The same mistake twice? Hopefully not ……

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Spruce

·May 20, 2022·Sunburst dial fan

Late last year, having been bitten by the C-case Constellation bug, I was surfing eBay and discovered a similarly cased and styled front loading Longines Admiral 5 star. I was hooked on the style, the general price range and the prospect of a really comfortable, stylish daily wearer.

After a few months of looking, I took the plunge and bought from Closer0924, a seller based in Japan with good reviews on eBay and also by various members of OF.

The watch arrived and was everything I hoped - for a few days - until it stopped working. I mailed my usual repairer who advised that parts/repair might be difficult (in addition to his charges) and suggested that I return it, which I did.

Closer0924 was easily contactable (and even offered a contribution to the cost of repair) but I returned it and was refunded. Closer couldn’t say whether or not it was repairable.

I subsequently found a black dial version which is a great daily wearer but I still hankered after the silver/white dial I’d known and loved for a week, and I kept on looking for another with the help of @kaplan's search engine programme.

This week I saw that Closer was offering 'my watch' on eBay, we messaged and I was assured that it was working well.

Reader, I bought it again!

 

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LesXL

·May 20, 2022

Fool me once... 😀

Fingers crossed the version 2 is now working properly... couple of questions:
1. What is @kaplan 's search engine?
2. Did you get a discount on the second buy? 😁

Update us once you get the watch again! and congrats bis repetita

 

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sleepyastronaut

·May 20, 2022

kaplan

This is my tool: https://auctionstalker.com/search?q=omega&cat=260324&soon=true&sh1b=true

 

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Spruce

·May 20, 2022·Sunburst dial fan

LesXL

Fool me once... 😀

Fingers crossed the version 2 is now working properly... couple of questions:
1. What is @kaplan 's search engine?
2. Did you get a discount on the second buy? 😁

Update us once you get the watch again! and congrats bis repetita

I didn’t ask for a discount. I got a full refund when I returned it and the watch was fairly priced IMO - yes, fingers crossed 😀

 

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Spruce

·May 20, 2022·Sunburst dial fan

And it’s very useful - although, given other connotations in this day and age, I wish it wasn’t called ‘stalker'

 

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LesXL

·May 20, 2022

Thank you Sir!

 

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Man_in_pub

·Jun 18, 2022

Love these Spruce! Added to list.

Can I trouble you for the reference numbers? Want to make sure I find the real deal. Thank you!

 

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Spruce

·Jun 18, 2022·Sunburst dial fan

Man_in_pub

Love these Spruce! Added to list.

Can I trouble you for the reference numbers? Want to make sure I find the real deal. Thank you!

Glad you like them too.

They’re Longines Admiral 5 star, model 8213 and the non-chronometers (my understanding, so I may be wrong) have a 505 movement which does not have a quick date change.

Good hunting.

 

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Man_in_pub

·Jun 18, 2022

Thx Spruce!

 

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sheepdoll

·Jun 24, 2023

That auction aggregator could be a dangerous site. :😁evilGrin:: :>}-

 

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Spruce

·Jun 25, 2023·Sunburst dial fan

Although I’ve mentioned the outcome in another thread, given the resurrection of
this thread, I thought I should add a postscript.

The watch arrived again, the time ran but the original problem still existed - the date didn’t advance. I contacted the seller to say that despite his assurances, the watch was in pretty much the same condition as when I’d returned it.

I was offered another refund on return.

I chose to keep the watch. I found a repairer who was happy to take it on. Together we spent quite some time sourcing the obsolete date advance part and, in the end I spent about another £300-350 (pretty much what I’d paid for the actual watch) on parts, and repairs.

The good news is that consequent to my (ridiculous) obsession, the watch is working fine

.

 

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HamDoctor

·Jun 25, 2023

All is well that ends well, I guess... And it really is a nice C-shaped watch 😀

I have to admit it sometimes leaves a sinking feeling when I realise that the "bargain watch" I have just bought costs the same amount again in repairs. Good thing I'm buying watches I like, so it's worth it to me after all ...

At times I need to remind myself of that.

 

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YYTIN

·Jun 25, 2023

Funny story spruce … and No offense intended.
It does reflect quite clearly how deep we get involved in this hobby ;-)
I like the watch & this particular configuration and hope this repair did not impact negatively your liking for this watch.
And now you have a pair ;-)
Enjoy both of them

 

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hansaboy

·Jun 25, 2023

@kaplan !!
Amazing!!😀😀😀
Thanks!!

 

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hansaboy

·Jun 25, 2023

hansaboy

@kaplan !!
Amazing!!😀😀😀
Thanks!!

Regarding yor search engine!!👍

 

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Spruce

·Jun 25, 2023·Sunburst dial fan

YYTIN

Funny story spruce … and No offense intended.
It does reflect quite clearly how deep we get involved in this hobby ;-)
I like the watch & this particular configuration and hope this repair did not impact negatively your liking for this watch.
And now you have a pair ;-)
Enjoy both of them

Thanks - and no need to apologise for any possible offence😀
Oh, and I haven’t even touched on my travails sourcing a new stem for the black dial …. 😲

 

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Spruce

·Jun 25, 2023·Sunburst dial fan

YYTIN

And now you have a pair ;-)
Enjoy both of them

…. actually, now three 😉

 

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LesXL

·Jun 25, 2023

Spruce

…. actually, now three 😉

Very nice... What is the difference between the black dial ones?

 

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Spruce

·Jun 25, 2023·Sunburst dial fan

LesXL

Very nice... What is the difference between the black dial ones?

The one on the left is in almost unused condition so I’m not sure of the movement. 505, 6651, 431? … but it’s crown protrudes slightly although it’s the only one with a quick date change so it may be intentional.
My repairer checked the two he worked on and said neither had date advance.
Unlike the Omega 565 on which the date advances when you pull the crown out, on this it advances when you push it in … and it’s pretty sensitive

 

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ken_hodson

·Jun 25, 2023

Two black dials and a silver dial that you bought twice. @Spruce you must like things in twos 😁 Admittedly, those black dials are awesome, I like the red outline.