Vintage Omega Watches

[Roger]

After yesterday's threads that got into vintage watches, there were some questions left unanswered, along with a couple that came to me directly. It appears that the whole realm of vintage watches is largely unknown to many SFers. In particular, several people wanted to know about vintage Omega watches (not surprisingly, perhaps, given the James Bond movies, the Seamaster was of particular interest!). So, I did a quick search of a few online sellers of vintage Omega watches (most sell other brands too, of course) and came up with a few that follow. I should probably note at the outset that the intended audience for this thread is more those who would like to actually wear a vintage watch--with all its charm, pedigree, history, and unique style--and less to serious vintage watch-collectors.

There are many more sellers of vintage Omegas than those listed below, and there's also eBay, of course. What is clear is that there are many, many vintage Omegas out there that are quite affordable. You'll find that most of those listed below are available for less than $1000, many for less than $700. Most have been serviced prior to sale and are running well.

If the case is a little scratched or marked, this can be easily remedied by a polishing with very fine abrasive paper and jewelers' rouge (although you must be very careful with gold-plated finishes not to polish through the plating). This restoration can be done by any jeweler for a pretty reasonable price (one local jeweler charges $50), or can be done at home. I've purchased some of the ultra-fine abrasives on eBay and restored the cosmetics of several vintage watches. If the crystal is scratched or otherwise not pristine, it can easily be replaced, with a mineral crystal replacement (the cheapest) or a sapphire crystal one (much more scratch-resistant). Replacement leather straps can be obtained in any color and finish for as little as $20 from several online suppliers (I'll list two below). In short, it is relatively easy to spruce up a vintage watch to the point that--except for the style--it will look like new.

I won't obsess too much over what constitutes a vintage watch--that is, the year of manufacture. Some would say circa 1960 and earlier, and many of those listed by the suppliers below would fit into that category. To me, there's not much difference in this regard between a watch made in 1959 and one in 1970. One thing that I particularly like about vintage watches is that they tend to be smaller than those being produced today--many with diameters of around 30-33 mm. This feature, along with their style and often restrained appearance make them really ideal for dress watches. I use two for this purpose alone, wearing them only when I am dressing formally or close to it.

So...here are some suppliers--just a small sampling of the many vintage-watch sellers out there. I can't vouch for the integrity of these online sellers, but they do seem to be well-established, and I would be willing to buy from them without any anxiety:

Suppliers of Vintage Omega Watches:

http://www.coolvintagewatches.com/

http://www.darlor-watch.com/omega_watches_1.html

http://www.omega-fanatic.com/pages/v...s-for-sale.php

http://www.vintagewatch.ca/. (Go to "See Omegas.")

http://www.brittons-watches.co.uk/NEW_SITE/index.htm. (Click on "Omega" button.)

http://www.heritagetime.com/brands/omega

http://www.agbgroup.com/Vintage-omeg...er/search-html. (This one is just a guide to various sellers' vintage Omegas, most, if not all, on eBay.)

Online Suppliers of Watch Straps:

http://www.thewatchprince.com/watch-...-s0t4x2-swwji3

http://www.debeerwatchbands.com/Sear...CategoryID=104

(I've purchased replacement straps from both of them and can recommend them without qualifications.)

 

[edmorel]

I have an Omega Ploprof which cost me more than $1,000 and to some is as ugly as all heck but I think it is worth every penny I paid for it. Vintage omega's are some of the nicest used watches around. To me, Omega is the Ralph Lauren of watch brans, a little something fro everyone with some very nice stuff at the top end.

 

[caelte]

Unless you know what your doing, I wouldn't try cleaning up a case with abrasives. I do it , but I know what I'm doing: I can fix the screw ups.

It takes very little to clean up a watch but if you do the wrong thing, the damage may be not fixable.

Just going over a dirty case with a soft, dry toothbrush will help greatly improve appearance. If it's a sealed case, a small of amount of alcohol on the brush helps.

It's not that hard to replace a plastic crystal but you have to know what your doing.

Meguiar's PlastX is what I use on all plastics.. It'll improve clarity of a plastic crystal without damage.

 

[Roger]

Originally Posted by caelte

Unless you know what your doing, I wouldn't try cleaning up a case with abrasives. I do it , but I know what I'm doing: I can fix the screw ups.

It takes very little to clean up a watch but if you do the wrong thing, the damage may be not fixable.

Just going over a dirty case with a soft, dry toothbrush will help greatly improve appearance. If it's a sealed case, a small of amount of alcohol on the brush helps.

It's not that hard to replace a plastic crystal but you have to know what your doing.

Meguiar's PlastX is what I use on all plastics.. It'll improve clarity of a plastic crystal without damage.
Well to some extent I agree with this--particularly with respect to gold-plated cases. However, I've had little difficulty--and really great results--with stainless steel ones, starting with a very fine abrasive cloth and proceeding to a super-ultra-fine one, and finishing up with jewelers' rouge. On gold, I might go just with the jewelers' rouge--and be very careful. I sure wasn't suggesting that folks try to replace their own crystal, and definitely wouldn't advise this.

 

[caelte]

Originally Posted by Roger

Well to some extent I agree with this--particularly with respect to gold-plated cases. However, I've had little difficulty--and really great results--with stainless steel ones, starting with a very fine abrasive cloth and proceeding to a super-ultra-fine one, and finishing up with jewelers' rouge. On gold, I might go just with the jewelers' rouge--and be very careful. I sure wasn't suggesting that folks try to replace their own crystal, and definitely wouldn't advise this.
I wouldn't get sandpaper near a watch case. The scale is too small. You need tiny tools to work on tiny things. I recently redid a stainless case back; someone had used a screwdriver to pry it open . With the right tools, it came out like new. Sandpaper would not have worked.

 

[Roger]

Originally Posted by caelte

I wouldn't get sandpaper near a watch case.
The scale is too small.
You need tiny tools to work on tiny things.

I recently redid a stainless case back; someone had used a screwdriver to pry it open .
With the right tools, it came out like new.
Sandpaper would not have worked.
Mark, I'm emphatically not talking about ordinary sandpaper--that would be a huge mistake. Instead I'm taking about some watch-case refinishing abrasive cloths, the coarsest of which are 30 microns, and the finest, 1 micron. Here's the supplier:

http://stores.ebay.com/watchbandrenew

 

[Omegablogger]

Originally Posted by edmorel

I have an Omega Ploprof


Now that's a mans watch!

 

[caelte]

Originally Posted by Roger

Mark, I'm emphatically not talking about ordinary sandpaper--that would be a huge mistake. Instead I'm taking about some watch-case refinishing abrasive cloths, the coarsest of which are 30 microns, and the finest, 1 micron. Here's the supplier: http://stores.ebay.com/watchbandrenew
OK! That material is 3-M with a consistant grit across the surface. I recommend practice on some of those quartz Piagets first.

 

[Roger]

Originally Posted by caelte

OK! That material is 3-M with a consistant grit across the surface.
I recommend practice on some of those quartz Piagets first.

Mark, you're just a damn trouble-maker, aren't you!

 

[Zegnamtl]

Roger,

I am goin' kick ya in the shin!!!

I went to that link and the three watches I would have bought on the spot are already sold! I wonder if fellow SF
scooped up a few already????

 

[LabelKing]

I am a fan of vintage Omegas but for personal reasons, I'm not very keen on gold-filled or plated cases.

The Piepan Constellations are, of course, quite attractive especially if they have the Beads of Rice bracelet. Also, the mechanical wind 30mm movements are very desirable as well, not ignoring the superb 30T2 movements.

http://www.ninanet.net/watches/other...omega1894.html

 

[MunnyGuy]

Originally Posted by caelte

Meguiar's PlastX is what I use on all plastics.. It'll improve clarity of a plastic crystal without damage.


I have an OMEGA Speedmaster Professional that I wear daily and it takes a beating. The Speedmasters use an acrylic/plastic face in lieu of Quartz (I read somewhere it had to do with the watch being used in Spaceflights) It scuffs and scratches like a mother (also due to the raised face). I am a FIRM believer in Meguiars Plastx as well

It makes the face damn near perfect!!! To polish the Stainless Steel Watch body and band I use WEIMAN METAL POLISH

Just apply and wipe off... Beautiful results!!!

I love OMEGA and anticipate you will too!

 

[Roger]

Well, here was a piepan Constellation. Quite beautiful; sold for $610. Gives you some idea of price.

http://cgi.ebay.com/VINTAGE-OMEGA-CO...QQcmdZViewItem

Zegnamtl: Sorry, buddy! But there are lots more where they came from.

 

[LabelKing]

Omega Speedmasters used a hesalite crystal.

It has a "softer" look than sapphire crystal.

 

[LabelKing]

Originally Posted by Roger

Well, here was a piepan Constellation. Quite beautiful; sold for $610. Gives you some idea of price.

http://cgi.ebay.com/VINTAGE-OMEGA-CO...QQcmdZViewItem

Zegnamtl: Sorry, buddy! But there are lots more where they came from.

That appears to have a restored dial which usually means a lower price for collectors.