Vintage Omega watch help needed

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Hi everyone!

I have fallen in love with old Omega watches and have been scanning the Internet for some time now. I'd like to get an mechanical or automatic watch but I am unsure if my budget will get me there. I hope to spend less than 400 euro, do you have any recommendations as to where to looks for 'afforable' vintage watches? Can I get an Omega for that price?

Thanks in advance for your suggestions 😀
 
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You can get a nice vintage omega for that price, but it’s unlikely to be serviced and that’s going to be the issue.

Generally a vintage watch needs servicing every few years (between 3-10 depending who you ask).
A good service runs £200-700 depending on complications and parts required. The time required to service a £400 watch is generally the same as the time required to service a £20,000 watch so the servicing cost makes up a much greater proportion of the outlay on watches at the cheaper end of the spectrum.

If your budget is fixed at €400 I’d find the best Omega I could for that money, in running condition. Then save up for the next few months to get it serviced.
 
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Don't just try to find the cheapest watch, decide on the watch you want and then try to find one for a fair price. For example, I'd avoid watches in plated cases and watches with damaged dials. Those will be cheap, but as @Davidt mentioned, it's not worth paying to service them.
 
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Hello, the cost of service will depend a lot on where you are in the world. Some people in eastern europe, or cuba, possibly latin america or other places may obtain a decent service by a professional watchmaker for 10 times less than the cost in the US or Western Europe or Australia.
The cost of a decent Omega watch, however, may not have such variations because the internet and social networks have evened out market prices to a large extent in the past 10 years.
 
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Always look at the movements condition. Avoid movements that look poorly maintained, have rust etc. Maybe not be bight and shiny, but at least looks clean.