Trying to "buy the seller" for 38mm vintage Omega - opinions

Longbow · Oct 25, 2016

Interesting thread which prompted me to look a bit closer at how some of my watches measure up. My left wrist is a bit smaller than yours but my right one is the same, so here are some wrist shots to see how different sizes compare.
First up my c-case Constellation, circa 34mm wide and 40mm lug to lug. I've added this to illustrate that case form makes a significant difference to how a watch wears.

Next up a Seamaster; 36mm wide and a tick over 40mm lug to lug

A bit bigger again, this time a Speedie triple date at 39mm by 44mm

And finally something bang up to date, a Globemaster, also 39mm wide but 46mm lug to lug

I wear the steel Omegas regularly in rotation and can't say that any of them feel too small. If anything, the GM feels big, but maybe that has more to do with me being the only mad fool on god's earth (probably) to wear a GM on shark mesh.

Look for a non-chronometer gold cap version with a screw in caseback and I think you will find something that fits your tastes and budget.

Good hunting Dave!

Cheers
Longbow

kingsrider · Oct 25, 2016

I have a 7 1/2" wrist also. I find anything under 35mm looks to small. Of course it is all personal preference.

dave steele · Oct 25, 2016

Longbow
Interesting thread which prompted me to look a bit closer at how some of my watches measure up. My left wrist is a bit smaller than yours but my right one is the same, so here are some wrist shots to see how different sizes compare.
First up my c-case Constellation, circa 34mm wide and 40mm lug to lug. I've added this to illustrate that case form makes a significant difference to how a watch wears.

Next up a Seamaster; 36mm wide and a tick over 40mm lug to lug

Interesting photos on size comparisons, I obviously need to take lug to lug dimension into acct. the 34 and 36 in your photos appear virtually the same size on wrist.

cicindela · Oct 25, 2016

Photos can be resized, you can't tell anything unless two watches are side by side in the same photo.

Longbow · Oct 25, 2016

cicindela
Photos can be resized, you can't tell anything unless two watches are side by side in the same photo.

You're right, they can be resized, but these were taken this evening with the same camera (on my iPhone) at the same angle and distance between camera and watch so I think they are representative enough. I can do side by side on the bench if you think that helps.

cicindela · Oct 25, 2016

Longbow
You're right, they can be resized, but these were taken this evening with the same camera (on my iPhone) at the same angle and distance between camera and watch so I think they are representative enough. I can do side by side on the bench if you think that helps.

Does not matter to me, I'm not buying a watch. 😉

However on my screen you wrist varies between 7in and 8.5in (roughly) in the different pictures😀

ulackfocus · Oct 25, 2016

cicindela
However on my screen you wrist varies between 7in and 8.5in (roughly) in the different pictures😀

Not only does his wrist width vary, which tells us the camera was NOT exactly the same distance away, when you take into account the fisheye effect of macro it can really throw perception off.

Jacquot · Oct 25, 2016

As others have pointed out, some watches wear larger than others. My Longines All Guard does, for instance. If I were you I would watch the Sales Forum here as many of the suggested watches, and other options, have appeared for sale over the last 6 months or so. Much better place to shop, always.

dave steele · Oct 26, 2016

cicindela
Photos can be resized, you can't tell anything unless two watches are side by side in the same photo.

I was basing my comment purely on the relative watch to wrist size in each picture (realizing that the photos were taken from slightly different distances).

I think that since both watches have the same 40mm lug to lug, that's why they appear similarly sized.

Longbow · Oct 26, 2016

Side by side this time

cicindela · Oct 26, 2016

I guess the point of all these watches is you probably won't know how you feel until you try one on.

NT931 · Oct 26, 2016

Jacquot
As others have pointed out, some watches wear larger than others. My Longines All Guard does, for instance. If I were you I would watch the Sales Forum here as many of the suggested watches, and other options, have appeared for sale over the last 6 months or so. Much better place to shop, always.

welcome @dave steele ! Hunting for a 38mm vintage Omega will take a bit of time but with patience you'll get one.

1. The forum here is an excellent suggestion. I have two 38mm Omegas I bought from fellow members.

2. This other thread from 'the other forum' has some nice examples from Hoi, and some reference numbers to hunt for

3. Have you tried Geo-ship? You can set up a search across multiple countries' ebay sites using keyword '38mm Omega'. You'd have to weed out bad redials, obvious frankens, but if your search throws up a potential, run it by the forum.

4. Besides Omega, have you considered other brands? I think the Zenith Sporto is ~37mm (someone correct me if I'm wrong). And there are other obscure/defunct brands with 38mm case sizes - simpler 3-handers, or dressier chronos - that come in <$500 if you don't mind the obscure brands.

Hope this helps!

ps. @dialstatic thanks for your analysis too!

Longbow · Oct 26, 2016

Maybe this one:-
https://omegaforums.net/threads/fs-...m-gold-plated-w-original-box-6218-8971.47438/

oddboy · Oct 26, 2016

I bought the one on the left for $250... CAD.

38.5mm, AS 19 (I think) movement

This one I missed...

2505-15, 39mm

Here's the one I got...

2181-2, 37.5mm

dave steele · Oct 27, 2016

OK, was in Philly for business today and spent late afternoon browsing Jeweler's Row. Tried a bunch of stuff on for size... All vintage stuff... Hamiltons, sparkly Seamasters (could only find 34mm), Rolex, Breitling, Eternamatic, Glycine, JLC, etc. I've pretty much decided that 36mm is OK, but 38 is ideal.

I actually found a watch that I love, but it isn't anything like what I was looking for and now I'm in a quandary. A 38mm Chronograph Suisse in 18k Rose gold. Not a dress watch, darker face, etc.

Does anyone know anything about this? I'm guessing it's from the 50's, but that's just a WAG on my part. Attached is a poor photo, but yes the dial is a rose gold color that matches the case...

dave steele · Oct 27, 2016

@NT931... Thanks for the thread... I will peruse tomorrow. And I'm not committed to omega... It's just the brand that I see the most and one of the few that I've found I 38.

dave steele · Oct 27, 2016

Longbow
Maybe this one:-
https://omegaforums.net/threads/fs-...m-gold-plated-w-original-box-6218-8971.47438/

I like it, but I really don't want another seiko. And I'll be honest, it's doesn't look all that different from the current seikos

dave steele · Oct 27, 2016

dave steele
.... A 38mm Chronograph Suisse in 18k Rose gold... Does anyone know anything about this? I'm guessing it's from the 50's, but that's just a WAG on my part. Attached is a poor photo, but yes the dial is a rose gold color that matches the case...

Nvm... have read some about this watch ( especially this thread) and I'm no longer interested, especially at the seller's price.

Man, only been here for about a week and finding the depth and breadth of info amazing. thank you omega forums!

Edward53 · Oct 27, 2016

Chronographs are a massive subject. If you wanted one it's probably best to go for either all stainless steel or one with a heavy gold case, not always easy to spot. Not every Chronograph Suisse is low-quality but most were pretty cheap in their day and the better ones are few and far between. "Fond acier" means the same as "stainless steel back", ie the back is steel and the body is chromed or gp base metal, whatever that might be. I'm not going to comment much on the movements, mainly because I know so little about them and the subject is full of pitfalls. For instance, some of the early Landerons are highly-regarded "column wheel" movements whereas later ones, eg the 248 commonly found in Chronograph Suisses, are not bad exactly but were designed for faster, cheaper production. And spotting redials can be extremely difficult. Buying a chrono requires quite a lot of research.

Here's my only chrono. It's a Louis Leuba (not the same maker as the famous Favre Leuba) with a decent Venus 188 movement. Despite what I've said about SS and thick gold, mine's only gold plated but I like it, though it will probably cost me more to service than I paid for it. There is some slight plate loss (not noticeable when worn) but the all-important dial is perfect and the seller's photo showed the movement to be nice and clean. I paid the equivalent of about $215 - beginner's luck, as I later realised. A good basic chrono like this one with the same movement would normally start about $350.

MikeMan2727 · Oct 27, 2016

dave steele
... The Omega_addict condition that no other watchmaker can open the case or his warranty is void seems a little extreme to me...

I don't think that this is unreasonable. He probably doesn't want to be responsible for an issue caused by a different watchmaker. This is similar to warranties on store bought electronics and other goods. I think that watch looks good, except for the crown as already mentioned.

Trying to "buy the seller" for 38mm vintage Omega - opinions

Longbow

kingsrider

dave steele

cicindela

Longbow

cicindela

ulackfocus

Jacquot

dave steele

Longbow

cicindela

NT931

Longbow

oddboy

dave steele

dave steele

dave steele

dave steele

Edward53

MikeMan2727

Similar threads

Vintage omega to buy or not to buy?

Help with buying gold 70s watch (UK) - Newbie to vintage/Omega

Trying to buy my first vintage Omega

First time Poster: Trying to buy first Omega: Questions

38mm vintage find - can’t find any info

Opinions before buying a vintage Omega Chrono