Omega Chronostop Geneve 1968

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JonC

·Mar 13, 2021

Hello

My father passed away recently and he joked "heres two watches lad, you might get a few bob for them"
This one is an Omega Chronostop Geneve 1968 (other was a seamaster, another post)
I honestly do not know much about watches, but as you can see it has seen better days, rather scratched, still works though.
I do like it, but is it worth servicing? Whats its value? or is it a fake? What does one think?

 

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RealFire

·Mar 13, 2021

Those are cool. I've seen in very good condition prices between 400-650.. I'd get it serviced and keep it as a remembrance of your father

 

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pedrocarlone

·Mar 13, 2021

Its not going to pay the mortgage off but definitely worth keeping and servicing if it belonged to your dad. I agree with RealFire’s valuation. Just make sure whoever services it doesn’t try to “restore” it by polishing out all those marks your dad made while using it. One thing that did come as a surprise when i serviced mine was the fact that my watchmaker charged a little more than normal as he considered it to be a chronometer. I guess the clue was in the name.

 

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padders

·Mar 13, 2021·Oooo subtitles!

Chrono in this case is short for chronograph, not chronometer. The movement is a cut down version of the 861 as seen in the Speedmaster. Many watchmakers do charge more to service these.

 

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ahsposo

·Mar 13, 2021·Most fun screen name at ΩF

pedrocarlone

Its not going to pay the mortgage off but definitely worth keeping and servicing if it belonged to your dad. I agree with RealFire’s valuation. Just make sure whoever services it doesn’t try to “restore” it by polishing out all those marks your dad made while using it. One thing that did come as a surprise when i serviced mine was the fact that my watchmaker charged a little more than normal as he considered it to be a chronometer. I guess the clue was in the name.

If he'd considered it a chronograph he be more correct.

@JonC I would get it serviced by a reputable watchmaker, If you share your location maybe a recommendation will come. If you happen to be in Somerset I will recommend Chris Nichols (https://cjnwatch.co.uk/wp/)

 

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TimeODanaos

·Mar 13, 2021

I'm sorry to hear about your father, but I'm glad you've got such a great watch to remember him by. Your pictures aren't great, but they do suggest a lot could be achieved by attending to scratches on the crystal (advice abounds on OF, or your watchmaker could do it). Try not to replace it though, because I think I caught the suspicion of the Omega logo in the middle in your second photo - which suggests it's the original. Leave the case as is, as others have said - only dad's watch can ever have those marks.

 

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pedrocarlone

·Mar 13, 2021

I think its maybe me getting chronometer and chronograph mixed up! In any case, it’ll cost a bit more to service than your usual wind up mechanical watch. In your position id get it serviced and wear it.

 

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JonC

·Mar 13, 2021

I do thank you all for your comments and advice, but would servicing be viable to its value?
I do also think of the sentimental aspect of this aswell.

 

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ahsposo

·Mar 13, 2021·Most fun screen name at ΩF

J JonC

I do thank you all for your comments and advice, but would servicing be viable to its value?
I do also think of the sentimental aspect of this aswell.

Not any more than an oil change or a new set of tires does for a car.

Maybe you want to sell those watches because you A) don't really care for wristwatches and B) don't have a sentimental bone in your body. Servicing them will not add value to the sale, let the buyer deal with it. You can probably get 400 pounds, euros or so for that watch as it is on eBay, far less at a watch dealer.

We're a bunch of sentimental slobs around here and think every son should appreciate his old man's time piece; so the pat answer is get it serviced and wear it in memory of dear old dad...

 

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johnnylarue

·Mar 13, 2021

What everyone else said: get it serviced if you plan to wear it (which you should consider since it’s a cool watch.) But the servicing will add zero pounds, cents or euro-cents to its resale value.

 

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padders

·Mar 14, 2021·Oooo subtitles!

I don’t think it’s true that a service adds zero value it’s just that the sums don’t add up. A clean working wearable price is usually worth more to the man in the street than a grotty barn find*, but at this end of the market the cost of the service is roughly the same as the watches value so you will never recoup it. This has an eBay sale price as a rough original watch with box and papers of maybe £300-400. The eBay price as a clean serviced runner maybe £450-550. Cost of service ~£300-400. See the problem? Also this will never be a minter since the sunburst finish has been polished or worn off the bezel. You either need to live with it or refinish the case.

*higher up the market there can be a premium for an untouched barn find but there the service cost is only a tiny proportion of the value so matters less.

Edited: Mar 14, 2021

 

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Syrte

·Mar 14, 2021·MWR Tech Support Dept

Hi there,

So sorry for your loss.
To a “normal” person who’s not a watch enthusiast service costs may appear expensive.
I would say in a major Western country you’d be hard pressed to find a watchmaker servicing a simple (hand wind)!watch for less than 100 euros/dollars/GBP, and a chronograph movement could be multiples of that.
But considering the sentimental value, it’s worth servicing it and using it in memory of your father.
With modern synthetic oils the lubrication should last 5 to 7 years. It’s also worth it because it is a good quality watch, well maintained watches can work perfectly well after more than 100 years.

If you chose to sell, you should not service it.

Service costs vary very much depending whether the watchmaker is in a major city or a provincial area.
Many people ship their watches to be serviced by someone they trust.
If you say in which country you are, you may be able to get a referral.

Condolences again on your loss.

Edited: Mar 14, 2021

 

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dsio

·Mar 14, 2021·Ash @ ΩF

I would 100% service it, the scratches are mostly on the crystal which is a very cheap part to replace as part of the service, these movements are highly durable and well made so I’d expect it to come back in very good shape after a sympathetic service by an independent watchmaker and you’ll get many decades of use out of it. Great watch, your father had good taste.

 

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JonC

·Mar 14, 2021

Thanks again for your comments, I wore it today but I do not like the strap at all. As far as servicing goes I will leave that for another day.
I am going to keep the watch and wear it, but I would love the glass to be replaced foremost but I would not know where start looking, plus a decent strap, I'm sorry I know naff all about watches. If it was just a cheap watch fair enough, but a decent watch, I would not want to take it to a some typical market stall, you know what I mean.

 

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amcclell

·Mar 15, 2021

I am sorry about your loss but am glad to hear that you plan to keep this heirloom. If you don't plan to service it right away, put it in a drawer and don't use it. The oils in it will be dry and you will cause unnecessary wear to internal components if you use it without servicing. Also, keep the box and warranty booklet as they add value to this set.

 

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nicks

·Mar 16, 2021

It’s a fun watch to wear. Chronostops are interesting and quirky, since the chronograph function only records one minute.

Servicing it would give you a nice wearable vintage watch heirloom at roughly what it would cost if you bought one. A crystal polish should be included and you will be amazed at the improvement it makes. Find a leather strap you like at any watch shop, and off you go.

 

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omegawatchlover

·Mar 16, 2021

Agreed with others have said, service it and wear the heck out of it. Personally I put this watch around 600USD in the condition that it is now. Box and papers definitely adds a few hundred. It's a monopush chronograph so service is kind of expensive. I would aim to pay $250 and no more! But that's me, I'm kind of cheap 😜

 

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amcclell

·Mar 17, 2021

It probably varies from region to region but the most reputable service providers in my region of Canada charge the chronograph rate for a Chronostop. This is approximately double the rate for a standard 3 hand watch service.