Hi Guys,

Completely new to this. Looking to buy my first vintage watch. An Indian seller on eBay want 450 GBP for this. Is it a good buy? Any help would be massively appreciated! I really love the watch but dont know what im looking for re real or fake / generally a good buy!

Thanks so much (and apologies if this thread is in the wrong place!)

 

Redial and case refurb. It is a fact that 105% of watches offered from India are redials.

 

I see. So you think its worth staying away?

As feature I love on the watches is the champaign / sunburst dial. Do you think the refurb would spoil the look of this in person..?

 

To be honest it doesn't look all that bad, the sunburst is very good but I am going with my gut here for a few reasons. Firstly that design looks typical of the mid or late 1960s Omega designs and that watch is circa 60-61, secondly it is just too clean to be original thirdly the lume looks very wrong for radium (which it would be from that era. Fourthly there really is a well established refurb and redial industry in India which means anything from there is worth taking care over (hence my statistical joke). Lots of fakes from there too but this looks refurbed not faked to me. It could just be a refurbed case with NOS dial and if you aren't too worried about originality it could be fine, but then again it could be a total Franken which needs a lot of expensive movement work. If it was £200 I would say do it, at £450, maybe not.

 

Thanks guys this is really helpful! I guess it being a refurbished watch isn’t a huge concern, the point around the potential for issues with the movement is worrying. I thought 450 was ok, slightly expensive but ok. Given the comments I guess this one should be left alone.

 

If that's a redial it is one of the best I've ever seen. It looks in all respects to the way it ought to. Case, movement and dial are all correct for that reference. I wonder if this could be that rare thing, a genuine watch in excellent condition from India. But it does look too good to be true and so I'm on the fence with this one.

 

Yes the more I look at it I am thinking this is way above the level of the usual Mumbai repaint so perhaps the dial is either legit or NOS but I can’t help being suspicious.

 

Sorry guys I should have added these. Looks like everyone’s input is on point.

I guess the question is it worth buying..?

 

I'd say it is typical of the "good" Eastern redials we see. Nice finish, lots of small errors. For instance the lack of lume on the dial and the slightly odd script. I am uncertain of the originality of the hands, too.

Honestly, the word "India" is far and away enough for me to keep away.

 

You could get something like this heaps cheaper and its original.

Picked it for the sunburst dial you like.




What city are you in if you mind me asking, might be able to point you in the right direction.

 

Hey thanks that’s nice. Looks very similar to the Omega!

I’m in between Bristol and Cardiff.

Thanks again for the help!

 

If it is a redial, I think it is a superb job they have done but it all looks too good to be true. The back of the lugs appear to have been re-finished with the graining evident from the images and the caseback looks very polished.

As mentioned above, the hands just don't look right. I would give it a pass

I would definitely go for that Longines instead

 

Ok thanks guys. I guess this one is a pass. The Longines is great but there is something about the Seamaster I love, especially the 503 and 563 style calibres (in the shape as above). Guess it’s back to the drawing board!

 

@STANDY would you mind letting me know where I might find the example you posted? Certainly worth investigating if you guys think this is a good alternative.

 

I don't know exactly how to phrase this, but the repainted sunburst dials always look "grainier" to me, compared to the originals, which have a finer texture. Overall, this is a high quality re-dial but the sunburst texture looks just a bit coarse, and also slightly "wavy", although I guess that could be an illusion.

 

I know what you mean and agree wholeheartedly.

EDIT: I am not sure that the finish is repainted, so to speak.

 

Don't forget if buying from outside the EU to the UK you need to add 20-30% for import duties.

 

I hadn’t realised. That adds quite a bit....

Thanks again for the help guys.

 

Great spot