Community Stories

The unicorn I'm looking for at a price that Gov’t check will cover

ashirani
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I've been scouring the internet for weeks. Every time I find a watch I like, I notice something I don't. Right now I've found one that's otherwise pretty great, but is 33mm which I'm now realizing might be a bit small since my rolex that I'm used to is a 39 and my Mondaine is a 36 (and not a 38 and 34 like I thought).

I'm looking for something from the 50s or 60s, maybe even 70s but definitely not 80s. Preferably the second hand would be on the main dial, but subdial could be ok too. 14k or 18k solid, no date window, and manual winding.

I really really want 18k because this watch is celebrating a mental health milestone and I want it to be something to keep forever and be my daily wear. I've been seeing a lot of these manual watches are gold fill or gold plated. Very few are solid. Even fewer are 34 or 35. Should I just suck it up and get automatic? I really wanted it to be manual and a bit thinner.

Any help is appreciated.

Thanks,
Archer
 
khanmu
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Manual wind 18k dress watches are certainly out there, it does depend on your budget and where you are based/are looking. I would keep looking, in my experience if you compromise/go for “second best” on something that you really want, you rarely end up happy...

As always with watches, condition and authenticity are key, so come back here with lots of photos and links. As I’ve found, many of the folks here will kindly offer advice/thoughts before you pull the trigger.

Don’t give up, frustrating as it might sometimes seem, the search is part of the fun, and it’s all the more enjoyable when you find that perfect watch!
 
ashirani
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Thanks for confirming! My budget is flexible but in an ideal world I'd spend less than $1,100. I'd be willing to spend more if the watch was worth more. (Basically I don't want to be spending $1,400 on a $900 watch but would happily spend $1,500 on a $1,600 watch)

I live in LA but I've only been checking on the internet. The usual places: eBay, reddit, here, and chrono24 (the last one seems to have the most delusional prices).

This might sound like heresy but I don't care too much about the crystal and crown being original. Unfortunately appearances matter a lot in my field (new lawyer) so it can't be something too beat up. In fact, I'd probably switch out the crystal for new but keep the old one just in case.
 
ashirani
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Should I up my budget? It's completely made up. I could go up to $2,200. I'm looking just at Omega right now. I'm ok with 14k as well, I just really don't want plated.

These are some I've seen recently. They don't seem to be in too bad of shape.

1. https://www.ebay.com/itm/OMEGA-WATC...989140?hash=item3dae4874d4:g:ixoAAOSwk4tfms85

2. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Serviced-V...766950?hash=item33fc82dda6:g:Dq0AAOSws~pfjonk

3. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Omega-Vint...251859?hash=item420d04ad53:g:t6sAAOSw22lZ1Pyv

4. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Omega-Watc...303750?hash=item3da7727f06:g:mV8AAOSw8RhfEEFJ

#1 and #4 are from Albania which for obvious reasons I'm hesitant on buying from.
Edited:
 
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cristos71
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1. Is small and a redial

2. Is small and a non-Swiss case ( but for Omega, see hallmarks)

3. Some kind of national production case ( probably no Omega hallmarks )

4. Ugly and water damaged.

My advice is to start looking for a 1950's solid gold Geneve. Completely different and way better regarded than the 60's and 70's Geneve models.
 
STANDY
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Look at Longines and Zenith also even a Vintage Doxa
D09BA54B-13BB-48B9-AA7F-BEE905508770.jpeg 1294C175-3706-4FDA-B6EE-CB34BC8CB502.jpeg 0858E618-CC61-40BF-9A57-85E5FEBD024A.jpeg
 
MSNWatch
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If you are willing to take a watch with subseconds you can find a jumbo (over 36mm) 18k gold 50s manual wind omega. Here is an example - 37.5mm in size, manual wind subseconds in 18k rose gold:

13959828619_81b47aba8f_z.jpg
 
ashirani
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Thanks for the advice everyone. This is very thorough. I really want Omega though because it's always been my dream to own one and this watch is going to be the one I wear the most and hopefully pass down one day. Last year I bought a rolex at the dealer and while it's an amazing watch, it's still not the Omega I've always wanted. Hopefully I can even become a regular on this sub. What is a reasonable budget to spend? Ideally 34-36mm, solid yellow gold, no date window, manual wind, full size second hand (sub would be a compromise but no seconds would be a dealbreaker).

A re dial would be a dealbreaker but a non swiss Omega case or a replaced crystal isn't a problem for me.
 
nicks
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These days, I think you’re going to find that $1100 might be a little thin for an original vintage solid gold Omega in great condition. Also your search would be wider if you could include automatic movements.

But there are plenty to choose from, just be patient.
 
ashirani
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nicks nicks
These days, I think you’re going to find that $1100 might be a little thin for an original vintage solid gold Omega in great condition. Also your search would be wider if you could include automatic movements.

But there are plenty to choose from, just be patient.

My budget was somewhat arbitrary and not limited by my finances. Do you have a number for what would be a good range for the watch I'm looking for? It would help in my search to know I'm getting a fair price.
 
Observer
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I believe you have excellent taste, as I am at the beginning of an almost identical quest. 37-40mm, preferably solid gold, center seconds, manual wind. As I search eBay listings I find myself awash in a sea of horrid redials. I have started a list of references that is still inaccurate but here are a few that may help your search. I started this last night and want to include which are associated with different movements and metals. If you find a winner that’s out of your price range, please let me know. 😉

40mm
3808

39mm
2544
2545

38mm
2181
2505
2506

37.5mm
2325
2603
2604

37mm
2272

Also
2318
2319
 
kkt
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My impression is that by the 1960s the high-end models mostly switched over to automatic movements.
Continue looking, a few weeks really isn't that long to search.

Have you used https://www.watchrecon.com
They're an aggregator, combining used watch listings from here, WUS, Rolex Forum, lots of other places people post for sale ads. It won't help you find a model you like, probably, but once you've found one you like on someplace like the What Are You Wearing Today? forum here it might help you find one for sale.
 
ashirani
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4
Observer Observer
I believe you have excellent taste, as I am at the beginning of an almost identical quest. 37-40mm, preferably solid gold, center seconds, manual wind. As I search eBay listings I find myself awash in a sea of horrid redials. I have started a list of references that is still inaccurate but here are a few that may help your search. I started this last night and want to include which are associated with different movements and metals. If you find a winner that’s out of your price range, please let me know. 😉

40mm
3808

39mm
2544
2545

38mm
2181
2505
2506

37.5mm
2325
2603
2604

37mm
2272

Also
2318
2319

I'll send anything I see on the larger end your way.
 
ashirani
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4
kkt kkt
My impression is that by the 1960s the high-end models mostly switched over to automatic movements.
Continue looking, a few weeks really isn't that long to search.

Have you used https://www.watchrecon.com
They're an aggregator, combining used watch listings from here, WUS, Rolex Forum, lots of other places people post for sale ads. It won't help you find a model you like, probably, but once you've found one you like on someplace like the What Are You Wearing Today? forum here it might help you find one for sale.

They're definitely really rare and I think you're right. The solid gold ones tend to be automatic. But I really want manual for that 1mm thickness savings lol.
 
ashirani
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This is all so fun. I hope I get some actual work done today!
Edited:
 
Dan S
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There are plenty of watches out there that meet your criteria. But vintage watches come and go on the market, and since you have a lot of different criteria, you may need to be patient to find one that meets them all.
 
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