Servicing / restoring a vintage Omega
Discussion
Evening,
I've recently inherited my grandfather's 1960s Omega Seamaster De Ville Automatic mechanical watch.
He wore it pretty much every day from the 1960s until mid 2003, at which point he treated himself to a newer Omega. It's been pretty much unused since then.
Following his death I was offered first refusal of the watches (being his eldest grandson). His old Seamaster was the watch I always remember him wearing when I was a kid, and it was the watch that he taught me how to read the time on, so for sentimental reasons I chose this one.
I'd like to return the watch to regular use. It's got a few light scratches and wear marks on the casing and the glass, and there appears to be a little bit of a deterioration of the finish on the second hand, but it otherwise seems to work absolutely fine. Ideally, I'd like to have the watch restored to as-new condition, but I'm unsure of the best place to get this done.
Reading around, several people have recommended Swiss Time Services, whereas others have recommended sending to Omega UK, but I wondered whether anybody here had any experiences / recommendations?
Cheers
I've recently inherited my grandfather's 1960s Omega Seamaster De Ville Automatic mechanical watch.
He wore it pretty much every day from the 1960s until mid 2003, at which point he treated himself to a newer Omega. It's been pretty much unused since then.
Following his death I was offered first refusal of the watches (being his eldest grandson). His old Seamaster was the watch I always remember him wearing when I was a kid, and it was the watch that he taught me how to read the time on, so for sentimental reasons I chose this one.
I'd like to return the watch to regular use. It's got a few light scratches and wear marks on the casing and the glass, and there appears to be a little bit of a deterioration of the finish on the second hand, but it otherwise seems to work absolutely fine. Ideally, I'd like to have the watch restored to as-new condition, but I'm unsure of the best place to get this done.
Reading around, several people have recommended Swiss Time Services, whereas others have recommended sending to Omega UK, but I wondered whether anybody here had any experiences / recommendations?
Cheers
Spookily similar story to mine.
http://thewatchbloke.co.uk/2015/04/29/omega-seamas...
Highly recommended.
http://thewatchbloke.co.uk/2015/04/29/omega-seamas...
Highly recommended.
Be a little wary sending anything to Omega (or most other manufacturers)for restoration to "as new" condition. You can specify that they're not to change dials, hands, etc but there's no guarantee that they'll remember the instruction and, if they do, they'll often use "nearest equivalent" parts so in the worst case you could find it coming back with a different dial, hands and crown. If that happens it'll be like a new watch, just not like it was when new. STS are "Omega Approved" so have to work to much the same standard under pain of losing their approval.
Most independents will refinish the existing hands if you ask and should be able to get dials sympathetically refinished if necessary (though personally I'm not a fan of re-dials unless the original's really bad).
I don't know The Watchbloke's work personally but he gets consistently good reports, his blog is refreshingly open about how he works and, assuming he does all his work like the ones he features there, he appears to be thorough in what he does.
eta: you do realise that photos are mandatory in this section?
Most independents will refinish the existing hands if you ask and should be able to get dials sympathetically refinished if necessary (though personally I'm not a fan of re-dials unless the original's really bad).
I don't know The Watchbloke's work personally but he gets consistently good reports, his blog is refreshingly open about how he works and, assuming he does all his work like the ones he features there, he appears to be thorough in what he does.
eta: you do realise that photos are mandatory in this section?
Cheers for the responses. I'd much rather that whatever is there is refinished / polished rather than parts being replaced, so I'll drop a note to Watchbloke to see what he can do.
Having checked its timekeeping, it seems to be gaining about 40 seconds a day at the moment so the movement could probably use a little TLC.
Here it is:
Having checked its timekeeping, it seems to be gaining about 40 seconds a day at the moment so the movement could probably use a little TLC.
Here it is:
It is nice. I have a very similar dial on a similar age Seamaster 600 (135.001), but it has a small amount of patina. Actually a small amount as opposed to what vendors call 'patina', which I call 'knackered'.
That is as good as you can possibly hope for from that type of and age of dial, in my experience.
That is as good as you can possibly hope for from that type of and age of dial, in my experience.
That is in superb condition!
A replacement crystal will not devalue the watch, but honestly a rub with a bit of Silvo/Brasso will probably take the scuffs out. A service is probably a good idea. But I would not go beyond that.
A case polish will soften the edges. Do it yourself with the Silvo / Brasso if you must touch it at all.
The hands and dial are excellent for it's age. I hunt out watches like this, old, but in great nick, believe me they are hard to come by. A re-dial on this watch would spoil it and seriously devalue it at the same time. The re-dials never look as nice.
A replacement crystal will not devalue the watch, but honestly a rub with a bit of Silvo/Brasso will probably take the scuffs out. A service is probably a good idea. But I would not go beyond that.
A case polish will soften the edges. Do it yourself with the Silvo / Brasso if you must touch it at all.
The hands and dial are excellent for it's age. I hunt out watches like this, old, but in great nick, believe me they are hard to come by. A re-dial on this watch would spoil it and seriously devalue it at the same time. The re-dials never look as nice.
Thanks everyone.
It's now in The Watch Bloke's capable hands with specific instructions for a movement service and the *very* lightest of polishes. Once it returns I'm also treating it to a new Omega calf leather strap to replace the generic one currently fitted (and has seen better days)
Incidentally, I discovered the original paperwork (bill of sale, manual and guarantee certificate) for it yesterday from when my grandfather purchased it in November 1965. Including a £2 discount, it set him back £38...
It's now in The Watch Bloke's capable hands with specific instructions for a movement service and the *very* lightest of polishes. Once it returns I'm also treating it to a new Omega calf leather strap to replace the generic one currently fitted (and has seen better days)
Incidentally, I discovered the original paperwork (bill of sale, manual and guarantee certificate) for it yesterday from when my grandfather purchased it in November 1965. Including a £2 discount, it set him back £38...
legless said:
Thanks everyone.
It's now in The Watch Bloke's capable hands with specific instructions for a movement service and the *very* lightest of polishes. Once it returns I'm also treating it to a new Omega calf leather strap to replace the generic one currently fitted (and has seen better days)
Incidentally, I discovered the original paperwork (bill of sale, manual and guarantee certificate) for it yesterday from when my grandfather purchased it in November 1965. Including a £2 discount, it set him back £38...
OP how did you get on with your watch?It's now in The Watch Bloke's capable hands with specific instructions for a movement service and the *very* lightest of polishes. Once it returns I'm also treating it to a new Omega calf leather strap to replace the generic one currently fitted (and has seen better days)
Incidentally, I discovered the original paperwork (bill of sale, manual and guarantee certificate) for it yesterday from when my grandfather purchased it in November 1965. Including a £2 discount, it set him back £38...
Thought I would post this. I bought this Omega Constellation for my dad when I was in Singapore in the navy on HMS Minerva when I was 21, it cost £50.00 in 1967.
He only wore it weekends, and when he died I inherited it. I later gave it to my son who never wore it, he has kept in it in the box since. I tried it on tonight. Daily I wear a Rolex Sea Dweller, with the Constellation it's so light, don't even think you are wearing it at all.
In the box is all the original paperwork which came with it.
He only wore it weekends, and when he died I inherited it. I later gave it to my son who never wore it, he has kept in it in the box since. I tried it on tonight. Daily I wear a Rolex Sea Dweller, with the Constellation it's so light, don't even think you are wearing it at all.
In the box is all the original paperwork which came with it.
Vipers said:
Thought I would post this. I bought this Omega Constellation for my dad when I was in Singapore in the navy on HMS Minerva when I was 21, it cost £50.00 in 1967.
He only wore it weekends, and when he died I inherited it. I later gave it to my son who never wore it, he has kept in it in the box since. I tried it on tonight. Daily I wear a Rolex Sea Dweller, with the Constellation it's so light, don't even think you are wearing it at all.
In the box is all the original paperwork which came with it.
lovely story - agree with the other poster - shame your son does not wear it. I would ask him if you can have it back to wear yourself.He only wore it weekends, and when he died I inherited it. I later gave it to my son who never wore it, he has kept in it in the box since. I tried it on tonight. Daily I wear a Rolex Sea Dweller, with the Constellation it's so light, don't even think you are wearing it at all.
In the box is all the original paperwork which came with it.
Gassing Station | Watches | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff