Omega Seamaster

Spaceman1972

Hi all,
I am hoping to celebrate my 40th by acquiring a significant timepiece - a first but maybe not my last. I am open to pre-owned, as long as it is in very good condition.

I have been into a few shops around town, and the watch that is most catching my eye at the moment is the Omega Seamaster, which from reading these forums seems to be a staple of the collection of a lot of people here.
My preferred watch (so far) has a blue wavy pattern on the face, but without the 007 logo. One shop in town pegged me as a beginner and was trying to steer me towards the quartz version of this watch, which looks great, but mechanically that's not what I am feeling the love for.

From lurking here (anon) over the last few weeks and various other forums, I've ben influenced to steer away from the quartz option (as an engineer I have appreciation for the craftmanship of the automatics, despite their very occasional slippage in time keeping), but am hoping for some direction in terms of the specific models.

In terms of the last few years, are there specific models within this category that I should steer away from depending on what mechanism or features are available?

I am not looking for a chronograph so will be sticking with the simple timepiece (less busy face, cheaper servicing I understand aswell..)

Also if I am to go the pre-owned route, how do I get it authenticated? Are there jewellers that will do this for a fee, and if so who and approx how much?

Any advice will be gratefully received.

Thanks also for the information I've been able to pick up here from browsing the various posts, it's been a crash course in the eccentricies of watch design and collecting, it's a whole sub-culture I never knew existed!

Recommendations on where to buy and how much I might be able to haggle off the price on a new purchase also very much appreciated.

Thanks for reading

MiCr0

watchfinder can be good for browsing stock - here's what they have in a blue face seamaster automatic
http://watchfinder.co.uk/Omega/Seamaster/Watches#?q=brand_ss%3A%22Omega%22%20AND%20seriesgroup_ss%3A%22Seamaster%22&undefined=All&fl_movementsets_sms=Automatic&fl_dialsets_sms=Blue&tp=Omega%20Seamaster&page=1&pagesize=24

Spaceman1972

thanks for that, another site I have found is http://www.iconicwatches.co.uk any one have good / bad experience of these guys?

Marcusm

What you are looking at is an Omega Seamaster Pro (SMP) which is part of a line going back to 1948. The Blue Wave dial has recently been superseded by a non wave dial concurrent with the introduction of a new mechanical movement (8500). Omega continues to market the wave dial (2500D movemnet) aongside the new watch although I believe that production has or is about the cease. I own an earlier version (non co-ax purchased in 1999) which is almost identical. This model became famous after inclusion of the quartz version in Pierce Brosnan's first outing as James Bond (Golden Eye). Consequently the watch is often referred to as "the Bond".

If you're looking at a new one, I would generally seek to match or beat the price from swisswatchesdirect.co.uk

www.swisswatchesdirect.co.uk/swisswatches/2220_80_00mens_watches.html

Monty Burnz

I've got one of these guys:



I liked the idea of the GMT complication, which allows you to track another time zone with the red hand. Also adds a bit of interest to the dial

Great watch, very comfortable to wear etc. - the only quibble I have with it is the lack of a quick-set date.

Spaceman1972

That GMT is a nice Piece of kit Monty..
MarcusM thanks for the link and info, does that new movement mean that prices of watches with the old 2500 movement will come down, or is that just crazy talk :-)
From a lot of watch sites they dont show the movement, do you just have to take the id e.g. 2220.20.80 and find it in the Omega site or is there a cheat cheet to how these codes work?
Thanks again its all useful and pointing me in new directions to find out more through the googlebox

Monty Burnz

Spaceman1972 wrote: »

That GMT is a nice Piece of kit Monty..
MarcusM thanks for the link and info, does that new movement mean that prices of watches with the old 2500 movement will come down, or is that just crazy talk :-)

The older models may be sold for less - but there were some teething problems with the 2500 movement. It wasn't designed to use the co-axial escapement from the start.

Spaceman1972 wrote: »

From a lot of watch sites they dont show the movement, do you just have to take the id e.g. 2220.20.80 and find it in the Omega site or is there a cheat cheet to how these codes work?

Basically, the ones from the 90s at least right up to the mid-late 2000s use modified ETA 2892s, and then the 2500 came in for the early co-ax models, and finally the 8500. All the co-ax models state 'co-axial chronometer' on the dial as far as I'm aware.

The 2892 movement is tried and tested for decades and any watch guy will know them inside out. The newer co-ax ones claim longer service intervals but have yet to be proven in the same way.

Sunster

Do your research and buy from trusted sellers

Spaceman1972

Thanks Sunster, Would some of the websites above be untrusted?

Sunster

Spaceman1972 wrote: »

Thanks Sunster, Would some of the websites above be untrusted?

I would trust watchfinder. Havent any experience of the others. Just note you do pay a little more from these guys for a used watch than say buying it from trusted guys in watch forums such as TZ-UK. But if oyou're not experienced and keen just buy a watch to keep for a long time then watchfinder is as good as any

mailforkev

Good timing, I have this on today:



It's a 2531 that was a bit of a bargain a few years back from tz-uk (they have since put a 250 post limit to post in Sales Corner but you can still PM the seller). There are other forums also.

I had a quick look there and there's 4 of them on watchfinder.co.uk for around the 1500 GBP mark. Call them up and they should be open to a deal if you were serious.

Don't bother with the quartz 2541. If you want a quartz watch buy a swatch and save your money.

Sunster

Remember to haggle hard. They usually have room for a reduction

Spaceman1972

Hi guys,
from looking on line swisswatchesdirect.co.uk seem to be coming in far below local RRP on new models (obviously before local negotiations take place). They also appear to be reasonably well regarded on the few mentions I found on TZUK, and trustpilot.co.uk, anyone local have any experience on them?
Also any experience of local shops offering a price match against online merchants? I'd be willing to pay a small bit more than the best online price from a reputable dealer, for a local purchase (for the comfort factor in the event of an issue), but am also keen to get good bang for my buck too..

emo72

have you considered the 2255.80.00? its the nicest of the lot. well im biased, and it has the 1120 movement which is well proven and considered bulletproof.

heres a google linky. the first 3 images.

http://www.google.ie/search?q=seamaster+225580&hl=en&rlz=1C1VEAD_enIE406IE407&prmd=imvns&source=lnms&tbm=isch&ei=wJ3XT8H8BKLK0QWY-piWBA&sa=X&oi=mode_link&ct=mode&cd=2&ved=0CDwQ_AUoAQ&biw=1024&bih=537

Marcusm

emo72 wrote: »

have you considered the 2255.80.00? its the nicest of the lot. well im biased, and it has the 1120 movement which is well proven and considered bulletproof.

heres a google linky. the first 3 images.

http://www.google.ie/search?q=seamaster+225580&hl=en&rlz=1C1VEAD_enIE406IE407&prmd=imvns&source=lnms&tbm=isch&ei=wJ3XT8H8BKLK0QWY-piWBA&sa=X&oi=mode_link&ct=mode&cd=2&ved=0CDwQ_AUoAQ&biw=1024&bih=537

That's the electric blue? Definitely one of the preferred Seamasters although quite different from the OP's initial consideration.

Bullseye1

Have you thought about a Birthyear watch?
http://wap.ebay.ie/Pages/ViewItem.aspx?aid=160819485123&emvAD=480x208&sv=1972%20Seamaster&emvcc=0

Spaceman1972

I did think abut a birth year watch, but as this one might be a lifer am currently leaning more towards new or reasonably recent but in excellent condition.
Noone has bitten on my queries re good local places to buy, or potential discounts, I would happily take advice by PM if people are not happy to discuss these in public..

Spaceman1972

Thanks all for the input I picked up a 2220.80 after a good haggle, and have to say I am very happy with it.

MiCr0

Spaceman1972 wrote: »

Thanks all for the input I picked up a 2220.80 after a good haggle, and have to say I am very happy with it.

Pics or it didn't happen!
:-)