Watches - another OCD problem
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Finally got a new battery in this guy and have been wearing it non-stop. Def on par with the Grand Seikos I’ve owned.
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Not for everyone…
Swatch x Damien Hirst x Mickey Mouse
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Bell & Ross with IHSH-180
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Gentlemen who know about this kind thing…
When it comes to vintage watches are they worth anything, or indeed still considered interesting at all, if all the external stuff is OG, but the movement is a new stock movement?
I ask because my oldest son has a inherited a beautiful Omega Seamaster. I’m trying to get it dated but I suspect it is from the late 60’s or early 70’s. The original movement is fubar and we can get a stock mechanical installed, plus a clean and refurb, for about 400USD.
I’m unsure if it’s worth it.
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I don't have a helpful answer, @neph93 , but know you'll find one here. I did want to say that philosophically I personally would want as much of the original movement preserved as possible, but I imagine that could carry extraordinary expense.
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The same thought occurred to me but I’d imagine that would require sending it out of the country to either a high level Omega workshop or some kind «forensic» Omega specialist.
At the moment I’m not even sure that a 400USD refurb us worth it so my 15 year old can have a cool watch. He isn’t very interested in watches generally but if he wanted one I’d be more inclined to get him an entry level Seiko 5 or Prospex for 250USD.
At the same time, if it is fifty or sixty years old (or even older again), the idea of getting it working is quite appealing.
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@neph93, I personaly would say, that a vintage Omega without the original movment is from a collectors side worthless. I'am not shure if you know, but the Omegas from that time had original Omega movements which where really unique to Omega. They have been, and still are outstanding. But it is not so easy anymore to get all the spare parts, some of them if avalible are quite expensive.
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I figured as much @marlin .
I’ve just read up on the development of the movement for the Seamaster. The watch is currently in the shop that assessed the repairs but when I get it back I’ll make a point of finding out exactly which model it is.
Fixing it for its capital value isn’t really the point but it would make it a less sentimental expense and more of an investment if it was actually worth something.
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Omega have a restoration service at Bienne, but it's an expensive process.
https://www.omegawatches.com/customer-service/interventions-and-prices/restoration
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At the moment I’m not even sure that a 400USD refurb us worth it so my 15 year old can have a cool watch. He isn’t very interested in watches generally but if he wanted one I’d be more inclined to get him an entry level Seiko 5 or Prospex for 250USD.
This is probably the best course of action for him now. Maybe in a few (or several) years he'll be more into watches and more interested in a restored antique.
When I was about the same age, my dad offered me the Zodiac Sea Wolf he purchased and wore while stationed in Vietnam. I asked for a Swatch instead. Luckily, he didn't hold it against me.
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I have a vintage Omega Seamaster DeVille my dad was awarded for top of his medical school class (the apple having fallen far, far from the tree) and it is really old, but the minute you move the thing the rotor spins up and the seconds hand ticks. It's on the right of a vintage pulsomiter here:
Rolex ultimately passed them in prestige for many, but I'll always love Omega.
I'll also always love Seiko, and Prospex is a great choice. Presage has a number of affordable dressier options too.
(Big Ugly posted below)
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@neph93, a restoration in Switzerland with Omega can cost easily 800.- to 1400.- € depending on the model and condition of the watch.
Further some notes from a watchmakers side. You should be aware of, if you decide to get the movement replaced by a new/modern one, that this leads to some problems. The biggest one is, that the feet's from the dail are very probably do not fit on the new one. The feet's are securing the dail from turning around, they give the dail a secure fit on the movement. In order to get the dail on the new movement they have to be removed. The dail needs then to get glued to the movement by a special double tape, which is always a botch and leads sooner or later to problems. The next problem is that in a lot of cases the original hands do not fit anymore. In some cases you can make them fit, but if the difference is to much they have to be replaced as well.
If I understood you correctly are the outer parts like the winding/setting-crown and the face-Plexicrystal (don't know the correct name) are still original. The crown has a gasket which is probably dried out and/or broken and doesen't seal the case anymore. Same for the crystal if there are some cracks.
I'am saying this because if you decide to spend this much money, the watch still needs to be worn very carefully, like it's not a every day watch for doing everything.
I totally understand the emotional value which goes along with a piece like that. I've got a Omega from my father my self. He bought it in Switzerland when he was working there as watchmaker him self.
I truly love this watch and this for many reasons.
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Does your son want to "own" a 70 year old watch or "wear" a 70 year old watch?
I don't know about your son, but having that watch overhauled and then worn daily would mean a second overhaul quickly if he were to wear it daily, at least if your son was like me when I was 15.
The water resistance generally can't be trusted on such an old watch, the crystal is probably hesalite so it'll scratch easily, and if he does any kind of sports he's going to need to take it off at school which is an opportunity for it to get stolen.
The only thing my stepson was good at when he was 15 was destroying nice things.
I'd take your $400 and get him a watch he'd actually like and wear (and can either repair or replace easily), and start putting money towards an overhaul in Bienne sometime in the future.
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Thanks very much for the insight gentlemen. The way forward is clear. I’ll take care of it until the lad is finished in High School and look at getting it rebuilt by Omega then. In the meantime, G-Shock.
Great analogy @DougNg
Agreed on G-Shock, but this came across my feed for a Seiko 5 large automatic sport watch option with a flieger-esque dial:
https://gearpatrol.com/2018/11/28/seiko-5-snzg-sale/ -
Been wearing this one a lot lately. I was worried that the lack of a second hand would irritate me, but it's kinda relaxing.
I was also worried that the daily winding would get tedious, but I'm finding that I like the routine.
