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Vintage Seamaster: Good Purchase?
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kyle L
··GrasshopperI would say it all depends on the price...as you know the dial has aging but the case also has some polishing issues/pitting issues around the threads.
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Nepomuceño
·For some the dial is patina, for others damage. I've noticed you've bought several different pieces in your previous threads that have all been slightly haphazard. Best advice is to take time and to research before making a purchase. What was the price?
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senatorbard
·Yea - you're absolutely right. I'm a little embarrassed to have succumbed to a bit of impulse buying I think. Fortunately, I've only purchased this and one other one (only $120). The first one I returned. And honestly, I think I'm done for quite a while. This vintage stuff is so much harder than modern watches. I paid $645 for this one.
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dmtowl
·I've bought excellent condition waffle dial bumper seamasters for $800 or so in the last year. For me the dial damage is far too much as well as the heavy case polishing.
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Dan S
·Personally I think you paid too much, but so what. You learn faster by buying. This way, you get to hold the watch in your hand and experience it. You will lose a little when you sell it someday, but sometimes it's better to jump in than to over-analyze.
Keep an eye on the listings in the OF sales forum, and see which watches sell quickly. Pay attention to condition and price. Over time, you will get a better sense of value.
Keep an eye on the listings in the OF sales forum, and see which watches sell quickly. Pay attention to condition and price. Over time, you will get a better sense of value.
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senatorbard
·I appreciate that Dan. Thanks for the opinion dmtowl also. That's a shame to lose money though. I appreciate the advice.
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Syzygy
·Personally I think you paid too much, but so what. You learn faster by buying. This way, you get to hold the watch in your hand and experience it. You will lose a little when you sell it someday, but sometimes it's better to jump in than to over-analyze.
Keep an eye on the listings in the OF sales forum, and see which watches sell quickly. Pay attention to condition and price. Over time, you will get a better sense of value.
Senator, had I had this advice when I first started perusing the auctions for vintage watches, I would have never looked at any other auction sites or sales boards. Truth be told, I had zero knowledge, so I also had zero business being on those sites...I've paid what we call the 'noob tax' on a few pieces, but I'll never sell them simply so I can pick them up and remind myself how valuable research and patience are when it comes to vintage hunting.
This site is by far the safest place for a new enthusiast to purchase, and what you will learn here by simply reading and interacting is absolutely astonishing. Given enough time, patience, and 'library work' here, those other sites become a little less risky because you will learn to recognize honest pieces worth hunting.
Welcome to the Rabbit Hole!
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Syzygy
·I appreciate that Dan. Thanks for the opinion dmtowl also. That's a shame to lose money though. I appreciate the advice.
Is it a piece a seasoned collector would pick up, no...but you're not a seasoned collector...yet. And I guarantee, every one of the seasoned collectors on this site have picked up a piece or two when they first started in this hobby that they would look back on and say, with the knowledge they have now, 'what was I thinking?'. But, that piece got them started to where they are now...that's what they were thinking, even though they didn't know it yet.
Keep it, wear it, enjoy the hell out of it.
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senatorbard
·Thanks very much Syzygy! I'll look forward to enjoying it. And I will start using this website in future. Many thanks!
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Danwales
·So you paid about £540 in pounds? I don't think that's too bad. You might make a small loss if you were to sell but not much. Omega parts for older watches seem to be getting harder to find on the second hand market and I can't see that changing anytime soon and an enthusiast might buy that for the parts alone.
Thanks very much Syzygy! I'll look forward to enjoying it. And I will start using this website in future. Many thanks!
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padders
··Oooo subtitles!Whether it was a fair price or not rather depends on its mechanical condition and service needs. I am afraid the movement photo doesn't suggest it has seen recent intervention on that score. £540 fully serviced and working well was a good deal, that price needing a service (and perhaps hard to get movement parts ) not so much since the service could run to £200+ ie a significant proportion of the value. This is why buying at the lower end of the value spectrum is tricky. A service on a 50s Speedy is an insignificant cost, on a 2577 it is massive wrt to the value and can be a dealbreaker.
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senatorbard
·Thank you Danwales. That is very reassuring. Thank you Padders. I guess not so reassuring - haha. I guess it is best to aim for higher priced watches?
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TexOmega
·Thank you Danwales. That is very reassuring. Thank you Padders. I guess not so reassuring - haha. I guess it is best to aim for higher priced watches?
No, aim for watches you like and will wear.
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Danwales
·Thank you Danwales. That is very reassuring. Thank you Padders. I guess not so reassuring - haha. I guess it is best to aim for higher priced watches?
If you like the watch get it serviced and wear it. I am a bit of a bottom feeder when it comes to Omega. I bought a Seamaster cheaply and found It was a redial but I still enjoy wearing it. At the end of the day it's still an Omega with all of the quality engineering inside and I think it looks nice.
