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Opinion on this Seamaster/Date

Donnchadh
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Hi its me again and its my second post.
I came across a listing for a Omega Semaster and was wondering if it is genuine and or worth the price he is asking for.
Seller wants 490 Euro and says the watch is for about 20 years in his posession according to him the last service is about 6-7 years ago.
Sadly he is "scared" to open the back so he cant confirm calier nor can i see the condition of the movement.

Post says (translated by me):

Year 1956-62
Case: Steel gold plated
Diameter 34mm,
he guesses caliber: 503
Omega with "Quick Date Setting" (turn hands clockwise 'till your reach midnight, then turn back to eleven),
no original strap

P.S. is this a radium handle?

looking forward to your magical advice

photo_1_2025-08-03_13-29-34.webp photo_2_2025-08-03_13-29-34.webp photo_3_2025-08-03_13-29-34.webp photo_4_2025-08-03_13-29-34.webp
 
Davidt
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That watch is worth 250 at most and if someone offered it to me at 150 I’d pass.

The dial is incredibly worn and ugly.
 
Donnchadh
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Davidt Davidt
That watch is worth 250 at most and if someone offered it to me at 150 I’d pass.

The dial is incredibly worn and ugly.
Dont you think a little cleanig of the dial would make it ok again?
 
Dan S
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The dial is badly damaged and very unappealing. The case is also pretty rough.

Donnchadh Donnchadh
Dont you think a little cleanig of the dial would make it ok again?
No.
 
Davidt
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Donnchadh Donnchadh
Dont you think a little cleanig of the dial would make it ok again?

What is “a little cleaning” of the dial?
 
Donnchadh
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Davidt Davidt
What is “a little cleaning” of the dial?
good question - i guess wishfull thinking on my side?
 
Donnchadh
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Dan S Dan S
The dial is badly damaged and very unappealing. The case is also pretty rough.


No.
thanks for answer
 
Davidt
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Donnchadh Donnchadh
good question - i guess wishfull thinking on my side?

A lot of people think dials can be cleaned. The truth is, that’s rarely the case. If most of the staining is on the lacquer, you can try and remove the lacquer and redo but it’s 50/50 as to whether removing th old lacquer removes the text from the dial as well. Often it isn’t just the lacquer that’s degraded it’s the dial body. The only way to rectify that is to repaint the dial. But, this costs a couple of hundred and destroys the originality.

No collector would buy that watch for €490 to then spend money and take a risk restoring the dial as you’ve got a 90% chance of ending up with either a redial or a dial missing the text, none of which any collector would want.

It’s always, much, much better to simply start with a nice watch
 
Donnchadh
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Davidt Davidt
A lot of people think dials can be cleaned. The truth is, that’s rarely the case. If most of the staining is on the lacquer, you can try and remove the lacquer and redo but it’s 50/50 as to whether removing th old lacquer removes the text from the dial as well. Often it isn’t just the lacquer that’s degraded it’s the dial body. The only way to rectify that is to repaint the dial. But, this costs a couple of hundred and destroys the originality.

No collector would buy that watch for €490 to then spend money and take a risk restoring the dial as you’ve got a 90% chance of ending up with either a redial or a dial missing the text, none of which any collector would want.

It’s always, much, much better to simply start with a nice watch
thank you for the detailed answer.
As i am currently looking out for my first mechanical watch and i liked the design of this one i thought that is below my budget and therefore might be an option. but i see what you say if i ever want to sell it again it will hard to sell because of its condition. i would not want to redial the watch as well because i agree that takes awqay from it. but evverthing i see seems to be redialed anyway.
i will keep looking for other options and hope i find one that is worth its money
 
Davidt
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Be patient and keep researching. Something will come up. Your budget is tight but not impossible.

Don’t compromise and buy a dog of a watch like this one.
 
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