Vintage Omega Seamaster Inquiry

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StudentAcadia

·Feb 16, 2021

Hello everybody,

I recently purchased what I believed to be a vintage Seamaster, however I am unsure as to whether it is genuine. It was bought on a whim for $100 from a neighbor who received it from his father-in-law. He didn't have any further information, and I decided it was worth the gamble.

I've attached a few photos. It still keeps time, but looks like (if genuine), the crown has been replaced at some point.

Any information would be much appreciated.

Many thanks in advance,
Jacob

 

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sleepyastronaut

·Feb 16, 2021

Hello, and welcome to the forum! If you plan on sticking around, please set an avatar.

 

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Spruce

·Feb 16, 2021·Sunburst dial fan

Nice watch and probably worth quite a bit more than you paid for it.
The crown is wrong but you can get it replaced when you get it serviced.
Might be sensible to lose the expansion bracelet, which can damage the lugs.

 

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JwRosenthal

·Feb 16, 2021

Welcome! Yours looks to be the gold capped/plated version of mine.

C.1952-ish (reference #inside the back can give a better idea of year). Yours looks to be in nice shape, although the case has been polished a little hard (the crisp edges are softened and I think I see plate wear-through), but the dial is excellent. For $100 you did just fine. Get a strap tool and remove that flexi-bracelet and throw it on a nice leather strap.
Let us know where you are in the world and we can reccomend a watchmaker to give it a service. It’s probably long overdue.

 

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StudentAcadia

·Feb 16, 2021

Thanks for the input and advice. I just took it in to a local watchmaker (Thompson's Jewelers in Ottawa, Canada) and had the back removed so I could have a look at the reference number. Appears to be dated 1950 from what I could find online.

Also heeded the advice and put a leather strap on it, and will soon be having it serviced.

Not quite sure of the value, but looks like I will be holding into it.

Thanks again!
-Jacob

 

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amcclell

·Feb 16, 2021

That is quite a score - congratulations! Definitely have it serviced before you use it.

 

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DON

·Feb 16, 2021

Well worth the price you paid. Case has the wear you would see on a well worn watch, but the movement is very clean and that alone is worth more than what you paid.

DON

 

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JwRosenthal

·Feb 16, 2021

StudentAcadia

Thanks for the input and advice. I just took it in to a local watchmaker (Thompson's Jewelers in Ottawa, Canada) and had the back removed so I could have a look at the reference number. Appears to be dated 1950 from what I could find online.

Also heeded the advice and put a leather strap on it, and will soon be having it serviced.

Not quite sure of the value, but looks like I will be holding into it.

Thanks again!
-Jacob

Well done! If you can find a local watchmaker, then that would be better than getting it serviced through a jeweler. Unless they have a watchmaker on-site, they will send it out and the mark-up is usually very high. Plus you have no direct contact with the watchmaker which doesn’t allow for a clear path of communication.

And now we need to see a wrist pic of it on the strap.

 

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StudentAcadia

·Feb 16, 2021

JwRosenthal

Well done! If you can find a local watchmaker, then that would be better than getting it serviced through a jeweler. Unless they have a watchmaker on-site, they will send it out and the mark-up is usually very high. Plus you have no direct contact with the watchmaker which doesn’t allow for a clear path of communication.

And now we need to see a wrist pic of it on the strap.

Thanks! They do have a watchmaker on site, and he walked me through everything. When I have the service done he'll be installing an original crown, crystal, and strap hardware.

Leather strap is a big improvement!

 

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BlackTalon

·Feb 16, 2021·This Space for Rent

Great score. You won the Internet today 😎

 

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nicks

·Feb 16, 2021

Congratulations, nice find. Thompson’s in Ottawa is local to me and you are in good hands. They do a lot of work on vintage watches for collectors here, and know their Omegas.