Vintage omega

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Surely this is an original dial now that I have seen a few?
 
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Looks correct to me, but I’ll wait for the more experienced OF members to weigh in. Beads of rice bracelet. Not sure that the crown is correct (should be 10 sided?). Crystal and case both show some wear
 
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Looks like a 167.005, probably caliber 551. 1964 or so would be my best guess. Do you have a movement photo, first couple digits of the serial number?
 
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The crown is replaceable, but I wouldn’t consider buying the watch without seeing the condition of the movement. Really need some better photos too, including the sides of the case, the lugs and the case back. Difficult to assess the condition without better photos. How much is the seller asking?
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570 usd
$570 is a very good price with the BOR bracelet even factoring in a replacement crown, BUT you need to determine the condition of the movement and how much it will cost to service it. All in I wouldn’t go more than 1k, but that’s me. Others may differ.
 
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And whatever you do, DON’T send it to Omega for service. They’ll ruin it.
 
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Hmm its actually a seiko bracelet I'm told and the guy haven't tested it to see if it works. Hmm
Well, that might change the equation. A genuine used Omega BOR in good condition would sell for $200-$250. As I mentioned previously, the fact that you haven’t seen the movement and have no info on its condition would be a red flag for me. Add to that the need for a replacement crown and that the bracelet isn’t an Omega are additional factors to consider. But $570 is still a very good price.
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For comparison purposes, here are photos of my 1964 167.005 with its Omega BOR bracelet. I paid $1,245 total and that included a full movement service.
 
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Based on the visual condition I would expect the movement will be nice.

I'd buy it at that price even if it isn't running.
 
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Based on the visual condition I would expect the movement will be nice.

I'd buy it at that price even if it isn't running.
This, the price is really good for this type of Reference. Go for it.👍
 
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Based on the visual condition I would expect the movement will be nice.

I'd buy it at that price even if it isn't running.

Exactly.
 
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And whatever you do, DON’T send it to Omega for service. They’ll ruin it.
Comon, thats not necesserily the truth!
I've had good experience with servising at Omega. This one has no lume and no dial damage, the same with hands, so ibdont think they would mess with those if they dont have to. They surely do a proper movement service!
Before i send it to some noname watchmaker ibwould rather send it to Omega.
 
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^I’d be fine sending a modern watch to Omega for servicing (although I think that they tend to be expensive), but I would not send them a vintage watch. Omega will, to the extent possible, try to restore a watch entrusted to them to factory specs and in as nearly new condition as possible. They will not necessarily follow the owner’s instructions (e.g., no polishing) and they have ruined the vintage value of many a Speedmaster by replacing tritium dials and hands with superluminova updates. I’m not saying that they’re incompetent. I’m saying that they’re expensive and have little regard for preserving a vintage timepiece. There are plenty of Omega qualified independent watchmakers who will properly service a vintage watch while preserving its character and will charge less than Omega for doing so.
 
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^I’d be fine sending a modern watch to Omega for servicing (although I think that they tend to be expensive), but I would not send them a vintage watch. Omega will, to the extent possible, try to restore a watch entrusted to them to factory specs and in as nearly new condition as possible. They will not necessarily follow the owner’s instructions (e.g., no polishing) and they have ruined the vintage value of many a Speedmaster by replacing tritium dials and hands with superluminova updates. I’m not saying that they’re incompetent. I’m saying that they’re expensive and have little regard for preserving a vintage timepiece. There are plenty of Omega qualified independent watchmakers who will properly service a vintage watch while preserving its character and will charge less than Omega for doing so.
I would say that it allways depends on a watch, and on a watchmaker who services the watch.

I would not send them a watch with Tritium lume, if i was concerned about preserving Tritium dial. But the watch of the OP neither has Tritium Markers on the dial, nor the hands. Therefore i dont think they would mess with those.
Case polishing, yes, they will probably refinish it, so if this is a consern then yes, dont send it to them. But in some cases they also dont refinish, when asked, so its not allways the case.
I only had experience with Service Center in Bienne, and they did a perfect job on my vintage Seamaster Cosmic.
They were also very generous on movement parts.

Your statement was pretty bold "They’ll ruin it.", i say that i dont agree with you and that it very much depends on a watch.
 
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I would say that it allways depends on a watch, and on a watchmaker who services the watch.

I would not send them a watch with Tritium lume, if i was concerned about preserving Tritium dial. But the watch of the OP neither has Tritium Markers on the dial, nor the hands. Therefore i dont think they would mess with those.
Case polishing, yes, they will probably refinish it, so if this is a consern then yes, dont send it to them. But in some cases they also dont refinish, when asked, so its not allways the case.
I only had experience with Service Center in Bienne, and they did a perfect job on my vintage Seamaster Cosmic.
They were also very generous on movement parts.

Your statement was pretty bold "They’ll ruin it.", i say that i dont agree with you and that it very much depends on a watch.
Fair enough.
 
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https://omegaforums.net/threads/omega-constellation-167-005-cal-551.14034/

61265-686c6c6dfebafb8d80ea067dd756786e.jpg
 
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Comon, thats not necesserily the truth!
I've had good experience with servising at Omega. This one has no lume and no dial damage, the same with hands, so ibdont think they would mess with those if they dont have to. They surely do a proper movement service!
Before i send it to some noname watchmaker ibwould rather send it to Omega.

If you want to send a watch like this to Omega, that's your choice, however just because there is no tritium lume doesn't mean they won't replace things that people may not want replaced.

Hands are typically replaced regardless, so I would say there's a very good chance they would be replaced. There is a 100% chance that the crown will be replaced. Although the dial doesn't have any lume, Omega will take a piece of peg wood (small wooden stick) and dig at the edge of the dial, and if the finish on the dial lifts at all, dial replacement or refinishing is mandatory.

Omega is not unique in being able to properly service a movement. For anyone who wants to be sure that the work will be limited to the scope that they want, and not what Omega wants, Omega is not a good choice.

Cheers, Al