buying a omega watch...

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Squisher

Lifer
Aug 17, 2000
21,204
66
91
Neat thread about Omegas. You guys don't usually talk about them. My dad got one from GM for 25 years of service about 30 years ago.
 

bozack

Diamond Member
Jan 14, 2000
7,913
12
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Originally posted by: DonVito
Good points, although I tend to be literal-minded, and when someone says $100, I think $100. I have an O&W 2801 that ran about $150 and am a little underwhelmed by it. The Sandozes are indeed pretty nice, but as you said they are closer to $200 than $100. They are pretty plentiful on the used market for less, though.

I knew you'd have some good additions to this thread, and mentioned your name above. Your knowledge of the spendy stuff is clearly far superior to mine. I already PMed him the contact info for the DC shop, FYI.

Generally I figure people are willing to pay a little more if it means a better product, especially when talking low dollar items...I remember Sandoz having a few which were under $200, actually an Explorer model which was under $150 I think.....there are others also just I cannot remember them all....

noticed your mention of me above and thanks, if it deals with watches, pens, cufflinks, cigar cutters and a few other items I generally have some knowledge....as for the DC shop I don't know if you have to mention one name in particular or not, when I called them that was the case.

always cool talking watches and not politics :)
 

MadPeriot

Golden Member
Dec 5, 2003
1,012
0
0
Originally posted by: Horus
I own two expensive (300 dollar +) watches

An Esquire-HORRIBLE band construction, the pins snap every week or so. Good timepiece though.
And
A swiss-army Titanium 24H watch- Wow. Indestructable. Had it for over a year, one pin slightly bent, some slight scratches. INCREDIBLY light.

I have a Tag Heuer Black faced Professional 2000 retailed at $1300, but got it for $900.
 

bozack

Diamond Member
Jan 14, 2000
7,913
12
81
Originally posted by: Doggiedog
I know a few people that have had their Omegas go bad on them after a year or two. They've told me to stay away.

Right now I am ticked off because my Raymond Weil Parsifel has broken for the second time in 1 year. These expensive watches aren't really rugged are they? It's not like I go mountain climbing with them either. I just put it on and go to work.

I've also been told to stay away from Tag.

Funny thing is, I've still got a Seiko watch from HS that is about 20 YO that works perfectly to this day.

I'm thinking maybe my next watch will be a Seiko Kinetic or something.

My wife wants me to have a fancy dress watch though. I'm perfectly fine right now with my James Bond Thunderball Swatch.

generally the people who have them go bad know little to nothing about nice watches...Omegas as well as Tag heuer make decent watches however both are rather expensive....Omega, Tag, Rolex, Panerai, Breitling and etc are all very rugged...your Raymond Weil is more of a dress piece, personally I would put it on the same level as a Movado...maybe slightly sporty but not meant for real abuse....Tag quartz imho are a better bet then their standard Auto watches, but their zenith based watches are very very nice...

Seiko makes a nice watch...honest company, only Seiko, Patek and Rolex are autonomous and make their own inhouse movements which I have alot of respect for as the industry is over run with conglomerates nowadays.
 

bozack

Diamond Member
Jan 14, 2000
7,913
12
81
Originally posted by: MadPeriot
I have a Tag Heuer Black faced Professional 2000 retailed at $1300, but got it for $900.

The 2000 prof is a pretty nice watch, personally I owned a 1500 TT with the off white/silver dial and my wife currently owns a Link in stainless steel with a white mop face...the 1500 I had was alot like your 2000 only a little thinner and smaller, got it for 50% off retail and sold it for $20 less then what I paid two years later....good deal.
 
Feb 10, 2000
30,029
67
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Originally posted by: bozack

Generally I figure people are willing to pay a little more if it means a better product, especially when talking low dollar items...I remember Sandoz having a few which were under $200, actually an Explorer model which was under $150 I think.....there are others also just I cannot remember them all....

noticed your mention of me above and thanks, if it deals with watches, pens, cufflinks, cigar cutters and a few other items I generally have some knowledge....as for the DC shop I don't know if you have to mention one name in particular or not, when I called them that was the case.

always cool talking watches and not politics :)

Ya may be right (re willingness to spend a bit more). The thing about watches, though, as you know, is there's always something a little better and a little costlier, and next thing you know you're strapping on a Lange One or something (well, unless, like me, you just can't afford it). I am so entertained by any number of cheap watches that I can still get a lot of pleasure from collecting them. Silly as it sounds, I don't know that there's a watch I like better, for what it is, than my Seiko SKX779, but I will definitely have a Sub once I can justify it without feeling like it's a moronic purchase, financially speaking.

I gave him the name to use at the DC store as well! Fortunately that person is very friendly about re-using his name, and the store, I'm told, doesn't expect nobody but his close friends to call.

It's nice to have a niche that's useful to others, hobby-wise - I myself am the resident cheap mechanical watch/road bike/handgun guy (with politics that annoy you and others!).
 

ScottMac

Moderator<br>Networking<br>Elite member
Mar 19, 2001
5,471
2
0
I always get a kick out of the guys that drop a major bucks on a suits, shirts , ties, shoes etc .... then proudly display their $20.00 plastic watches .....

I like the mechanicals; to me, they are wearable mechanical art. Awesome precision.

Most of the folks I work with don't recognize my usual watch as anything special (a Blancpain 2100 chrono / flyback) ... I don't care. I wear it because *I* like it. It's comfortable and easy to read.

I also have some Breitlings, GP, Omegas, Bell &amp; Ross (by Sinn), a DateJust .... some others ...I wear 'em all.

Buy a nice watch. There's pros &amp; cons for either quartz or mechanical, if you're a nuclear paranoid, get a mechanical ... it'll survive "The Big One" - even if you don't... ;-} ..... ifyou need split-second precision, get a quartz watch.... There's even a Quartz Rolex if they still make 'em ... if not, I'm sure they're still around on the used market.

Get something you like, something that's comfortable, something that'll last, and something that is compatible with your lifestyle (or better yet, get a couple ... one for activity, one for dress, one for whatever ... you get the idea).

JM.02

Scott
 

bozack

Diamond Member
Jan 14, 2000
7,913
12
81
Originally posted by: DonVito

Ya may be right (re willingness to spend a bit more). The thing about watches, though, as you know, is there's always something a little better and a little costlier, and next thing you know you're strapping on a Lange One or something (well, unless, like me, you just can't afford it). I am so entertained by any number of cheap watches that I can still get a lot of pleasure from collecting them. Silly as it sounds, I don't know that there's a watch I like better, for what it is, than my Seiko SKX779, but I will definitely have a Sub once I can justify it without feeling like it's a moronic purchase, financially speaking.

I gave him the name to use at the DC store as well! Fortunately that person is very friendly about re-using his name, and the store, I'm told, doesn't expect nobody but his close friends to call.

It's nice to have a niche that's useful to others, hobby-wise - I myself am the resident cheap mechanical watch/road bike/handgun guy (with politics that annoy you and others!).

Hey Don, I think the difference is the use of the piece with regards to spending...while you are correct in saying that there is always something a little bit better, I feel that if it is to be a primary watch or your only piece then you should be willing to spend slightly more (or that most people are usually more open to spending more) to get something that I would consider a good deal better, however if you are like me and are just looking for beaters most of the time then the lower the cost the better.

With moving up the food chain, while one could end up with something pricy like a Lange, Patek, Breguet or what not I feel that everyone, myself included have their threshold for spending, I personally know that no matter how much money I ever made (with the exception of mega millions) I would be hard pressed to buy anything other than a Stainless Steel Daytona for retail price at $6,500 as I know that is the one watch I can buy that is somewhat expensive, but also can be resold for a $3,000 profit the second I get it and even more after wearing it for 10 years...but then again I remember a few years ago my max budget was $3200 and now I could see myself spending $4300 for something I really want however I have the one nice watch rule so in order for that to happen I have to sell my current piece.

That Seiko you have is very nice, and as I said in another post I have nothing but respect for Seiko along with a few others as they truly epitomise the term "manufacture"...Seiko makes a great product, generally at reasonable prices (Unless you consider their Grand Seiko line) and are very very reliable and easy to service.

Thanks for passing on the contact info for the store, I didn't know how that worked, if he wanted you to contact him before contacting the store or what not....I went there once as I used to live a few blocks over...selection was ok but the salesperson whom I dealt with was not (but that is another story).

If I ever need any bike advice I guess I know who to get ahold of...



Originally posted by: ScottMacI always get a kick out of the guys that drop a major bucks on a suits, shirts , ties, shoes etc .... then proudly display their $20.00 plastic watches .....

I like the mechanicals; to me, they are wearable mechanical art. Awesome precision.

Most of the folks I work with don't recognize my usual watch as anything special (a Blancpain 2100 chrono / flyback) ... I don't care. I wear it because *I* like it. It's comfortable and easy to read.

I also have some Breitlings, GP, Omegas, Bell &amp; Ross (by Sinn), a DateJust .... some others ...I wear 'em all.

Buy a nice watch. There's pros &amp; cons for either quartz or mechanical, if you're a nuclear paranoid, get a mechanical ... it'll survive "The Big One" - even if you don't... ;-} ..... ifyou need split-second precision, get a quartz watch.... There's even a Quartz Rolex if they still make 'em ... if not, I'm sure they're still around on the used market.

Get something you like, something that's comfortable, something that'll last, and something that is compatible with your lifestyle (or better yet, get a couple ... one for activity, one for dress, one for whatever ... you get the idea).

JM.02

Scott

Hey Scott,

I agree 100%, I always see those who wear an 800-100 suit, nice accessories but then the cheapest timex or casio black plastic watch, or even worse one of those swatch watches from the 80s...as I mentioned in another thread Bill Clinton was notorious for doing this whenever he had a public appearance, he would sport a really nice Brooks brothers suit, nice shoes, shirt, tie..etc but wear a cheap $15 Timex Ironman...from what I have read he would have a "nice" watch that he didn't wear in public while in office...John Edwards seems to be doing the same thing with wearing nice suits and what not but again the cheap Timex is on his wrist in the few shots I have seen. While I give them cudos for supporting american business and what not personally I would rather see them in anything that was more fitting with the rest of their look, same goes for anyone that dresses nicely but insists on wearing a piece of crap or ugly watch, heck go without if you plan on doing that :)

Your Blancpain sounds really nice, I always was a fan of the Flyback, tried one on once and the x71 bracelet was amazing, just never a fan of the double butterfly clasp, I really like the new Fifty Fathoms limited edition however the price tag is a bit high at almost $8K and I would never use it as a diving watch as it is just too pretty, for divers I generally would only consider a Sub or a Sea Dweller.

I would love to see your other pieces, especially the Bell and Ross as I am a huge fan of military aviators style watches and considered getting a Sinn on a few occasions....

With regards to the Rolex oysterquartz unfortunately they have discontinued production due to lack of sales, personally I feel that the Rolex quartz mechanism was one of, if not the best quartz movement in history, nothing like the cheap disposable ETA quartz modules used today...shame they killed it, but I can understand as really quartz pieces do not appeal to their niche, word has it they will begin to appreciate once the left over stock is sold off.

I agree with your summary though, as long as you like it, it is nice and it will last that is all that matters.
 

spacejamz

Lifer
Mar 31, 2003
10,995
1,745
126
Originally posted by: MadPeriot
Originally posted by: Horus
I own two expensive (300 dollar +) watches

An Esquire-HORRIBLE band construction, the pins snap every week or so. Good timepiece though.
And
A swiss-army Titanium 24H watch- Wow. Indestructable. Had it for over a year, one pin slightly bent, some slight scratches. INCREDIBLY light.

I have a Tag Heuer Black faced Professional 2000 retailed at $1300, but got it for $900.

got the Tag WN1110 black face for $950 (retails for $1200 IIRC) while on a cruise two weeks ago...
 

abc

Diamond Member
Nov 26, 1999
3,116
0
0
don, boz, all, i placed a $200 cash deposit for the aqua terra. i checked out their 42mm version as i initially considered it...

i liked it and it allowed for more glimmer on the numbers of the watch than the 38mm, but the size, despite my large size, still looked too pimpin for me to get used to.

the watch, whatever size, is not gaudy, it's sleek and conservative classy, but that 42mm seemed to yell out a tad too much.

the 38mm which i thought would be too small, actually seems fine, perfect perhaps even.

i think i mistook the size of my sibling's 2 Rolexs as what I'd be expecting from Omega.

they had to order it so i didnt walk out the store with it. they didn't stock the blue dial version.


i went with the place with Howard you mentioned Don. the place in DC, i was in contact with the contact of the place, who told me exactly what the DC place would sell it for.

AFter Howard gave me his price, he added tax and it was about $125 above the DC place before shipping cost, using credit card.

After I mentioned the DC price, he reworked it and said if I do all cash instead of CC:
he brought the grand price down to about 75bucks cheaper than getting it from DC, before shipping, about a $200 dollar swing downward...

i was happy with that price, because that was about I think plus or minus $50-75 from what anyone else can do, even over half the Internet places whereby you wouldn't get the Omega warranty, or can't be totally certain about the merchandise/serialnumbers...

but too bad now I couldn't put it on the cc: and enjoy the 30-40days I'd have before paying the cc: lol...


if anyone is interested in the final price pm me... I'm not sure if I should plainly post it?
 

Kishan

Platinum Member
Jul 2, 2004
2,580
0
0
why not an airking-or maybe a preowned submariner/datejust? breitling is where its at IMHO. bu then again i'm only 18 and only know so much...
 

Kishan

Platinum Member
Jul 2, 2004
2,580
0
0
btw-my dad has a constellation-if you like all the gizmos on the seamaster i heard technomaster are good-too loud though
 

abc

Diamond Member
Nov 26, 1999
3,116
0
0
Originally posted by: KPSHAH316
why not an airking-or maybe a preowned submariner/datejust? breitling is where its at IMHO. bu then again i'm only 18 and only know so much...

well, i dont for see the omega as my only ever luxury watch... maybe with whatever bonus next year.

i like those airkings too... but they're a tad smaller i think.
 

abc

Diamond Member
Nov 26, 1999
3,116
0
0
hmm i dont think women are such aficionados of fine watches as men, that is, those who are... are.

their thing is everything else, shoes, handbags, earrings, jewelry