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Omega Seamaster 2531.80 - About to buy this, thoughts?

TheRashid
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ErichPryde ErichPryde
Definitely worthwhile to know the timing, great advice for the OP because it's another point for negotiations.



Honestly it is great that the original poster is getting such varied input, because these are all worthwhile things that they should consider. So the real question is- what kind of buyer are they? Since they came here to Omega forums, I don't believe that they are an average buyer. But what do they want? Close to NOS? They should pass. Whatever at best price? This ain't it. But like most watch buyers, it's probably somewhere in the middle: a decent price for decent condition.
Yes definetely, appreciate the discussion. All perspectives are interesting and valid.

For me personally, I probably don't have the firepower to shoot for one that's close to NOS at £2,500+. I'm looking for a 'good' condition on a 'decent' budget 😂.
 
ErichPryde
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TheRashid TheRashid
Yes definetely, appreciate the discussion. All perspectives are interesting and valid.

For me personally, I probably don't have the firepower to shoot for one that's close to NOS at £2,500+. I'm looking for a 'good' condition on a 'decent' budget 😂.

Consider looking at some of the Japanese sellers? I know you have to pay vat but you may be able to find one in honest condition that makes paying vat worth it/close to what you'd pay from the EU.

Just a thought!
 
502 to right
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Davidt Davidt
I disagree. I don’t care whether I’m paying £200 or £20,000. I want sharp lines and ideally the original factory finish. Very, very few case refinishes match the factory imo. I’ve had Omega and Rolex cases refinished by approved service centres and highly regarded independents and I’ve never had a single one that was a good match to factory original. Generally they look good, but if you know what to look for you can tell and just like with a good redial, once you see it, it bugs the hell out of you.

So I'm curious, would you rather have a 25 year old Bond SMP that has been competently refinished (i.e., the watchmaker uses the proper lapping wheels, etc.) or a 25 year old SMP that has never been refinished but has been worn for 25 years? Personally, I would pick the former 10 times out of 10.

Obviously, the dream scenario would be a new old stock SMP that has been neither refinished nor worn. I actually recently went that route with a Rolex 16200 Datejust.
 
Davidt
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502 to right 502 to right
So I'm curious, would you rather have a 25 year old Bond SMP that has been competently refinished (i.e., the watchmaker uses the proper lapping wheels, etc.) or a 25 year old SMP that has never been refinished but has been worn for 25 years? Personally, I would pick the former 10 times out of 10.

Obviously, the dream scenario would be a new old stock SMP that has been neither refinished nor worn. I actually recently went that route with a Rolex 16200 Datejust.
Well no one’s holding a gun to my head to buy one so I’d take my time and find one with the original finish that has been lightly worn.

I’ve literally never seen an excellent refinish on a 2531.80 case. Of course you can make the argument that with the best refinished one can’t tell, but I’ve seen so many that are listed as refinished by x, y and z, and they stand out a mile
 
padders
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I’ve seen an excellent refinish or 2 but I’d still take original every single time. As I said earlier even the factory can’t make the bezel look new. The ‘buy a junky one and have it refinished’ plan is to my mind a fools errand. Buy the best original one you can find. Refinishing these isnt a crime but if it’s crappy to start with, it won’t be perfect when it comes back. Dont forget, the factory only removes material, they don’t laser weld. If you want perfect, you either need to use someone who adds material first or you need to replace parts.
 
paddymoran
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My own view would be to buy the best condition available - as has been said if you start with a poor example it will be very difficult to achieve its factory finish.

I’ve always liked the 2531.80 (due to the Bond connection). I’ve three really nice condition examples (pictured). I bought the middle one on eBay in 2009 and I date it to 2007. While I’ve never worn the watch, regretfully it has picked up a few marks while in my possession. According to my records it came with a hang tag with a suggested price of £1,200 - unfortunately I can’t locate it!

The other two examples, to my eyes are in extremely good condition but most likely have been refinished at some stage.

IMG_2863.webp
 
paddymoran
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PS I find it difficult to present these “true to life” through photography.
 
DenisChalandier
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There is no good shape 2351 or 2541 since years. But very very rare exceptions.

All of them have been polished or will be at one point. None of them or rarely have correct water resistance or a revised mouvement.


So the question is : who do you want your watch to be polished by ?

Omega, a good horologist, a bad horologist or the handy step brother of the seller in his basement.

Same thing about the mouvement and water resistance.

The trick is to pay the right price.

If you buy a cheap ruin, go to Omega and the service costs to go with it.

If you buy a very fine polished watch but you need to go to Omega for water resistance and movement, what's the point to pay a premium for a glaring watch ?

And so on.

The other question, why are you buying the watch ? To put it in box to collect them. Buy a non working but glaring watch. Nice effect thought the display window.

If you buy it to wear it, those watches need a service and WR. But what's the point about a polished brand new one. You will scratch the watch the next day...
 
TheRashid
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Update - went to go see this in person. The gap by the left lug appears to not be there in-person. However, the only thing I noted was the clasp didn't 'click' when closing, although it did close securely. Is that normal on these watches?
IMG_8299.webp IMG_8305.webp
 
Davidt
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DenisChalandier DenisChalandier
There is no good shape 2351 or 2541 since years. But very very rare exceptions.

All of them have been polished or will be at one point. None of them or rarely have correct water resistance or a revised mouvement.

That’s absolutely not true. These come up in unpolished, original and good condition fairly often. They just sell fairly quickly and if you want a deal you need to be patient and act quick
 
Dan S
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We should make a thread about the things that newbies say:

  • prices are all over the place.
  • you can never find one in good condition.
  • I don't mind a good redial/refinish.
etc.
 
padders
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Davidt Davidt
That’s absolutely not true. These come up in unpolished, original and good condition fairly often. They just sell fairly quickly and if you want a deal you need to be patient and act quick
Denis loves these but to my mind talks a lot of bollocks. I guess it is up to the readers to figure out if I am right or he is.
 
ErichPryde
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padders padders
Denis loves these but to my mind talks a lot of bollocks. I guess it is up to the readers to figure out if I am right or he is.

pretty sure there is a joke in there about the internet.... but I do think the one that I found fairly recently was only "lightly" worn. I do agree it takes patience, as buyers we need to be willing to act quickly. Watches that are sitting around are typically sitting around for some sort of a reason.
 
ErichPryde
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TheRashid TheRashid
Update - went to go see this in person. The gap by the left lug appears to not be there in-person. However, the only thing I noted was the clasp didn't 'click' when closing, although it did close securely. Is that normal on these watches?
IMG_8299.webp IMG_8305.webp

Honestly- looks incredible on you.

To add: looks to be in better condition in your images than I gathered.
Edited:
 
paddymoran
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ErichPryde ErichPryde
Honestly- looks incredible on you.

To add: looks to be in better condition in your images than I gathered.
Agreed, it looks really well in person.
 
DenisChalandier
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Davidt Davidt
That’s absolutely not true. These come up in unpolished, original and good condition fairly often. They just sell fairly quickly and if you want a deal you need to be patient and act quick
You agree with me in your own sentence... Find more than one of a hundred on C24 that's said WR restored and mouvement serviced.

At best you have "WR tested 10m and watch is very well running". Meaning "25 years old watch that never see a service". If someone buy that because it's shiny, find be me. Not my money...
 
DenisChalandier
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padders padders
Denis loves these but to my mind talks a lot of bollocks. I guess it is up to the readers to figure out if I am right or he is.
And I think you'r a collector. Watches come and and go you wore them twice a year at best; if even. So you don't really care if serviced or not.

Piling up watches since 40 years is not necessarily the only way to enjoy watches 😉
 
Davidt
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DenisChalandier DenisChalandier
You agree with me in your own sentence... Find more than one of a hundred on C24 that's said WR restored and mouvement serviced.

At best you have "WR tested 10m and watch is very well running". Meaning "25 years old watch that never see a service". If someone buy that because it's shiny, find be me. Not my money...

Don’t pretend to twist my words and tell me what I’m saying. We disagree as to rarity of unpolished of SM300’s and that’s fine but don’t twist me words.
 
winndixie
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Very nice watch. I own a datejust and just bought the moon watch. One thing I like about the Omega vs the Rolex is that I don't have a date to futz with. I can put the watch into its box and when I want to wear it, just wind, set and go. I keep the Rolex in a winder, but with 30 month dates, still have to set the date before wearing. It gets worse with my Longines Master Collection Moon Phase... I have to look out the window to figure out what phase the moon is in. My Raymond Weil Freelancer Men's GMT Worldtimer is another watch I hate setting. I just ordered a couple more watch winders to see if I can alleviate these issues. Love the Omega as simple even for this boomer.
 
502 to right
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Davidt Davidt
Well no one’s holding a gun to my head to buy one so I’d take my time and find one with the original finish that has been lightly worn.

I’ve literally never seen an excellent refinish on a 2531.80 case. Of course you can make the argument that with the best refinished one can’t tell, but I’ve seen so many that are listed as refinished by x, y and z, and they stand out a mile
You are far outside the norm for people who buy watches. I would suspect that you might dislike a watch that 99% of buyers would think is perfectly acceptable--especially for a model (like the Bond SMP) that was produced in large numbers and is not collectible beyond those who want to own and wear a nice wristwatch. Of course, it's your perogative to like what you like and buy what you want. My concern is that when super collectors give advice to "newbies" the newbies are left never buying anything if they follow the advice. Because virtually every 25 year old watch has been repolished at some point. And for most buyers the polish job is not noticeable or problematic.

The watch that the OP has presented is perfectly acceptable for a daily wearer. If I was in the market for a Bond SMP I would not hesitate to purchase this example based on condition.
 
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