Omega Speedmaster

[RickH]

Forgive the lack of posts for a long membership - I tend to read out of interest and will only contribute when I'm either definitely right or have a question. The former is rare and I now have a question.

I'd like to upgrade my current Seiko Kinetic which was a 21st present for an Omega Speedmaster for my 30th. I've narrowed it down to a Professional, a Day-Date or a Reduced. I've tried on the Reduced and the Professional to check for size and I reckon I could cope with either (but I'll have another go to be sure). Does anyone have any comments regarding the qualities/foibles of one over another - I'm not looking for specialist quality accuracy; I know what I like and I know what I like the look of. Plus my father has an Omega and would approve as a gift.

So the question is this. Are high street stores any better/worse than specialists? Are there any online shops that I can look at for a better deal? I have the option of flying to the US in September, would there be a benefit to buying and flying?

RickH

[Maxf]

I have a moonwatch and my GF has a reduced. The reduced is definitely not of the same quality as the moon watch/full size.

The movement does not 'tick' the minute register over on the chronograph, it moves very slowly round instead. When starting the chronograph the normal second hand pauses then jumps slightly - this doesnt happen on the full size.

Hope this helps a bit - id go full size (if it feels too big, try it with a leather strap as it feels a bit smaller).

[RickH]

Can you get these watches as standard with the leather strap and deployment clasp, or is it simpler to buy with the SS bracelet and then buy a leather strap separate. I would assume that would be better as it would provide a spare.

RickH

[Maxf]

Omega will sell you a strap/clasp but at about £300! I bought my strap/clasp from a chap on timezone for about £80

The bracelets are horribly expensive though.

[Murph7355]

Waiting for a trip to the US might be a goood idea with the exchange rate as it is. Though you may get nailed for duty and tax (4.5%, then 17.5% on the total) and you may have Omega dealers here get funny over warranty. Could still be worth it though depending on price...

Also check out prices at smwatches.com. Markus is Euro based and a good chap to deal with. His prices are usually very very good.

I'm not overly familiar with either watch - it might be good to have a trawl around Timezone too (timezone.com). You're likely to get much more detailed input there. I do prefer the details on the Pro (face, bracelet etc).

I do have an Omega Seamaster (Pro Chrono) which I love - hefty, good quality watch with superb details. The crown came off it, but it was fixed quickly under warranty.

[RickH]

What about the dreaded FleaBay?

Are there any reputable people selling there or are they all going to be shonky.

I did have a completely fake Rolex from Malaysia a few years back - the crown fell off the face and rattled round inside for a bit, plus the usual (the second hand didn't sweep)

RickH

[Murph7355]

Personally I'd avoid Fleabay unless the seller has a shop somewhere else too.

I wouldn't buy private (very nearly did once, bottle it and glad I did).

[johnfm]

I bought a really good Cartier on Ebay - having said that it was from a London based watch company that had been around since the 19th century!!

[Murph7355]

johnfm said:

I bought a really good Cartier on Ebay - having said that it was from a London based watch company that had been around since the 19th century!!

Fair chance that it wasn't made in China, bought in Basildon market and that should it go wrong you might be able to get some satisfaction then

[anonymous-user]

I've got a speedmaster professional and it's a great watch. It will be cheaper in the U.S. depending on where you go. Perhaps 20% or so. The warranty is international.

There's a japanese ebay shop http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZsabashioyakiz1 that sells loads of speedmasters that SEEMS to get good feedback. People like www.blowers-jewellers.co.uk often get unused but secondhand watches for less than U.K. rrp. www.watches.co.uk is also worth a look.

The problem with buying online from abroad is that you could get a big old customs bill.

Go for the professional, it's a truly historic watch. There's loads of threads on here with us going on about it.

There are some very good articles here by Chuck Maddox (who's a bit of a speedmaster guru) that might help.

http://home.xnet.com/~cmaddox/cm3articles.html

Edited by stovey on Monday 4th June 19:04

[pastrana72]

this may sound strange, but you should ask Goldsmiths or one of the other highstreet quality shops, if they will offer a discount or deal on a watch from stock for a sale there and then or for cash. i asked a few and then got a £200 discount to 1k for omega seamaster automatic, brand new, they ordered it in and the deal was done, as a present to father in law for retirement.

been offered a similar discount on a planet ocean of £300, some places will say they are not allowed to offer discount, but most are looking to shift units and have a good margin to play with if they know you are serious and will do the deal there and then and not just timewasting.

Shops with the limited edition schmacher speedmaster will do a deal as they had trouble shifting them, you should get a discount if you ask on a speedmaster to make it worth while, remember if you do not ask you do not get.

good luck

[ledger]

I used to work in one of the high street chains selling watches, Rolex, Ebel, Breitling, Tag etc. My advise is always ask for a discount.

[anonymous-user]

ledger said:

I used to work in one of the high street chains selling watches, Rolex, Ebel, Breitling, Tag etc. My advise is always ask for a discount.

How much discount would your shop give on a speedmaster professional?

I just buy abroad or online as i'd assume a U.K. high street jeweller would only give 10-15% or so depending on make and model.

[RickH]

Is 10-15% not a resonable amount then? To be honest I nearly died when my mum started to barter a price in the UK (too many years living abroad). I've never thought about asking for a discount in a UK shop; my thinking was that it was the price on the ticket or no dice.

Has anyone had any luck with non-chain stores and "asking" about the price? I've got a jewellery/watch arcade to trawl here in Glasgow but the majority are independents.

The USA trip I have planned is a bit previous to when I was thinking of buying. Say I can get some AirMiles to get abroad, where would be the best place to head? I've heard Dubai mentioned, what about the continent (Holland, I got a nice diamond for the other half from Amsterdam)? Singapore has been mentioned aswell but that's quite a trip and I'd probably look for something closer to home.

RickH

[anonymous-user]

I'd expect about 30-40% off U.K. rrp in Dubai for a speedmaster professional. In Hong Kong last week, my dad was offered 30% off one before any real bartering.

[pastrana72]

RickH said:

Is 10-15% not a resonable amount then? To be honest I nearly died when my mum started to barter a price in the UK (too many years living abroad). I've never thought about asking for a discount in a UK shop; my thinking was that it was the price on the ticket or no dice.

Has anyone had any luck with non-chain stores and "asking" about the price? I've got a jewellery/watch arcade to trawl here in Glasgow but the majority are independents.

The USA trip I have planned is a bit previous to when I was thinking of buying. Say I can get some AirMiles to get abroad, where would be the best place to head? I've heard Dubai mentioned, what about the continent (Holland, I got a nice diamond for the other half from Amsterdam)? Singapore has been mentioned aswell but that's quite a trip and I'd probably look for something closer to home.

RickH

yes i have been offered a discount in this country from an independant, if you ask and are serious about buying from them thet will offer you a deal to secure your sale, they have a margin on the watch, and most people would never dare ask and but you are more likly to get a deal on a speedmaster due to the cost than say a casio as there is less of a margin and loads of people who will pay full price. go bag a deal, i have in the past, no shame me,

[mcgus]

RickH said:

Is 10-15% not a resonable amount then?

got 18% on mine with the glass back just three weeks ago. Had established that it was possible in Edinburgh and did the deed in London when trawling around. Not going to say who/where but it was a biiiig department store!

[markmullen]

I had a Speedmaster Reduced for a while, I thought I would prefer an automatic to a manual wind. I kept it for a year or so. Having subsequently tried a full sized Speedmaster I have to say it felt more special, the bracelet certainly seemed to be a higher quality.

I will have one next time, just have to decide whether to go for a Moonwatch or a Schumacher

[pikeyboy]

pastrana72 said:

this may sound strange, but you should ask Goldsmiths or one of the other highstreet quality shops, if they will offer a discount or deal on a watch from stock for a sale there and then or for cash. i asked a few and then got a £200 discount to 1k for omega seamaster automatic, brand new, they ordered it in and the deal was done, as a present to father in law for retirement.

been offered a similar discount on a planet ocean of £300, some places will say they are not allowed to offer discount, but most are looking to shift units and have a good margin to play with if they know you are serious and will do the deal there and then and not just timewasting.

Shops with the limited edition schmacher speedmaster will do a deal as they had trouble shifting them, you should get a discount if you ask on a speedmaster to make it worth while, remember if you do not ask you do not get.

good luck

yep this works i asked in goldsmiths for a discount for paying cash to take away when buy my omega speedmaster pro (snoppy edition), i got about 400 quid off. By the way, these are great watches, get a pukka moonwatch you'll kick yourself if you dont, they are a classsic!

[Maxf]

pikeyboy said:

pastrana72 said:

this may sound strange, but you should ask Goldsmiths or one of the other highstreet quality shops, if they will offer a discount or deal on a watch from stock for a sale there and then or for cash. i asked a few and then got a £200 discount to 1k for omega seamaster automatic, brand new, they ordered it in and the deal was done, as a present to father in law for retirement.

been offered a similar discount on a planet ocean of £300, some places will say they are not allowed to offer discount, but most are looking to shift units and have a good margin to play with if they know you are serious and will do the deal there and then and not just timewasting.

Shops with the limited edition schmacher speedmaster will do a deal as they had trouble shifting them, you should get a discount if you ask on a speedmaster to make it worth while, remember if you do not ask you do not get.

good luck

yep this works i asked in goldsmiths for a discount for paying cash to take away when buy my omega speedmaster pro (snoppy edition), i got about 400 quid off. By the way, these are great watches, get a pukka moonwatch you'll kick yourself if you dont, they are a classsic!

I'm looking for a snoopy at the moment - do you know of any for sale (NOS or decencet second hand?)

/hijack