Thoughts on this Omega seamaster 166.010

hugoloui · Mar 6, 2021

Hi everyone, I was looking for a vintage omega and this seamaster 166.010 caught my eye. I think it is absolutely beautiful and I am actually considering buying it, but before I would like ask for your opinion.

Since I am relatively new to the vintage omega world, I am far from being an expert and I would like to know your opinion on this watch, if you notice anything weird based on the photos and if you could tell me more about it 😀

(Price : 1100€)

Thanks in advance,
Hugo

MtV · Mar 6, 2021

Hey Hugo,
welcome. 😀

Classic watch, I do like them, especially on a beads of rice bracelet. Make sure to ask the seller if the bracelet is long enough for your wrist, if he didn’t provide that information.

Watch looks ok to me - polished case but not extremely, I wonder if the discoloration of the rotor is merely a reflection in the picture or if it’s actually damaged - hard to tell by that picture. Do expect this to need a service rather sooner than later, despite the current accuracy. Looks to me like this hasn’t been serviced in a while, someone has already used the regulator to bring back some accuracy.

I find the price to be very much on the high side, unsurprisingly for a C24 ad. Is this from a dealer, offering a warranty etc? To me, even with the bracelet, this is not a 4-digit-watch. They do pop up on eBay quite regularly for ~600-800€. You might also wanna check international auctions, many come from Japanese dealers and for good prices. A friend of mine bought one in open auction including the BoR for <500€ only a few month ago.

hugoloui · Mar 6, 2021

MtV
Hey Hugo,
welcome. 😀

Classic watch, I do like them, especially on a beads of rice bracelet. Make sure to ask the seller if the bracelet is long enough for your wrist, if he didn’t provide that information.

Watch looks ok to me - polished case but not extremely, I wonder if the discoloration of the rotor is merely a reflection in the picture or if it’s actually damaged - hard to tell by that picture. Do expect this to need a service rather sooner than later, despite the current accuracy. Looks to me like this hasn’t been serviced in a while, someone has already used the regulator to bring back some accuracy.

I find the price to be very much on the high side, unsurprisingly for a C24 ad. Is this from a dealer, offering a warranty etc? To me, even with the bracelet, this is not a 4-digit-watch. They do pop up on eBay quite regularly for ~600-800€. You might also wanna check international auctions, many come from Japanese dealers and for good prices. A friend of mine bought one in open auction including the BoR for <500€ only a few month ago.

Hi, thanks for your response ! The watch is from a dealer offering a 1 year warranty. He told me that the watch was serviced in January 2021, maybe the photos were taken before the service, I will ask him to make sure !

I have seen many other watches on sale from Japan, but with the custom fees + VAT I am afraid it might be even more expensive than this one. Have you ever bought from a seller outside the EU ? If yes did you pay additional fees ?

Thanks,
Hugo

Spruce · Mar 6, 2021

Pretty much what @MtV has said. You’re paying top dollar for the watch and the seller’s posting poor photos.
Despite the warranty - which I’m never sure is worth very much - and even with the BoR, you might want to look at some of the cheaper 166.010 options on Chrono24 and elsewhere on the basis that you’re always going to want the watch serviced by your own guy
It’s often said you have to buy the seller as much as the watch and I think that it’s a good maxim when choosing a 166.010 which, in my view, is one of the classiest Omegas of all time.

MtV · Mar 6, 2021

H hugoloui
Hi, thanks for your response ! The watch is from a dealer offering a 1 year warranty. He told me that the watch was serviced in January 2021, maybe the photos were taken before the service, I will ask him to make sure !

I have seen many other watches on sale from Japan, but with the custom fees + VAT I am afraid it might be even more expensive than this one. Have you ever bought from a seller outside the EU ? If yes did you pay additional fees ?

Thanks,
Hugo

Well, why would he want to use pre-service pictures for his sale ad - that’s classic fishy dealer behavior in my book. Unfortunately, all too often “serviced” equals “I put a drop of oil on some parts of the movement and used the regulator until I hit decent accuracy”.

Step away from this one and be patient. I completely agree with @Spruce that this is very much a classic and timeless ref, so good choice there. But it’s not a rare ref - which isn’t to say it’s not collectible, but only that they are relatively easy to come by.

I’ve bought from overseas many times, yes. Not sure where you’re located - in Germany, the import fee for watches is a fixed 80 cents per watch plus 19% VAT, so you can do the math before you buy. And even a 700€ watch from a Japanese dealer, to come back to this example, will be a -840€ watch by the time it’s here.

Also, keep an eye on the FS section of this forum. 😀

Spruce · Mar 6, 2021

A further concern is that the watch face has a yellowish tint in all photos bar the first full face image. Of course, it could be a reflection of the lighting but it’s yellowish on the amplitude tester (?) photo and photos can be easily 'shopped' and changed nowadays.

MtV · Mar 6, 2021

Spruce
A further concern is that the watch face has a yellowish tint in all photos bar the first full face image. Of course, it could be a reflection of the lighting but it’s yellowish on the amplitude tester (?) photo and photos can be easily 'shopped' and changed nowadays.

I think that’s relatively common aging with those. This, and the clear coat on the dial developing spots that are only apparent from an angle, unless they’re really bad. I guess it’s a matter of taste - personally, I’d prefer a white-ish dial on those.

Spruce · Mar 6, 2021

MtV
I think that’s relatively common aging with those. This, and the clear coat on the dial developing spots that are only apparent from an angle, unless they’re really bad. I guess it’s a matter of taste - personally, I’d prefer a white-ish dial on those.

Me too, it’s just that the photos raised a suspicion that the seller had edited the first photo to make the watch look more ‘white-ish’ than it is.

hugoloui · Mar 6, 2021

Spruce
A further concern is that the watch face has a yellowish tint in all photos bar the first full face image. Of course, it could be a reflection of the lighting but it’s yellowish on the amplitude tester (?) photo and photos can be easily 'shopped' and changed nowadays.

Hi, here is an other photo, it is not as yellow as on the other photos where I think it was a matter of reflection, but it is not pure white either. I personally like this "aged" tint so it does not bother me !

Spruce · Mar 6, 2021

Mine on a strap.

Noddyman · Mar 6, 2021

H hugoloui
but it is not pure white either

I would call the colour champagne, definitely not white.

Dan S · Mar 6, 2021

Personally, I tend to prefer these when they have retained a bit more of the original case lines and finish, as opposed to being finished for sale like this one. That said, the watch appears to be legit, and if you don't care about the polishing or saving a few hundred Euros, then go ahead and buy it. Not everyone needs to be a collector. It sounds like you will enjoy it, and if you come to care more about collectible issues in the future, you can always upgrade.

Yomega · Mar 6, 2021

If you really like it you can also try to propose à lesser price to the seller and you can justify that by the rounded polished lugs.

MtV · Mar 6, 2021

Dan S
Personally, I tend to prefer these when they have retained a bit more of the original case lines and finish, as opposed to being finished for sale like this one. That said, the watch appears to be legit, and if you don't care about the polishing or saving a few hundred Euros, then go ahead and buy it. Not everyone needs to be a collector. It sounds like you will enjoy it, and if you come to care more about collectible issues in the future, you can always upgrade.

Very good point. The fact that those can be found for less, be it here or on eBay, doesnt mean that it's completely unreasonable to buy it. If it was, you likely would've read "Run!" as a comment by now. With refs like this one (not overly uncommon), it's either patience or money.
Also: I'm sure you could get a big chunk of your money back, should you decide to part with it at some point. I don't think it's unrealistic to sell this for ~900€ on C24 as a private seller with a good description, nice pictures and some time.

SkunkPrince · Mar 6, 2021

Here's mine:

It has a yellow cast to the dial for sure and that's the aging of the dial lacquer used to seal the dial after it has been painted and printed.

Your prospect does not show the correct crown, but the correct crown is no longer available, so not necessarily an issue.

If you know what you're looking at, you can do like I did and get an acceptable piece for $800 and then get it serviced and refinished. I also got a good deal on a period replacement bracelet (I was going to get a new one, but right place, right time).

Don't feel you have to rush; it's kind of fun to take it slow and find a diamond in the rough that a good watchmaker can restore for you.

Thoughts on this Omega seamaster 166.010

hugoloui

MtV

hugoloui

Spruce

MtV

Spruce

MtV

Spruce

hugoloui

Spruce

Noddyman

Dan S

Yomega

MtV

SkunkPrince

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