Vintage Watch for my Dad

MilesSmiles · Nov 22, 2020

Dear All

I am a newbie in the watch universe and have no experience whatsoever. In my family, for whatever reason, watches are not worn a lot.
My father is about to 70 and as a special gift we tough about gifting him a Omega Speedmaster from the 50ties since this was the watch that his father used to wear, but unfortunately got lost over the course of time.

While I was searching for watches I grew fond of the CAL 266 models but am completely unaware, what to take care of.
- Should I really persist on original documents and box (very hard to find at this age)?
- Should rather buy a cheap one and have it serviced by Omega?
- Is there a certain model that you would recommend or discourage me to buy for my father due to its fetches?

What are your thoughts about those Watches that I found in town and online?
Gold Jumbo Cal 266 1956 9K Solid Gold "cleaned and lubricated by the watchmaker" with certification and box -> 1700 Euro
Silver Jumbo Cal 266 1951 Stainles Steel great condition from the store in town 4000 Euro
Silver Seamaster 285 1960ies Stainles Steel great condition from the store in town 4000 Euro

I tried to watch out for the forum rules and hope that I did not break any, If so please let me know and point me to the right direction.

Your help in this jungle is greatly appreciated

Sincerely Your

Miles

NickC · Nov 22, 2020

There are others far more knowledgeable than me on here, so I won't chime in on the examples you've posted, but a few things I may offer as advice :

- let us know your budget. The ones you have shown range from €1700-€4000. A 1950s Speedmaster will be easily in excess of €150,000.

- Don't send anything vintage to Omega for servicing

- would he wear a dress watch or is he better off with a chronometer?

- does he have chunky wrists? Some vintage pieces come up very small.

- what does he wear at the moment? Does he have a style he likes?

- if his dad wore a Speedmaster, why not get a new one? Let him create his own history with it and your own family heirloom.

Just my few pennies worth.

STANDY · Nov 22, 2020

What’s your budget.

Buy him this.
https://omegaforums.net/threads/red...ge-tonneau-case-exceptional-condition.121945/

A watch made in the 60s almost, if not perfect.

Rudi99 · Nov 22, 2020

MilesSmiles
Your help in this jungle is greatly appreciated

Sincerely Your

Miles

Hi Miles and welcome to the forum.

Nice that you will give your dad a watch as a gift. He is a lucky man.

Of the watches you posted, I find only the first one to be a reasonable offer. 1700€ for a jumbo 9k gold that has been serviced is not far off in my opinion and the watch looks indeed very nice. Make sure the seller provides proof that the watch has been serviced if they claim it to be. Should they fail to provide this proof, count in another couple hundred Euros (maybe less because these series of handwinding movements are fairly easy to service) or more if new parts are required.

The other two offers you got are extremely overpriced. So much so that I would be careful to deal with this local store. The third watch is clearly a redial, which means it might even look nice (in my opinion this one does not) but as a collectible it has no value. Should you or your father decide to resell it, you will not be seeing not even a fraction of these absurd 4000€.

The second one, even if the dial is original and the watch is impecable, it would not be worth 4000€ either. I am not sure, but it kinda looks like a redial to me as well.

This local shop is clearly trying to rip people off.

General tips regarding vintage watches were already given by some gents here.

Best wishes,

Rudi

Rudi99 · Nov 22, 2020

Also, box and papers are a plus, and indeed add value to the watch. However, if your father is not a collector, and will just wear it and enjoy it as a normal person would do, I personally don't think you should pay a premium for it.

If you want to make it special, you can also find single boxes from Omega all the time on Ebay.

If you stick around long enough, you might find great deals on the sales section of this forum. Standy has already made a point of showing you one nice Gruen on sale. There is always plenty of Omegas too though. 😉

Zapatta · Nov 22, 2020

IMO all three are overpriced.

For 1700€ you can have much better solid gold Omega then 9k Dennison case. This one sold for 500£, also Dennison.

TimeODanaos · Nov 22, 2020

MilesSmiles
While I was searching for watches I grew fond of the CAL 266 models

Welcome. I wonder whether that might be an issue. (Btw, only pay 4000 Euro if they're made from platinum and fairy wings). I can understand the attraction of that vintage style to someone your (presumed) age. But are you really shopping for you or your dad? A gentleman his age will recall some fun times in the 1960s and 70s, and he may respond better to the later aesthetic, and even more if he's a Speedmaster kind of guy like your grandad. If you really have 4000 to spend, you'll get good advice here if you do go in that direction.👍

Shabbaz · Nov 22, 2020

Zapatta
IMO all three are overpriced.

+1

janice&fred · Nov 22, 2020

I would simply do your watch shopping on the sales section of this forum. Much safer than with strangers as none of those deals you posted look reasonable. As a matter of fact two of them are a complete ripoff at the posted prices.

Shabbaz · Nov 22, 2020

janice&fred
I would simply do your watch shopping on the sales section of this forum. Much safer than with strangers as none of those deals you posted look reasonable. As a matter of fact two of them are a complete ripoff at the posted prices.

Totally agree. I saw a nice black dial connie from a very reputable seller somewhere in the sales section...😁

MilesSmiles · Nov 22, 2020

Tanks to all of you. What a great community!!! I am overwhelmed by the great Feedback not only regarding the watches but also regarding the idea of the gift itself.

NickC
There are others far more knowledgeable than me on here, so I won't chime in on the examples you've posted, but a few things I may offer as advice.....
Just my few pennies worth.

My Budget it somewhere between 1k - 2k
Why would I not send anything vintage to omega for service?
I would be looking for a dress watch.
Normal Wrists but it should be above 36 Diameter
Does not wear watches at all, but rather likes a simplistic, classy style
I like the Idea of building a "own history" and maybe getting a new one instead

Rudi99
Hi Miles and welcome to the forum.
Nice that you will give your dad a watch as a gift. He is a lucky man...
Rudi

The seller does not have proof of service, claims the watch has been serviced though and has excellent reviews on Ebay.

The only thing is that the Number engraved on the watch in the picture does not appear on the papers anywhere, making me think whether this mit be a rip off as well or if I just have to look/ ask for another picture because the there is another number on the parts inside the watch?

The local shop makes a excellent impression, is in one of the best areas in town, but that seems to have this high price, I will not buy there.

TimeODanaos
...I can understand the attraction of that vintage style to someone your (presumed) age. But are you really shopping for you or your dad? A gentleman his age will recall some fun times in the 1960s and 70s, and he may respond better to the later aesthetic, and even more if he's a Speedmaster kind of guy like your grandad. If you really have 4000 to spend, you'll get good advice here if you do go in that direction.👍

I am 34 years old 😀 and you have a fair point! I like your whise feedback thank you!!!

janice&fred
I would simply do your watch shopping on the sales section of this forum. Much safer than with strangers as none of those deals you posted look reasonable. As a matter of fact two of them are a complete ripoff at the posted prices.

NickC · Nov 22, 2020

@MilesSmiles There are numerous threads on here about not sending vintage to Omega for service. Their job is to make 'as new'. You don't want that, you want to preserve as is and make sure it works. Plus, 9.5 times out of 10, a good independent watch maker will be cheaper and more accommodating than Omega.
I second the comment about looking in the sales section here. There are some fabulous watches for sale from trusted members.

Peemacgee · Nov 23, 2020

MilesSmiles
My Budget it somewhere between 1k - 2k
Why would I not send anything vintage to omega for service?
I would be looking for a dress watch.
Normal Wrists but it should be above 36 Diameter
Does not wear watches at all, but rather likes a simplistic, classy style

Shabbaz
Totally agree. I saw a nice black dial connie from a very reputable seller somewhere in the sales section...😁

Hi @MilesSmiles, very nice gesture of buying your father a watch for his 70th

The prices of the watches you have been looking at to date are quite outrageous and evidently aimed at folks with more money than they know what to do with, you would do better to look elsewhere.
Whilst we shouldn't really encourage unashamed self-promotion :whipped:

😀) @Shabbaz is a fine upstanding member and he has a very nice watch for sale.
The Constellation was Omega's 'best of the best' that they produced, the 'creme de la creme'.

This one has the very desirable black dial (some would say even more desirable due to the Meister branding) and a nice sharp case (which is important for these references.)
The dome dial gives the simple elegance that you are after in a dress watch
Whilst only around 35mm diameter, these particular watches wear bigger on the wrist due to the dial/bezel ratio.

(you might be able to tell that I am personally fond of this reference of Constellation myself)

The watch has also been serviced fairly recently, so it should be good for another few years yet. (which, as a bonus saves you 2-300 euros)

best of luck with your search.

Vintage Watch for my Dad

MilesSmiles

NickC

STANDY

Rudi99

Rudi99

Zapatta

TimeODanaos

Shabbaz

janice&fred

Shabbaz

MilesSmiles

NickC

Peemacgee

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