Vintage Seamaster Help

jb181 · Mar 28, 2023

Hi There,

I had a few too many beers and started sending offers on Ebay, I know idiot !! I have won this what appears to be a Seamaster for £200, however once really looking at the Dial I noticed the S appears to be odd looking as well as the OMEGA font. No pictures of the mechanism and no relief on the Case Back. May be in for a loss here. Does anyone recon this is a full on fake or a redial. Can update the thread with a conclusion when it arrives. 1st post after months of reading. Many thanks !

Best Wishes,

Jack.

jb181 · Mar 28, 2023

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/374584595748

The link to listing 😀

jb181 · Mar 28, 2023

Spruce · Mar 28, 2023

Hi Jack,

That really is an awful redial and, although it’s after the event, it would have been sensible to post here for opinions before, rather than after, you bought it.

That said, your best course, given that the seller states 'no returns' is to complain to eBay on the basis that the seller deliberately posted poor quality pictures and made no mention of the fact that the dial had been refurbished or refinished, implying that it was in an original condition.

Others on OF may chip in with more advice

jb181 · Mar 28, 2023

Spruce
Hi Jack,

That really is an awful redial and, although it’s after the event, it would have been sensible to post here for opinions before, rather than after, you bought it.

That said, your best course, given that the seller states 'no returns' is to complain to eBay on the basis that the seller deliberately posted poor quality pictures and made no mention of the fact that the dial had been refurbished or refinished, implying that it was in an original condition.

Others on OF may chip in with more advice

Hi there,
Thank you so much for the reply, ah is what is is my own fault at the end of the day. If it arrives and the mechanism is original Omega I may clean it and tart it up. If it is proper bad in physical form I will contact Ebay.

Cheers.

Spruce · Mar 28, 2023

J jb181
Hi there,
Thank you so much for the reply, ah is what is is my own fault at the end of the day. If it arrives and the mechanism is original Omega I may clean it and tart it up. If it is proper bad in physical form I will contact Ebay.

Cheers.

It’s entirely up to you but it’s really not worth repairing and will just waste more money and will never be worth what you spend on it.

Sorry

jb181 · Mar 28, 2023

Spruce
It’s entirely up to you but it’s really not worth repairing and will just waste more money and will never be worth what you spend on it.

Sorry

I agree, just no point becoming attached when there is a lot nicer and genuine examples available. Will see what arrives and just get on to Ebay. I appreciate your comments.

Dan S · Mar 28, 2023

The listing doesn't claim that the watch is all original and the photos are good enough to see the issues, IMO. In addition to the repainted dial, the lugs are brassed and the crown/stem has problems. On the positive side, the case-back has a nice protective sticker. 😁

jb181 · Mar 28, 2023

Dan S
The listing doesn't claim that the watch is all original and the photos are good enough to see the issues, IMO. In addition to the repainted dial, the lugs are brassed and the crown/stem has problems. On the positive side, the case-back has a nice protective sticker. 😁

Yeah, only just now clocked the lugs when you pointed it out. Was naive, I knew about the stem / crown I presumed a replacement stem would sort it for £10 or £15 but no point now with the condition it is in. Will just have to accept the loss and move on. Not sure what I was thinking as my own preference is stainless with a bracelet, so I bough a gold plated leather one ? haha dafty !

Thanks again !

jb181 · Mar 28, 2023

Just to finally add I don't want to keep wasting your guys time.
Even though this is a horrific redial it's worse the more you look, would you class this as an unauthentic Omega ? Say for instance I quite like the crown and colour and I fit the stem and it runs, and hoping the movement is original could you still look at this and call it an Omega Seamaster ?

Not my first one I had a quartz with the dreaded 1342 movement with a busted stepper motor which I sold as spares, very transparent Ad as well stating motor issue and missing crown. I didn't have the patience to wait for a motor to appear for sale. Again being fully transparent I made £25 with my honest ad which I found odd.

Just curious as the above mentioned 'automatic' seamaster is due to arrive tomorrow and I oddly like the crown.

TexOmega · Mar 28, 2023

Dan S · Mar 28, 2023

Most likely it is authentic, but we haven't seen photos of the inside.

X350 XJR · Mar 28, 2023

Like they say, you win some and you lose some, suck it up, you lost on this one.

Karma will get you if you try to blame this one on the seller.

jb181 · Mar 28, 2023

X350 XJR
Like they say, you win some and you lose some, suck it up, you lost on this one.

Karma will get you if you try to blame this one on the seller.

Hi There,

Never said the seller was at fault mate, specified I am going to put the stem in it and get it running. Obviously if it was a complete fake with a non Omega mechanism I would drop him a message making him aware but at the end of the day I was firing off offers on non runners / needs repairs after a few beers on Saturday. Like Dan had mentioned photos were not brilliant but seller never mentioned anything disconcerting it was an honest vague ad and I took the punt. Appreciate the reply though as I am wanting to get into watches more, and being quite young I don't have the money to splash on new ones. I learn more from you all with every thread.

Thanks again.

jb181 · Mar 29, 2023

Hi All,

Watch arrived ! I took the back off to get a look at the mechanism and see the reference number etc, It is 166.0209 which doesn't match up at all with the dial. I believe it may be a bits-er made up of different Omegas over the years but to it's defence its does work. What are your opinions as I truly am a novice and only got into it a month ago. I think it is authentic just not original, and also does anyone know what the small copper spacer / washer and screw could be ? This was inside the case, so small I am scared to touch them so stuck them in a Petri dish at work haha. Crown / Stem is completely snapped but gear assembly looks okay. I am pleasantly surprised but maybe going with my heart a bit. I really appreciate everyone sharing their comments and knowledge. Proper community you have here !

Thank you.

gatorcpa · Mar 29, 2023

Here is the listing on the watch case reference from Omega:

https://www.omegawatches.com/en-us/watch-omega-seamaster-omega-st-166-0209

The shape of your case looks correct. Your watch has only a date feature. So it probably has a cal 1010 or 1012 movement. It could be that there is a similar case reference where the only difference is day/date vs. date only. Times were so bad for Omega in the late 1970’s that they just used any parts that would fit together. So in other words, the case may be OK for this watch.

The dial was incorrectly redone. A very common occurance. Hopefully, you won’t need to double your investment to have a wearable watch. It will never be a collector’s item, but you didn’t pay collectors money for it either.

Good luck with the repair,
gatorcpa

Edit - I was able to track down the cal. 1010/1012 version of this watch:

https://www.omegawatches.com/en-us/watch-omega-seamaster-omega-md-166-0202

It is still possible that the casebacks for 166.0209 and 166.0202 were interchanged at the factory. We will never know for sure.

sheepdoll · Mar 29, 2023

Spruce
It’s entirely up to you but it’s really not worth repairing and will just waste more money and will never be worth what you spend on it.

Sorry

Would make for a good practice watch. It already seems to be a franken/fantasy. One could always part it piecemeal as the parts may be worth more than the whole.

The listed price does not seem to be too bad. But then I am attracted to basket cases. One can spend that much for a balance complete.

jb181 · Mar 29, 2023

That is brilliant information, thank you so much ! I love learning from you guys, will be sure to update you with progress. And new purchases.... I am down the rabbit hole.

Vintage Seamaster Help

jb181

jb181

jb181

Spruce

jb181

Spruce

jb181

Dan S

jb181

jb181

TexOmega

Dan S

X350 XJR

jb181

jb181

gatorcpa

sheepdoll

jb181

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