Taking the Omega plunge - question

Frank Bonaparte · Jun 3, 2022

Hi all,

I've lurked on this site for a while to learn and admire watches I wish I owned. With the birth of my son, I decided I should finally buy an Omega watch I've been dreaming about for years, and hopefully passing it to him in the future. I'm confident that I want a 60s manual Seamaster, and there are a few online I'm interested in. One I don't have any worries about the quality (from Omega Enthusiast, which I understand is a pretty solid vendor if you can stomach the price). But there's another on ebay that aside from benefitting from new plating - seems decent value.

The seller claims the watch is all original, but I'm certainly not in a position to judge it. Also, I'm not sure if this movement matches the reference: 14389-11-csp with a 269 cal. Or at least, I'm pretty sure that's what they are - the pictures are blurry. That might be an easy question, but I was only able to find a thread with that combination of reference and movement as a redialed watch. So, hoping to get some opinions before I get hosed on a bad watch.

Thanks in advance - if not this ebay find, I know I'll be joining the ranks soon enough.

johnireland · Jun 3, 2022

Great old bit of advice...buy the seller and not the watch. Meaning, buy from someone with great reputation and who stands behind the watches they sell without condition. Better to spend more and get known quality, then to cut cost corners and find yourself disappointed and with no recourse.

Frank Bonaparte · Jun 3, 2022

johnireland
Great old bit of advice...buy the seller and not the watch. Meaning, buy from someone with great reputation and who stands behind the watches they sell without condition. Better to spend more and get known quality, then to cut cost corners and find yourself disappointed and with no recourse.

Solid advice, for sure. I just figured with a price difference of $2k, it was worth getting some opinions.

ChrisN · Jun 3, 2022

F Frank Bonaparte
Solid advice, for sure. I just figured with a price difference of $2k, it was worth getting some opinions.

I'm not necessarily up to date on prices but I would expect a manual wind gold plated Seamaster from this era to be well under $1000 so, a $2k difference (I'm assuming you are talking about US$) seems a lot.

It's a great idea and I wish my father had thought in this way. If you're not in a hurry, keep an eye on the private watch sales here as you should find something over a few months. If you're intending to buy one watch as an heirloom, then take it very slowly so you get exactly what you want.

The watch you've shown looks a good start in finding something. The photos are poor but it appears original and, if unserviced, I would think a price in the region of $500 is reasonable - others may have a better idea. I couldn't say if this movement and case go together without some research. Keep researching and be absolutely sure about what you buy would be my recommendation👍.

Good luck in your hunt, Chris

Dan S · Jun 3, 2022

I definitely would not buy a gold-filled/plated watch as a potential heirloom.

Nepomuceño · Jun 4, 2022

I agree with Dan. Stainless steel is the way to go. And this is coming from someone who has a gold plated Omega 😟

kkt · Jun 4, 2022

I would buy from someone who knows how to focus their camera.

TimeODanaos · Jun 4, 2022

kkt
I would buy from someone who knows how to focus their camera.

OP, that may sound flippant, but I'm so glad he said it - maybe you're experienced in how the bay works, sorry, but this advice has always helped me.

Frank Bonaparte · Jun 4, 2022

TimeODanaos
OP, that may sound flippant, but I'm so glad he said it - maybe you're experienced in how the bay works, sorry, but this advice has always helped me.

I didn't read any of the comments as flippant. I asked for opinions and I'm getting them, which is definitely appreciated. I'll just have to remember in my next post to leave out contextual information and only ask what I'm looking for 😀.

DON · Jun 4, 2022

Gold plate - stay away

Poor images - stay away

$2000 price - really stay away

Last - People, say buy the seller, but thats how con artists work (no comment on this seller of watch). They get you to trust them and then steal your money.

You don't buy the seller. You do your homework. Search his email. Find out where else he sells. See what else he sells. Number of posts on certain sites etc.

Ignore any references - con artist - references are him under different emails.

Protect yourself by being thorough

DON

SkunkPrince · Jun 4, 2022

As @Dan S and @DON have said... do avoid the gold plate unless you really know what you're doing and you want it for your own happiness because it's cool or something. Certainly do not pay extra for it.

Not-solid gold is ranked something like this:

Plate: super thin, wears most easily
Fill: thicker, if you like it and it's in good condition, I don't see an issue
Shell: thicker yet, can look nice if it hasn't been over-polished
Solid: all gold, but frequently over-polished and over-priced

I have a gold fill and a couple gold shell over steel. I knew what they were when I got them and I know they wouldn't sell at a premium, but I have a soft spot in my heart (head?) for Omega's gold over steel where the body of the watch remains steel with a gold bezel and gold shell on the lugs. But, that is personal choice.

Nothing wrong with "it's pretty, I want it" but as mentioned, as an heirloom item intended to last generations, solid whichever is generally the best choice.

Frank Bonaparte · Jun 4, 2022

SkunkPrince
As @Dan S and @DON have said... do avoid the gold plate unless you really know what you're doing and you want it for your own happiness because it's cool or something. Certainly do not pay extra for it.

Not-solid gold is ranked something like this:

Plate: super thin, wears most easily
Fill: thicker, if you like it and it's in good condition, I don't see an issue
Shell: thicker yet, can look nice if it hasn't been over-polished
Solid: all gold, but frequently over-polished and over-priced

I have a gold fill and a couple gold shell over steel. I knew what they were when I got them and I know they wouldn't sell at a premium, but I have a soft spot in my heart (head?) for Omega's gold over steel where the body of the watch remains steel with a gold bezel and gold shell on the lugs. But, that is personal choice.

Nothing wrong with "it's pretty, I want it" but as mentioned, as an heirloom item intended to last generations, solid whichever is generally the best choice.

Thank you for this response, it's a lot more helpful for the types and why to avoid. I really appreciate it

kkt · Jun 4, 2022

TimeODanaos
OP, that may sound flippant, but I'm so glad he said it - maybe you're experienced in how the bay works, sorry, but this advice has always helped me.

Thank you, yes, I wasn't being flip (well maybe a little bit). Maybe the seller really has a lousy camera or is not skilled in using it, but the pictures are your best source of information about the watch. If the pictures are blurry, one likely reason is that there's something the seller doesn't want you to see very well.

Taking the Omega plunge - question

Frank Bonaparte

johnireland

Frank Bonaparte

ChrisN

Dan S

Nepomuceño

kkt

TimeODanaos

Frank Bonaparte

DON

SkunkPrince

Frank Bonaparte

kkt

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