetic issue that might bother some people (and might not bother others). I suppose it's also possible that it's just an artifact of the lighting. The sweep hand is definitely tarnished, but still seems to have a gold tint.

 

I really appreciate both your help! Is there anywhere you can point me to find a good example of this reference?

 

I don't think anyone is telling you to avoid this example you have shown, they just want better pictures. However if you can get it for a very resonable price you could either have the hands re plated and lumed to match or find replacements. Your dial, markers and the rest of the watch sure do look nice otherwise.

 

The seller has sent further photos of the hands and movement. What are your thoughts?

 

It's possible that the plating has worn off or been removed from the hands. Honestly, it's difficult to tell. With the better photos, one can now see that the hands have lume, but the dial does not. This can be correct, but is not very common, that could be a clue. Someone may know if it's a known variant for this reference. As mentioned above, the hands are the correct shape and length. If you do decide to search for replacement hands at some point, it is easier to find no-lume hands with a no-lume dial, since you don't need to worry about getting the hands re-lumed to match the dial.

 

dealer says that it’s original hands and it’s just oxidation. Any truth in that?

 

Could be. Do you like them?

 

I do like the watch. But seems to have a few imperfections. I really appreciate your guidance! Just new to all this and don’t want to buy rubbish. Seems to be really hard to find a good example.

 

I'm really just pointing out that sometimes your personal preference is more important than whether the watch is 100% correct. We're not talking about an investment piece that's going into the safe to fund your retirement. Originality will be somewhat important someday when you go to sell the watch. But in the meantime it's more important that you get joy from the watch when it's on your wrist.

So they could be the original hands, but you might not like the way they look because of the mismatched color. Or they might not be the original hands but you like the way they look.

 

This any better??

 

I like that steel watch better than the other, it seems more honest. It's had a hard life but you might give it a good home.

 

This all looks legit then?

 

The subject watch as shown in the watch cleaner basket has not had the auto winding mechanism dismantled, the manual wind mechanism dismantled, minute train removed, or the crown wheel removed! Don’t let the sender convince you to pay a premium for the “service” this watch has received. It will need to be done again, and there is a possibility that parts might be required. Faulty or worn out parts not identified because of the sloppy repair job. In fact, I would suggest you walk on this one!

 

It does to me but also heed what Canuck says, he's a watchmaker.