Watchmaker in Scotland to service vintage Seamaster De Ville?

[Neeb]

Hello all, new to the forum and getting into vintage 1960s Omega dress watches (having had an on-and-off dalliance with King Seikos for a number of years).

Partially inspired by getting my father's old 1963 solid 18K Seamaster De Ville out of the drawer... I'd like to have that watch fullly serviced and the crystal polished. I send my Seikos to a trusted watchmaker down south, but because of the sentimental value of the Seamaster I don't think I could ever trust it to a courier, however well insured... So looking for somewhere reasonably local I can take the watch.

Googling has brought up Martin's of Glasgow and Calibre Watch Repair in Dundee as possible candidates. Brendan Haddock in Edinburgh (which is nearest me) seems to have some good reports but they look quite small and I'm guessing that one of the most important criteria is finding someone who sees a lot of Omegas and/or specialises in them and so has a large stock of vintage parts.

Any tips?

 

[efauser]

Do a site search here. Some of the top Omega watchmakers are in the UK.

 

[SkunkPrince]

Omega lists the following as an authorized service center:

Hamilton & Inches Ltd
87 George Street
Lothian
EH2 3EY Edinburgh
United Kingdom

T. +44 (0)131 225 4898

That means they have access to all factory-stocked parts and meeet certain standards for equipment and training. Don't assume that because your watch is older that Omega does not stock parts to repair it.

One thing to beware of when submitting a vintage watch for service, though... make sure you give detailed instructions, in writing, about the interventions you want and more importantly, do not want. Many owners and darn near all collectors, for example, do not want their watch cases refinished. This is especially important for a solid gold watch, as it is relatively easy to over-buff the case. On the other hand, an authorized service center will have the machines and fixtures to do the job properly.

Go visit and speak with the watchmakers, if you can. You'll get an idea of what they're about.

As an aside, they'll replace the crystal and usually the crown to meet the original water resistance standards. This is common, do not panic.

 

[Davidt]

Don’t limit yourself to watchmakers nearby. There’s no issue with sending across the UK. I’d recommend the following:

Watchguy.co.uk
Mitka.co.uk
Simon Freese

 

[Neeb]

Thanks all!

Davidt

Don’t limit yourself to watchmakers nearby. There’s no issue with sending across the UK. I’d recommend the following:

Watchguy.co.uk
Mitka.co.uk
Simon Freese

Yes, in fact I was about to send the watch to Simon Freese and then started worrying at the last minute about committing it to the post... I must have sent watches down south for servicing at least 10 times using Royal Mail Special Delivery and have never had any go missing, but it would just be my luck if my dad's wedding watch was the exception...

SkunkPrince

One thing to beware of when submitting a vintage watch for service, though... make sure you give detailed instructions, in writing, about the interventions you want and more importantly, do not want. Many owners and darn near all collectors, for example, do not want their watch cases refinished. This is especially important for a solid gold watch, as it is relatively easy to over-buff the case.

Yup, I'm very aware of that and would be clear to specify - although you would think these days that all watchmakers would know that many vintage watch owners don't want cases polished and would at least ask..?

 

[PlainVanilla]

Show us the watch!

 

[Neeb]

PlainVanilla

Show us the watch!

Needs a clean and a crystal polish... Also, ignore the SS King Seiko buckle that can just be seen at the back of the second pic, I'll be getting a gold 50s or 60s Omega buckle.. ;-)

 

[Neeb]

The dial orginally had little bits of lume at the edges of the hour markers but this has mostly flaked off. I understand that the "T" text for lumed dials was only added later? (this watch is 1963).

It would have been bought new and my dad was the only owner, so it should be 100% original (strap excepted).

 

[ken_hodson]

If you don't mind crossing over into England, I can recommend The Watch Repair Centre in Newcastle. It is a certified Omega service centre. they are really good...not cheap, however, but for a special watch like this, they would be good.

https://www.watchrepaircentre.co.uk/

 

[SkunkPrince]

Neeb

Needs a clean and a crystal polish... Also, ignore the SS King Seiko buckle that can just be seen at the back of the second pic, I'll be getting a gold 50s or 60s Omega buckle.. ;-)

Actually, a modern buckle would suit that watch better than a 60s buckle would, in my opinion.

Example: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/165169356909

(Don't believe the seller's "hard to source" nonsense. These are common, and he's charging too much.)

 

[PlainVanilla]

Neeb

Needs a clean and a crystal polish... Also, ignore the SS King Seiko buckle that can just be seen at the back of the second pic, I'll be getting a gold 50s or 60s Omega buckle.. ;-)

Absolutely stunning piece.

 

[Neeb]

SkunkPrince

Actually, a modern buckle would suit that watch better than a 60s buckle would, in my opinion.

Example: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/165169356909

(Don't believe the seller's "hard to source" nonsense. These are common, and he's charging too much.)

Hmm, these look nice but I must admit I have a bit of a soft spot for the old ones...

I guess solid gold (as opposed to gold plated / capped) are hen's teeth / ridiculously expensive?

 

[Neeb]

ken_hodson

If you don't mind crossing over into England, I can recommend The Watch Repair Centre in Newcastle. It is a certified Omega service centre. they are really good...not cheap, however, but for a special watch like this, they would be good.

https://www.watchrepaircentre.co.uk/

Hmm, that's just about feasible as a couple of round trips if accompanied by some sightseeing!

 

[Caliber561]

Neeb

Hmm, these look nice but I must admit I have a bit of a soft spot for the old ones...

I guess solid gold (as opposed to gold plated / capped) are hen's teeth / ridiculously expensive?

In my experience, solid gold buckles are extremely hard to come by on their own. Most have likely been melted down or misplaced after a strap replacement, so those available online end up being relatively expensive. It's always nice to keep looking for one, but in the meantime, modern 18k or plated buckles do work as nice placeholders.

 

[Neeb]

Slightly off-topic, but I'm also thinking about finding "my own" Seamaster De Ville in stainless steel and it would be nice to have a birth year one (1967). I know that in 1967 Omega split off the De Ville line from the Seamaster line, but were Seamaster De Villes still made in 1967 itself? Searches online seem to bring up plenty of authentic-looking examples while most of the 1968 ones look like they are probably re-dials (lots of Don Drapers ;-)), so I'm guessing that the transition was mid-year / end of year?

 

[PlainVanilla]

Yep, you can totally find Seamaster DeVilles from 1967.

 

[Neeb]

Here's the watch fully serviced with the crystal polished, a nice new strap and a vintage omega gold-plated buckle:

 

[Caliber561]

Neeb

Here's the watch fully serviced with the crystal polished, a nice new strap and a vintage omega gold-plated buckle:

Looks great! May it serve you as it did your father!