- Posts
- 972
- Likes
- 2,393
Seller refuses to send Omega watch serial number
- Posts
- 972
- Likes
- 2,393
sonicosa
·if your worried about that I can think of three things in place to prevent that, 2 easier ways that don’t need a serial number for them to use law enforcement to steal your watch, and 7 super easy ways to prevent that scenario.
I’m intrigued… not worried, just curious about these 9 ways and 3 things.
- Posts
- 17,735
- Likes
- 26,919
Foo2rama
··Nowhere near as grumpy as he used to be...I’m intrigued… not worried, just curious about these 9 ways and 3 things.
as for the ways to prevent it.
save your receipt.
Report to your insurance company
Photo document
Weekly video document your collection
Register with the manufacturer
Notarize your collection
Not worry about it as common sense says it will not happen because it’s never happened.
honestly the old reason was so that fakers would not have access to a known serial number. Even that has never happened as far as I know, but really only would come into play on extremely rare or unique pieces that have provenance.
- Posts
- 226
- Likes
- 146
vadimo
·the seller was right not to give out serial number due to cloning and using on fakes
You have eBay on your side should you need to return this at 0 costs
You have eBay on your side should you need to return this at 0 costs
- Posts
- 17,735
- Likes
- 26,919
- Posts
- 226
- Likes
- 146
- Posts
- 17,735
- Likes
- 26,919
- Posts
- 697
- Likes
- 692
PandaSPUR
·The seller can disclose the serial number or not, its entirely up to them.
If they really do sell a fake, its easy enough to dispute and get your money back with ebay + paypal. Unfortunately legitimate sellers get burned by this too.
If they really do sell a fake, its easy enough to dispute and get your money back with ebay + paypal. Unfortunately legitimate sellers get burned by this too.
- Posts
- 224
- Likes
- 269
Bizcut1
·I believe this topic has just about been beaten to death.
Good luck with it.
Good luck with it.
- Posts
- 9,595
- Likes
- 27,671
ConElPueblo
·Why would you want the serial number in the first place?
I would only be interested in the serial number on a vintage watch and even then it wouldn't tell me everything.
I would only be interested in the serial number on a vintage watch and even then it wouldn't tell me everything.
- Posts
- 405
- Likes
- 466
dstfno
·My point is “find a single example.” I’m pretty sure you can’t.
- Posts
- 21,586
- Likes
- 48,910
Dan S
·I'm pretty sure you would not want to be the owner of a watch of which the serial number is floating around online. It's not because the worst case scenario is highly unlikely that all caution should be thrown in the wind.
I'm pretty sure I don't care in the least. In case you haven't noticed, people are constantly showing the serial numbers of their watches in this forum.
This paranoia about hiding serial numbers is just silly IMO. People do it because they see other people doing it and make up outlandish speculative scenarios to justify their actions. As Phil mentioned, despite years of beating this topic to death, we have no actual first-hand reports of problems.
- Posts
- 27,902
- Likes
- 71,031
Archer
·Why would you want the serial number in the first place?
I would only be interested in the serial number on a vintage watch and even then it wouldn't tell me everything.
I can't speak for the OP, but I do check serial numbers - in fact one of the first things I do when a watch comes into the shop is put the serial number into the Omega Extranet. Serial numbers below about the 50 million mark don't work, but most above that do, so this is primarily for more modern watches.
I can tell you that the results are sometimes interesting, and the watch that I have in my hand, isn't always what the serial number would indicate. There is one seller who I've had many of the watches he sells end up on my bench, which is a real testament to the "watchmaker" he uses and the quality of work done. I've seen the invoices and they are getting their full $150 worth for a full overhaul. 🙄
The work is terrible, but that's not the only problem. This seller's watches very often have been modified to look like a different model than what they actually are, and the only way to confirm that is using the serial number. I've had at least 5 watches from this seller that were not the watch that they appeared to be, and had been modified from the original. I always tell the owner right away, so they can then decide if they want the watch returned or if they want to proceed with the service. If I know who the seller is I ask for the serial number before they even send it to me.
Note that you don't need the Omega Extranet access to do this - you can simply call Omega with the serial number, and ask them to tell you what the watch reference is. Anyone can do this if they have the serial number, so if I was buying a modern Omega, I would want the serial number to check to make sure it is what it says it is, before I spent the money. This would be particularly true if I was buying an LE that is known to be commonly modded, like a Japan Racing Speedmaster, Mitsukoshi Speedmaster, or a Mauri reduced, etc.
Yes, from a reputable seller you can always send the watch back, but it would be a lot more convenient and save a lot of time if the seller gave up the serial number so all this could be checked ahead of time.
Cheers, Al
- Posts
- 13,132
- Likes
- 52,161
Larry S
··Color Commentator for the Hyperbole.If the OP had simply told us the name of the very legitimate dealer, this would have been a shorter thread. Still the SN thing raises red flags.
- Posts
- 972
- Likes
- 2,393
- Posts
- 169
- Likes
- 100
Zanzibar
·I can't speak for the OP, but I do check serial numbers - in fact one of the first things I do when a watch comes into the shop is put the serial number into the Omega Extranet. Serial numbers below about the 50 million mark don't work, but most above that do, so this is primarily for more modern watches.
I can tell you that the results are sometimes interesting, and the watch that I have in my hand, isn't always what the serial number would indicate. There is one seller who I've had many of the watches he sells end up on my bench, which is a real testament to the "watchmaker" he uses and the quality of work done. I've seen the invoices and they are getting their full $150 worth for a full overhaul. 🙄
The work is terrible, but that's not the only problem. This seller's watches very often have been modified to look like a different model than what they actually are, and the only way to confirm that is using the serial number. I've had at least 5 watches from this seller that were not the watch that they appeared to be, and had been modified from the original. I always tell the owner right away, so they can then decide if they want the watch returned or if they want to proceed with the service. If I know who the seller is I ask for the serial number before they even send it to me.
Note that you don't need the Omega Extranet access to do this - you can simply call Omega with the serial number, and ask them to tell you what the watch reference is. Anyone can do this if they have the serial number, so if I was buying a modern Omega, I would want the serial number to check to make sure it is what it says it is, before I spent the money. This would be particularly true if I was buying an LE that is known to be commonly modded, like a Japan Racing Speedmaster, Mitsukoshi Speedmaster, or a Mauri reduced, etc.
Yes, from a reputable seller you can always send the watch back, but it would be a lot more convenient and save a lot of time if the seller gave up the serial number so all this could be checked ahead of time.
Cheers, Al
- Posts
- 896
- Likes
- 2,809
Scooterino36
·Z ZanzibarThe more I read and the more I tend to think that buying brand new from an official retailer is the only way to go, even after many years of buying and selling without any problems.
Probably, but I enjoy the thrill of the chase too much.
- Posts
- 12,729
- Likes
- 17,213
gatorcpa
··ΩF InvestiGatorZ ZanzibarThe more I read and the more I tend to think that buying brand new from an official retailer is the only way to go
For vintage watches, and especially Omega, to the extent that you can get information that can be verified to belong to the model you are looking for or you get a full return privilege, you should be OK.
At the end of the day, it's still "Buy the seller, not the watch".
gatorcpa
- Posts
- 310
- Likes
- 265
eldiano84
·After talking extensively to Omega, I found out serial number’s are big deal, some grey market dealers scratch them out so only they can fix them in house, my dad gifted my his 300m diver he bought in 2000, i tried to get it serviced, took it to a boutique and boom, told me the movement was real but the serial number was buffed out, i was crushed, the icing on the cake was that my step mom threw away the box, so grey market for me it’s the only way to go for me, this was the email they sent me back in 2015 when I found out
I mean clearly with the OP that’s not the case but yeah no conspiracy, it does happen, now I’m stuck with a “real” watch but forever locked out from The Swatch Group’s magic touch, i mean they looked at it and touch it up but nothing mechanical whatsoever. Hehe
I mean clearly with the OP that’s not the case but yeah no conspiracy, it does happen, now I’m stuck with a “real” watch but forever locked out from The Swatch Group’s magic touch, i mean they looked at it and touch it up but nothing mechanical whatsoever. Hehe
