Community Stories

WatchCo vs. WatchCo-type ...........

Impgreene
Posts
96
Likes
63
I wondered if anyone had a view on the possible desirability, price differential and ease of resale of a WatchCo vs. a WatchCo-type build (the latter being one made along the lines of a WatchCo but by an independent watchmaker).

It seems to me that 'WatchCo' is actually now a mini-brand in itself, and has a 'following' due to it being well known / having a story behind it, hence I am just trying to gauge the value that the 'WatchCo' brand itself brings to a build.

Thanks for your help.
 
JimInOz
Posts
17,612
Likes
36,834
"Watchco" was the business name used by Fresco Australia Pty Ltd (Fresco Numismatic and Currency Dealers) for their watch related activities. They were a company based in Melbourne Australia for a number of years and now defunct but the owner has relocated and has a business in New Zealand.

The Director of Fresco had numerous contacts in the Swiss watchmaking/supplier industry and was able to source many service parts, NOS parts, and surplus parts.

Many of these were used to produce "Watchco" editions by using these items, mostly with donor movements, but occasionally with service (or "NOS") movements.

There is no difference between a "Watchco" and a "Watchco Style" item if all parts are original Omega, correct for the reference, and the item has been assembled correctly.
 
vitriol
Posts
986
Likes
3,009
Agree, there should not be any technical difference between "Watchco" and a "Watchco Style" watches.

Wasn't "Watchco" issuing any paperworks for their builds?
 
Edward53
Posts
3,133
Likes
5,561
My Seamaster 300 was built by an independent watchmaker. I refer to it as a Watchco as the term has effectively become generic for all SM 300 new builds regardless. I've had mine for about four years now and it has more than proved its worth.
 
Impgreene
Posts
96
Likes
63
Thanks to everyone.

The thing I noticed was that people were advertising "WatchCo" and others "WatchoCo type" or "WatchCo style", which sort of suggested to me that there was a differentiation in people's minds between a "WatchCo WatchCo" and a "non-WatchCo WatchCo" if people were being that specific.

There also seemed to be a price difference, but I couldn't tell if that was just me not appreciating the true differences in the relative condition of the items on sale.
 
Impgreene
Posts
96
Likes
63
JimInOz JimInOz
"Watchco" was the business name used by Fresco Australia Pty Ltd (Fresco Numismatic and Currency Dealers) for their watch related activities. They were a company based in Melbourne Australia for a number of years and now defunct but the owner has relocated and has a business in New Zealand.

The Director of Fresco had numerous contacts in the Swiss watchmaking/supplier industry and was able to source many service parts, NOS parts, and surplus parts.

Many of these were used to produce "Watchco" editions by using these items, mostly with donor movements, but occasionally with service (or "NOS") movements.

There is no difference between a "Watchco" and a "Watchco Style" item if all parts are original Omega, correct for the reference, and the item has been assembled correctly.

I've actually been doing a lot of searching on the forums re: WatchCo and this is the only post I've seen that goes into the real name of the company etc.

Thanks for this.
 
Foo2rama
Posts
18,107
Likes
27,413
Impgreene Impgreene
Thanks to everyone.

The thing I noticed was that people were advertising "WatchCo" and others "WatchoCo type" or "WatchCo style", which sort of suggested to me that there was a differentiation in people's minds between a "WatchCo WatchCo" and a "non-WatchCo WatchCo" if people were being that specific.

There also seemed to be a price difference, but I couldn't tell if that was just me not appreciating the true differences in the relative condition of the items on sale.

there is anecdotal evidence that the ones made by watchco are not done particularly well.
There should be zero price difference.
 
Impgreene
Posts
96
Likes
63
Foo2rama Foo2rama
there is anecdotal evidence that the ones made by watchco are not done particularly well.
There should be zero price difference.

Thanks for this, will look a little harder at the relative conditions in future!
 
Foo2rama
Posts
18,107
Likes
27,413
Impgreene Impgreene
Thanks for this, will look a little harder at the relative conditions in future!
By not done particularly well, I mean the condition of the movement. IE how much wear had or had not been repaired, and service state of the watch. Which lets be honest is the only difference between anyone that made these.
 
Tonyash
Posts
292
Likes
986
Foo2rama Foo2rama
there is anecdotal evidence that the ones made by watchco are not done particularly well.
There should be zero price difference.
I owned a Watchco SM300 picked up direct from them here in Melbourne a few years ago. There was no paperwork supplied apart from a sales receipt, of the amount only cash till variety. That was it. Given this it would be hard to prove a non Omega assembled watch, using all Omega parts, was put together by Watchco or by another party.
I think Watchco has become the generic name for non Omega assembled and as long as the watch is properly put together can see no reason for price variation whoever assembled the watch.
On the "anecdotal evidence" of quality, I took my SM300 to my watchmaker to check before I sold and apparently it was well put together with a NOS movement. Watchco did have access to a watchmaker stock of NOS movements that eventually ran out according to him. Not to say this was true of all their SM300 but wish I had kept that watch
 
toddle321
Posts
835
Likes
2,991
I've had both watchco put together SM300s and also had a watchmaker build one up from service parts once. There is not a difference in my mind.

Watchco also sold "kits" on ebay for a while where they gave you everything you needed to have your own watchmaker put one together, except the movement. I guess those "kits" could also be called watchcos, even though the parts they mailed to you from Oz are no different than you could get from a watchmaker with a parts account.
 
Archer
Posts
29,234
Likes
75,566
Foo2rama Foo2rama
By not done particularly well, I mean the condition of the movement. IE how much wear had or had not been repaired, and service state of the watch. Which lets be honest is the only difference between anyone that made these.

Indeed - the one I bought from them, the movement clearly was used and hadn't been serviced in decades...
 
Impgreene
Posts
96
Likes
63
Thanks to everyone, seems like the summary is that a WatchCo is like a 'Hoover', i.e. its now become a generic name for non-Omega built Omega-parts SM300.

The main differences seem to be a) a NOS movement vs. vintage movement; b) serviced movement vs. not serviced; and c) well put together vs. not - but it actually being as likely for a WatchCo WatchCo as a non-WatchCo WatchCo to have been poorly put together etc.

The other conclusion seems to be that it's impossible to tell the difference so they should be priced the same.

Final conclusion (from my perspective) seems to be that early everyone that's had / or has one seems to have love / to love them …………..
 
Foo2rama
Posts
18,107
Likes
27,413
Impgreene Impgreene
Thanks to everyone, seems like the summary is that a WatchCo is like a 'Hoover', i.e. its now become a generic name for non-Omega built Omega-parts SM300.

The main differences seem to be a) a NOS movement vs. vintage movement; b) serviced movement vs. not serviced; and c) well put together vs. not - but it actually being as likely for a WatchCo WatchCo as a non-WatchCo WatchCo to have been poorly put together etc.

The other conclusion seems to be that it's impossible to tell the difference so they should be priced the same.

Final conclusion (from my perspective) seems to be that early everyone that's had / or has one seems to have love / to love them …………..

afaik none of them had NOS movements. The movements where always sources from older watches with the same or similar movement in a less valueable reference.
 
VetPsychWars
Posts
2,326
Likes
1,884
Foo2rama Foo2rama
there is anecdotal evidence that the ones made by watchco are not done particularly well.
There should be zero price difference.

Actually, I would like to semi-refute this.

When I got mine, I took it to my local watchmaker (Rolex-trained at a Rolex dealer) for regulation. He had some questions about the fit of the crown. We contacted WatchCo, he shared his concerns, and they sent him a few crowns so he could find one that fit how he wanted. There was no charge for the crowns nor the shipping.

So I suppose some made it out that could have been better, but I was taken care of very well by them.

That watch was since serviced by my same watchmaker and it's pretty darn accurate. No complaints at all.

Tom
 
VetPsychWars
Posts
2,326
Likes
1,884
Foo2rama Foo2rama
afaik none of them had NOS movements. The movements where always sources from older watches with the same or similar movement in a less valueable reference.

Mine was sold as NOS movement. When it was serviced, my watchmaker could not say with any certainty whether it was NOS.

Tom
 
Archer
Posts
29,234
Likes
75,566
VetPsychWars VetPsychWars
Actually, I would like to semi-refute this.

Mine was completely unserviced. Hadn't been touched - just a dial and hands slapped on, and put in the case.

Ran like crap when it arrived, and I had to service it and replace a bunch of worn parts.

VetPsychWars VetPsychWars
Mine was sold as NOS movement. When it was serviced, my watchmaker could not say with any certainty whether it was NOS.

Tom

The problem is, they said virtually everything they sold was "NOS" and most of it clearly was not. They were very liberal with the term, to the point of being completely untruthful...
 
Sign up or log in to reply...

Similar threads

bribot00

Omega Baby Ploprof OG vs WatchCo

bribot00 Vintage Omega Watches Help, Discussion and Advice
flqt-9000
flqt-9000
Posts
1
Views
1K
J

Do all Watchco SM300 use 166.0324 case?

JohnRuth Vintage Omega Watches Help, Discussion and Advice
khangct
khangct
Posts
30
Views
7K
wilvanwil

Omega vintage watch, looking for type, and history

wilvanwil Vintage Omega Watches Help, Discussion and Advice
OllieOnTheRocks
OllieOnTheRocks
Posts
8
Views
2K
NT931

Type Crimes: Bad watch typography

NT931 Open Discussion
lejaune
lejaune
Posts
24
Views
2K
F

Movement Type - Pocket watch 1935

Fallancy Vintage Omega Watches Help, Discussion and Advice
gatorcpa
gatorcpa
Posts
1
Views
594
bazelot

Omega Seamaster 300 with genuine Omega Replacement parts (Watchco style)?

bazelot Vintage Omega Watches Help, Discussion and Advice
Donn Chambers
Donn Chambers
Posts
6
Views
5K