Vintage Seamaster Cal.552 on E-Bay?

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Jusourig

·Feb 27, 2021

Hi guys,

I am looking for your advise: I found this vintage Seamaster on e-bay for 800$, from Japan.
Do you think about the condition?
From my newbie's eyes, it looks genuine, but the lungs look strange though.

Price-wise, after checking all the sells in the forum, I kinda feel like it's alright.
But I'm looking for experts opinion to dissuade me ;-).

 

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Rudi99

·Feb 27, 2021

Hi @Jusourig and welcome to OF. 😀

This is a tough one for me. The case condition is in my opinion great, apart from the scratches on the back, but looking at the watch in the front, it looks nice and sharp!

That crown would be wrong, but I don't think the correct one would be difficult to source, if you choose to do so.

The hands are also ok, but then... I am really not sure about the dial.

The Seamaster font still looks ok, but the Omega Automatic looks for me a tad off... I would expect something like this:

Maybe I am wrong and seeing things, but wanted to put this out there and wait for the true experts to come along and say what they think!

Best wishes,

Rudi

 

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apsm100

·Feb 27, 2021·Noob taxpayer

I agree with @Rudi99. Dial looks refinished. The OMEGA text is off to the left and the a in Seamaster just looks completely wrong (script all around not correct). Case has seen a polish or two as well. Pass.

Cool jumbo reference though!

 

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Jusourig

·Feb 27, 2021

Oh, now that you pointed out...
Putting it side by side, I cannot see the difference you spotted, @Rudi00 and @apsm100.

But there is definitely something off with the "E" and the "G" of OmEGa

 

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Jusourig

·Feb 27, 2021

And the combinations "st" and "er" in Seama-ST-ER".

But my feeling is (and correct me if I'm wrong) that you will always be able to spot tiny differences on the dial, even between 2 genuine same models, just because they would have aged differently.
So where is the limit to differentiate a normal 60yo watch and a redial?

(and I am not sure if Christie's was the right place to look for a "typical" model that I can use as baseline of comparison...)

Or is it because the logo/font has evolved with time?
I noticed that sometime the "S" in Seamaster is more angular for models from 50s-60s for example.

 

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hoipolloi

·Feb 27, 2021

Redialed!

 

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Spruce

·Feb 27, 2021·Sunburst dial fan

Well, there's a number of considerations.
The case, caseback, hands and movement are all okay in my view.
The price is in an acceptable range and your only or main anxiety seems to be the dial.
The serial number indicates 1964 and given that it’s 57 years old I think it looks pretty good.
The chances are that it may well be a redial but the jury will probably remain out on that.
It’s a nice watch, it’s a vintage Omega with an ultra reliable but easily serviceable and repairable movement, it’s about the right price and I suspect that were I to buy it, I’d enjoy wearing it although you have to factor in that I’m not a diehard when it comes to restoring, cleaning or repairing dials.

 

M

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mountainunder

·Feb 27, 2021

I looked at ebay for the OP's watch.
The ebay item description for the dial is 'Little damage(dust) The dial has been reprinted.'

 

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Pvt-Public

·Feb 27, 2021

So it’s advertised as being reprinted and now we are questioning if it has or hasn’t. 🤦
Looks like the seller answered the question before it was even asked.

 

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hoipolloi

·Feb 27, 2021

If you cannot tell it is reprinted or not, you'd better go back to school and stop giving advice.

 

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Spruce

·Feb 27, 2021·Sunburst dial fan

hoipolloi

If you cannot tell it is reprinted or not, you'd better go back to school and stop giving advice.

Sorry, but who’s this to?

 

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Maskelyne

·Feb 27, 2021

Definitely a redial. One obvious tell is the OMEGA fonts, misaligned and poorly executed.

 

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Jusourig

·Feb 27, 2021

M mountainunder

I looked at ebay for the OP's watch.
The ebay item description for the dial is 'Little damage(dust) The dial has been reprinted.'

My bad, I shouldn't have missed this part

 

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Jusourig

·Feb 27, 2021

OK, next chance: found this other one still on e-bay, a 166.003 cal. 565, sold at 850$.
Seems better than the previous one.

I search on internet, looks like the case match the movement (even though I found a site stating a cal. 562).

Thank for your help and patience.

 

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JwRosenthal

·Feb 27, 2021

Welcome to the forum @Jusourig

There is lots to learn when shopping vintage Omega, you may be served by reading this thread

https://omegaforums.net/threads/learn-how-to-fish.52603/

 

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Jusourig

·Feb 27, 2021

Hi @JwRosenthal, thanks for the welcome.
Going through the 3 pinned threads was of course the 1st thing I did, it was a good start. + checking the previous sales in the forum helped me to evaluate the normal price range.

 

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JwRosenthal

·Feb 27, 2021

Jusourig

Hi @JwRosenthal, thanks for the welcome.
Going through the 3 pinned threads was of course the 1st thing I did, it was a good start. + checking the previous sales in the forum helped me to evaluate the normal price range.

Sounds like you are off to a good start. After you do this for a while, you’ll begin to trust your instincts. If it feels off, it probably is. Yes, there were dial variants, different sub-contractors, changes from one period to the next- but 95% of the time, Omega was incredibly consistent.

 

M

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mountainunder

·Feb 27, 2021

Jusourig

OK, next chance: found this other one still on e-bay, a 166.003 cal. 565, sold at 850$.
Seems better than the previous one.

I search on internet, looks like the case match the movement (even though I found a site stating a cal. 562).

Thank for your help and patience.

I looked at eBay again.
This watch is in auction format, not Buy It Now.
The price can be higher than the current price.
Please be careful.

 

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Jusourig

·Feb 27, 2021

JwRosenthal

Sounds like you are off to a good start. After you do this for a while, you’ll begin to trust your instincts. If it feels off, it probably is. Yes, there were dial variants, different sub-contractors, changes from one period to the next- but 95% of the time, Omega was incredibly consistent.

Thanks for the encouragement. I also started to watch Omega Enthusiast's YouTube channel, and in particular its "Watch Wrong" series, which I found useful to learn how to examine a watch.

M mountainunder

I looked at eBay again.
This watch is in auction format, not Buy It Now.
The price can be higher than the current price.
Please be careful.

Thanks for the head's up. Yes, I noticed it's an auction, I assume the price will rise at the last moment.
But if it does not (much), I would like to place a bet IF you guys think this particular piece worth to collect (it will be my 1st watch, and my 1st e-bay purchase).

I have the feeling it's a good one - but again, I can be totally wrong. Just learning from my mistakes and from you !

 

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Dan S

·Feb 27, 2021

Jusourig

I have the feeling it's a good one - but again, I can be totally wrong. Just learning from my mistakes and from you !

I thought it was already clearly determined that it is a re-dial. Why are we still discussing this watch? Once you determine there is something wrong, just move on.