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Syrte
·Now I get it, thanks👍
Railmaster Goodwill find
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Dr.K
·Wow! I’ve been lurking thrift stores for years and have yet to find a decent watch!!! Lucky you!
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JCC
·Sorry for the noobish question, but what is wrong with Omega’s restoration service? From the video on their website, it looks pretty good. What exactly is the worry, that they won’t use the correct parts? Don’t they listen to your requests or ask you permission before proceeding with any work?
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redpcar
·Newer watch - yes
Vintage watch - hell no
Vintage watch - hell no
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JCC
·This video shows that they take great care in restoring vintage pieces. https://www.omegawatches.com/en-us/customer-service/interventions-and-prices/restoration
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BlackTalon
··This Space for RentTake 2 minutes to read around a bit here on the forum. They do not 'preserve' vintage watches, and can do irreversible harm to the cases by making them look 'new again'. And if lume isn't in the best shape, they may insist on replacing hands and even the dial.if you want them to service the movement.
So collectors who value originality avoid Omega service like the plague (er, Coronavirus?). Those who just want an old watch to look new again, and are not concerned about originality, may benefit from using Omega, although there are many watchmakers who will do similar work for a bit less money.
So collectors who value originality avoid Omega service like the plague (er, Coronavirus?). Those who just want an old watch to look new again, and are not concerned about originality, may benefit from using Omega, although there are many watchmakers who will do similar work for a bit less money.
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redpcar
·So many testimonials on this list alone. If the hands show patina - BAM - swap them out. Dial has a little bit of wear - POW - gone, new dial.
The things that make a watch desirable to our market (and interest), Omega tosses them because they are not up to new standard. Crushes the value. NOBODY should use them for a vintage piece.
The things that make a watch desirable to our market (and interest), Omega tosses them because they are not up to new standard. Crushes the value. NOBODY should use them for a vintage piece.
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JCC
·Take 2 minutes to read around a bit here on the forum. They do not 'preserve' vintage watches, and can do irreversible harm to the cases by making them look 'new again'. And if lume isn't in the best shape, they may insist on replacing hands and even the dial.if you want them to service the movement.
So collectors who value originality avoid Omega service like the plague (er, Coronavirus?). Those who just want an old watch to look new again, and are not concerned about originality, may benefit from using Omega, although there are many watchmakers who will do similar work for a bit less money.
i guess I’m the type of customer they’re looking for then. To me i couldn’t stand wearing a watch that look like it belongs in the junk drawer. A good analogy would be if you had a Ferrari that’s in the same condition as the Chevy Nova Eddie Murphy had in Beverly Hills Cop. I think anyone here would be embarrassed to be seen in one even if it’s a Ferrari.
Everyone here would want that Ferrari to be restored to like new condition. That’s how I feel about watches. I want it restored to like new or as much as possible without destroying the original watch as sometimes the watch is in such poor condition that restoring it would be like building a new one. I don’t see the point in those cases.
I have my grandmother’s 1964 Seamaster de Ville that I’m thinking of sending to Omega to get overhauled. Not their restoration service but just the regular service. I would think that they still have parts for the watch so I wouldn’t be getting a frankenwatch back? But in terms of making it look new I would welcome that.
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JCC
·So many testimonials on this list alone. If the hands show patina - BAM - swap them out. Dial has a little bit of wear - POW - gone, new dial.
The things that make a watch desirable to our market (and interest), Omega tosses them because they are not up to new standard. Crushes the value. NOBODY should use them for a vintage piece.
I guess if you had watch that’s worth tens of thousands as in the OP it may be best not to restore it as there’s some weird sense that vintage watches must look junky but for most of the vintage Omegas like my grandma’s Seamaster that’s worth a grand or two tops it’s probably worth it to do it. Besides, after wearing it until I die it will probably look like crap which would see its value restored in your collectors eyes, no?😉
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redpcar
·"i guess I’m the type of customer they’re looking for then. To me i couldn’t stand wearing a watch that look like it belongs in the junk drawer. A good analogy would be if you had a Ferrari that’s in the same condition as the Chevy Nova Eddie Murphy had in Beverly Hills Cop. I think anyone here would be embarrassed to be seen in one even if it’s a Ferrari."
NOPE (sorry, I'm yelling. nope)
"Everyone here would want that Ferrari to be restored to like new condition. That’s how I feel about watches. I want it restored to like new or as much as possible without destroying the original watch as sometimes the watch is in such poor condition that restoring it would be like building a new one. I don’t see the point in those cases."
Absolutely not. I would want my vintage Ferrari to look its age. The frame off restoration is out. Have you seen the auto auctions lately? Un-restored original is the new restored.
"I have my grandmother’s 1964 Seamaster de Ville that I’m thinking of sending to Omega to get overhauled. Not their restoration service but just the regular service. I would think that they still have parts for the watch so I wouldn’t be getting a frankenwatch back? But in terms of making it look new I would welcome that."
That's fine. They are not a Ferrari of the day. More like an Opel
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JCC
·That's fine. They are not a Ferrari of the day. More like an Opel
I’ve never seen one of those at car shows. Every one that I’ve ever seen are restored to the 9s. Shiny, clean and working perfectly like new.
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JCC
·Perhaps I should start a new thread to ask about people’s actual experiences and not hijack this one. Apologies to the OP.
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redpcar
·Vintage car mechanically sound and honest. A oil leaking smoker? You are correct. I would prefer it mechanically sound and period correct. Vague, I know, but this is hypothetical.
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BlackTalon
··This Space for RentThat vintage Ferrari's motor would be repaired, not replaced with a new motor...
The OP should be aware that case refinishing removes material unless new material is added via a laser treatment. So a recut or heavily polished case will not resemble the original case. The lugs will be thinner, etc. and proportions can be thrown off. The end result will be something shiny, but it will not look like the watch did when it was brand new.
The OP should be aware that case refinishing removes material unless new material is added via a laser treatment. So a recut or heavily polished case will not resemble the original case. The lugs will be thinner, etc. and proportions can be thrown off. The end result will be something shiny, but it will not look like the watch did when it was brand new.
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JCC
·I found a poster who had a great experience with Omega service. This is exactly the kind of service work and result I want for my grandmother’s 1964 Seamaster.
https://omegaforums.net/threads/experience-with-omega-service-center-in-bienne.102341/
https://omegaforums.net/threads/experience-with-omega-service-center-in-bienne.102341/
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watchyouwant
·I found a poster who had a great experience with Omega service. This is exactly the kind of service work and result I want for my grandmother’s 1964 Seamaster.
https://omegaforums.net/threads/experience-with-omega-service-center-in-bienne.102341/
Yes, do it. Don't talk about it. Do it. It's your watch. Whatever you want , can be done. You post at the vintage Forum ; you might ask the wrong guys. We talk about preserving 10's of thousand $$$$$$ worth of Vintage Watches. Good luck ! Enjoy your Watch, no matter , how it looks. Kind regards. Achim
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Burr
·Hi everyone,
Have an update for you all. I emailed that director of the horological society in NYC for WM recommendations. He put me in contact with the AWCI. From there I was able to find a reputable WM with extensive knowledge in vintage Omega watches. I'm planning on going tomorrow to discuss next steps.
Keep you posted.
Best ,
OP
Hey OP, any update? Quite interested in what happens next on this journey 😀
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size11s
·Conservation (conserving what IS there) is gaining much more serious consideration than it used to compared to straight forward restoration (restoring what USED to be there) in most areas of antiques and collectables. The disciplined ethics of conservation are more relevant to some types of objects than others, obviously, and there are loads of grey areas that make it an interesting debate that can't really be reduced to black and white, yes/no cases. Historical information carries more 'value' (not just monetary) to more and more collectors and this has to be a good thing as once it's gone, it's gone. Military watches are the most obvious case in point.
I can see that for Omega trying to make profitable business taking each owners sensibilities and subjective opinions into account is potentially time consuming and problematic. That their response is to adopt this approach of 'like new' across the board is poor customer service in my opinion and they should invest more effort into developing it as a specialist service with clear communication at the outset as to what is possible and what the customer desires done to the watch. That they don't automatically return original/replaced parts is simply bad practice, in my opinion.
I can see that for Omega trying to make profitable business taking each owners sensibilities and subjective opinions into account is potentially time consuming and problematic. That their response is to adopt this approach of 'like new' across the board is poor customer service in my opinion and they should invest more effort into developing it as a specialist service with clear communication at the outset as to what is possible and what the customer desires done to the watch. That they don't automatically return original/replaced parts is simply bad practice, in my opinion.
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DaveK
·Sorry for the noobish question, but what is wrong with Omega’s restoration service? From the video on their website, it looks pretty good. What exactly is the worry, that they won’t use the correct parts? Don’t they listen to your requests or ask you permission before proceeding with any work?
Edit: oops, I see the question has since been responded to
