My answer is usually never. I am a guy who drinks every night from my set of crystal. I believe fine china and silver should be used everyday and not for “special occasions”, every day you are alive is a special occasion. I am a historian and preservationist by education and trade and have always been of the mindset that it is incumbent upon us all to be good stewards of historic/culturally important objects/buildings/art. And this includes using them for their intended purpose. I have watches that many people consider grail pieces and have beat the living hell out of them. When I got them they were used and showed signs of having a prior life, so I had no issue continuing their life as tools by which to tell time and wear daily in real life situations. Last week I won an auction for a 1958 Seamaster. It has been on my list of wants for a while and this thing popped up in my saved searches and I was immediately drawn to how clean it was, despite the lousy pictures. Everything looked correct and the BIN was very reasonable, seller had good feedback- so I pulled the trigger. It arrived last night and I was shocked at how clean it is, not just clean- mint. It keeps time perfectly, was serviced within the last few years and the previous owner was a watch fanatic like us (may even be a member here). So I wore it last night, and today, and am terrified of putting a mark on it. I find myself afraid to dig into my satchel for fear of marring the crystal or scuffing the clasp. I am suddenly aware of how my arms swing when I walk, fearing I will put it into a door jamb. I took it off while doing dishes. I have never been this way!!! Part of me wants to lock it up in a box and preserve it in its minty state, another wants to wear the hell out of it as it was designed to be used. First world problems to the max I know, but such is the dilemma of our hobby when we get something this pure. What to do when you get a 61 year old watch that looks like you just took it out of the box?
I have the same problem. I wear all of my watches and if i don't wear them they get sold. I don't like NOS/Mint watches because i can't wear them without fear of beating them up.
It looks like the dial has been re-done, leading me to suspect that the case has probably seen some work as well. Clearer photos of the bevels on the lugs will tell for sure. I also think the bracelet is aftermarket. That said, I do empathize with the premise of your post. While not “grail” pieces necessarily, I have some that I hesitate to wear because of how sharp the cases are. But if I felt bad enough wearing one of them, I wouldn’t keep it around.
I try to keep my collection relatively small (~10 watches) so that each watch gets fairly regular wrist time. Having a smaller collection also makes it easier to have all of the watches serviced. This Grand Luxe is the only one that I’m reluctant to take out of the box.
I'm afraid to say it, but if it was described as all original I'd be looking to return it as it has definitely been re-dialed.
The watch wasn’t described as original, just clean, and it is that. And considering what I paid, even as a redial I would be happy as it’s a lovey looking/ running watch. Here are more pics, in direct sunlight so every flaw is visibly magnified. And of course now I can see crystal scratches etc so not as minty as my aging eyes told me in my kitchen light. So have at it with what is wrong with this watch! I always get a perverse thrill reading the posts of watches that have been hacked on, a little less perverse since this one is now mine, but as I said, it’s so nice and I’m smitten with it.
And I agree with this if it’s too nice to use, then pass it on to a collector who wants NOS and let them have it. I collected pipes for years and had several NOS Peterson’s that were 30 years old and in boxes....I never smoked them, so finally sold them to collectors who specially collect NOS- and they were thrilled
This was spending its life in a safe before I got it. 1956 and I wear it ... but super care with when and how....
About 2 years, I acquired a vintage PP that was in such crispy condition I was literally afraid to wear it. So this past year I sold it, and resolved to only collect watches that I'm actually going to put on my wrist and enjoy. Period. Having said that, and as @Larry S notes, I wear these vintage beauties with as much care as possible to protect from the elements, dings, etc. Enjoy it!
Now that I’ve looked at it in macro and realized it does have some bumps and bruises, and is potentially a redial (which doesn’t bother me too much if it is as I think it’s as close to real as I have seen) I am more inclined.
If it's a redial, count me among those fooled. Can the redial experts please point out the giveaways?
Thank you Muddler! I did my research, looked at dozens of 2846’s, have followed every bad redial thread over the last several months and I really thought this one checks out. Bracelet clasp numbers and endlinks also check out (the PO did say he acquired the bracelet separately from the watch so made no claim of it being original to the watch), as does the big seahorse for this model. As I said, it’s a lovey watch regardless, but I really thought I had done my research before jumping on it
I do see subtle differences in the font for “omega” and “automatic”, as well as the “Swiss made” is larger on mine. The hanger Seamaster looks pretty spot on. Still, if indeed it is a redial, it is one of the better ones I have seen on the web...but obviously I am no expert.
Quite a bit going on here--not just the scripts, but also the minute markers (dots v rectangles) --the lume also looks quite a bit fresher on the markers and hands, and.... Good call. I think the key thing is having a known and confirmed original to use as a reference point--. Nice redial nonetheless!
It may be a redial, but if so, it's been done with a fair degree of skill. If there was no claim to it being all original, you are happy with the way it looks and performs and the price you paid, then that is what matters. Wear it and enjoy it