Omega automatic 2897 solid 18k

gatorcpa

It is very hard to judge whether this is a “good watch” from a few pictures on the internet.

Is it keeping time? Does it wind and set easily? Have you had it inspected close up by a watchmaker?

The fact that it is 18K gold probably drove the price, not the condition (which looks very nice) or the movement.

FWIW, the dial design and the caliber of the movement match the Omega records from their database.

https://www.omegawatches.com/en-us/watch-omega-tresor-omega-ot-2897

Hope this helps,
gatorcpa

bralofsky

Congrats on your first vintage Omega! Whether it's a "good" purchase really depends on what you were looking for in a vintage timepiece.

TexOmega

What's not to like? Keep us updated on your new found obsession.

My only piece of advice to you is to get several good Portraits of yourself surrounded by all Loved Ones so you will have a documented timestamp as the point where you started to develop deep bags under your eyes and developed a twitch.

Most times the twitch eventually goes away.

Most times...

Good Luck👍

Dan S

In general, watches are not good investments, and new enthusiasts are especially unlikely to make a purchase that will appreciate. That said, a highly collectible stainless steel watch in great condition is likely to hold its value, so if you buy well, you will usually be ok. A gold watch, who knows, it depends on the price of gold.

The future value of the watch will mainly be driven by the price of gold, which is at a record all-time high, so I wouldn't want to speculate about it. Even my gold buyer isn't buying gold right now. If you believe that gold will continue to rise, then you believe in your watch. Even if you overpaid (which you probably did), the value will eventually catch up if gold continues to climb. However, if we're in a bubble, and the price of gold goes back down, then you will be further under water. I know about how much I would pay for it, but I don't think that will be helpful to you.

In general, the watch is a collectible model, and the desirability/value of a particular example depends a lot on condition. The price also depends greatly where you buy it and who you buy it from. As you spend more time learning about vintage watches, you will be able to judge condition for yourself.

Dan S

I doubt there is 19g after movement, dial, etc. More like 12g-14g, IMO. The OP may not know how much an auto-winding movement and dial weigh. I have been doing this calculation a lot recently.

Given the condition of the watch, I would have been tempted at $1500, but not at $2000. I like the dial, but the condition of the case case is unappealing.

gatorcpa

It does, but probably not as much as you think.

Omega’s Tresor line was one of their better lines when originally sold around 1960. However, it is not considered particularly collectible today. So I would price a watch like that in terms of the gold value. You estimated about 19 grams of 18K gold. Hopefully, that is without the movement, crystal, stem and crown, none of which are gold.

Current price of 19g of 18K gold is a little over $2,200. I’d add about $50 for the original dial and $100 for the movement parts.

So if you paid more than $2,400, you probably overpaid.
gatorcpa

padders

Knowing how well built some of these cases are, there is just about a chance there is 18g present. From the front it looks dainty but the side view of the lug and suggest to me it isn't lightly built. Be aware though that sometimes there is a brass ring round the movement, if that is the case then you are back maybe 2-3g for that. I do think I see the tell-tale 'METAL' mark on the ring which indicates it is not gold. Perhaps 15-17g is a better estimate for the gold weight.

One aspect you can check quickly is the weight of the caseback. On 1950s gold Seamasters the back alone can weigh 8g but this one doesn't seem to be a waterproof design so is likely more lightly built than the fat lugs. Those have cases weighing 22-24g.

ps note you have missed the dial weight off your calcs above. I would put the non gold parts such as the crown, hands, dial, clamps, crystal higher than 1.5g...