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Where Do I Start Identifying Whether I Should Bother Fixing My Dad's Watch?

M
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In clearing out stuff I got from my dad, I found a crystal-less Omega watch and brought it to my local jeweler. He got excited saying it was worth more than the other working watches I had, but it would need to be repaired and he wouldn't do it. I jokingly asked whether it was worth fifty bucks, and he said he'd give me fifty right then. That, of course, made me think that the watch was worth more than $50.

The question is what it would cost to fix and whether the investment would be worth it. I'm open to thinking from people who know about Omega watches. At the very least, this watch is 35 years old, but I'm betting my dad got it from my uncle who died in 1977, so at least 50 years old.

Mich

IMG_4397.webp
 
redpcar
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If the movement looks as bad as the dial, you are in trouble.
Take it back to the watchmaker and have him open it up and snap some pics.
 
noelekal
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It's closer to 60 years old. It was a very fine, attractive watch in its day. I don't know if there is a salvageable dial under the grime. Or is it charring? The watch looks as if it has been in a fire.
 
Canuck
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Well, find someone who says they CAN fix it (and guarantee it), and get them to give you a quote. Once you know the cost of restoring it, (including a replacement dial), only then will you know whether the cost of enjoying it is worth it to you. I own a lot of watches that weren’t worth what would have been the typical cost of restoring them (had I had to pay someone to service them for me), but since I restore and maintain my own watches, these watches were worth repairing it to me.
 
Spruce
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Depending on its condition, the vintage Omega Beads of Rice bracelet alone (and I’m assuming it’s genuine and original) will be worth £150-200
 
Davidt
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The dial is generally the most valuable part of a vintage watch and unfortunately yours is utter toast. Movement condition? Who knows?

In good condition it’s a £2k watch but it’s going to need Omega (or at the very least an Omega watchmaker) to restore it. Even then the dial won’t be original. If it has sentimental value I’d send it to Omega. If not, I’d put it on eBay auction.
 
SOG53
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It will need new dial and perhaps replacement movement In this case I think the above suggestion to send to Omega is good one
Be prepared for large bill perhaps 2k but you will have a restored watch like new which you can wear and enjoy. Since it’s heirloom watch it would be worthwhile if you’re ok to spend that.
Please post followup if/when you have it restored.
 
Dan S
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I vote no on restoration. But the parts are clearly worth much more than $50, which is a very low bar for a vintage Omega.
 
AG77
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I think the only monetary value is the bracelet and case. This watch is pretty toasty. The sentimental value is entirely different. If it were mine, and from my late father, I would pay to have it restored and that "investment" would 100% be worth it. And I would wear it on special occasions and pass along to one of my children.
 
Dan S
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True, if it would give you joy to restore it, and cost/time are no objects, then it would be a nice project. There may be a lot of replacement parts, however, so it will be a bit of a Ship of Theseus scenario.
 
sheepdoll
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Back in July I bought a completely trashed common Omega for under 100USD. Not as nice as this but simular. The dial is the watch. Piepan dials tend to run around 500, Black ones twice that if not repainted. Most are repainted. So outside sentimentality this is a parts watch. As noted in the 150 to 200 range for the case and bracelet. 50 is a bit on the low side, which is probably what I would bid. Since I have been collecting for 30 years I tend to see things in line with 20th century pricing.

Tough in this day and age, when we want a 10 cent candy bar, and a 100K annual wage packet.

Movement is probably as bad as the dial. Chances are there is no recoverable steel. So one is left with the plated brass, which probably is pitted and stained.

If the movement is salvageable, one part which regulates the timekeeping will be about 200. There is a date, if this is quickset, there is a part worth 80.

Most of the other parts average around 35. Adds up quickly. I am already another 200 or so on my project.

Scrap movements can be had for around 250 to three hundred. These are usually pulled from gold cases what were melted down.
Labor on a clean movement is going to run between 400 and 800.

One could easly spend over 2K for what would have been a nice 1200 watch.
 
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