Old Gold Broken Omega Automatic @ local Goodwill...

[I Like Watches]

Had a day off today so I went cruzin' around the junk stores in search of treasures. Stopped by the local Goodwill right when one of the managers was in the process of putting two watches out for sale. One stainless steel Timex for $10.00 and a old Gold Omega Automatic for $80.00. I asked to see the Omega and the tag that they wrote for it said 10K gold. The heslite crystal had a crack in it, no date, only had the Omega Symbol and the words OMEGA AUTOMATIC on the dial, and the watch only had the hour and minute hands. (No seconds hand but the watch looked all original.) The winding crown was also signed Omega. The watch had a gold Speidel flex band. I gave the watch a shake and gave it a few winds. Nothing. No ticking whatsoever. Yup... it's broken!! The manager said something that they have watch batteries for it but then I told her that this was would never need a battery because it is an automatic. Just then another manager came out and said something about the watch being an Omega. I held up my wrist to the broken one that they had and then she noticed that I was wearing an Omega. (I was wearing my Olympic Speedy today.) In my opinion, $80.00 was just way too much to spend on it being that it'll probably cost hundreds to fix and replace the crystal. I'd be better off just buying one that didn't need any repairs. Anybody care to share their opinions?

[Joe K.]

Very difficult to say without knowing what it is and, perhaps, knowing what is wrong with the watch. Personally, I would go for it. But then again, I do most of my own work so the labor would not factor into the job.



Had a day off today so I went cruzin' around the junk stores in search of treasures. Stopped by the local Goodwill right when one of the managers was in the process of putting two watches out for sale. One stainless steel Timex for $10.00 and a old Gold Omega Automatic for $80.00. I asked to see the Omega and the tag that they wrote for it said 10K gold. The heslite crystal had a crack in it, no date, only had the Omega Symbol and the words OMEGA AUTOMATIC on the dial, and the watch only had the hour and minute hands. (No seconds hand but the watch looked all original.) The winding crown was also signed Omega. The watch had a gold Speidel flex band. I gave the watch a shake and gave it a few winds. Nothing. No ticking whatsoever. Yup... it's broken!! The manager said something that they have watch batteries for it but then I told her that this was would never need a battery because it is an automatic. Just then another manager came out and said something about the watch being an Omega. I held up my wrist to the broken one that they had and then she noticed that I was wearing an Omega. (I was wearing my Olympic Speedy today.) In my opinion, $80.00 was just way too much to spend on it being that it'll probably cost hundreds to fix and replace the crystal. I'd be better off just buying one that didn't need any repairs. Anybody care to share their opinions?

[watch-man7777]

I would have bought it. Okay so if you get an estimate that's too high for you, you could always resell it as is and break even. Even help some needy people out too. ;-)

[Kyle L]

Well it'd be a really special watch, probably with fantastic results!

[mrsnak]

Good reason to take a cell phone picture when out in the wild. Easy to post later and get consensus on. I've sometimes emailed pictures on the spot to my local group to get input. You might only get $80 for it if you tried to sell it as is.

[I Like Watches]

Good reason to take a cell phone picture when out in the wild. Easy to post later and get consensus on. I've sometimes emailed pictures on the spot to my local group to get input. You might only get $80 for it if you tried to sell it as is.

I thought about taking a cell phone pix but I figured "Why bother 'cuz it might already be gone the next time that I go in there.". Oh well...

[joe band]

my gold "OMEGA Automatic" is vintage '66 and has a 560 ticking inside. 10k gold with a stainless back. my mother gave it to my father when he graduated college, and he gave it to me for the same event.

i'd think it would have been worth $80, and goodwill is usually willing to bargain a bit on higher priced items. which goodwill?

[Chev James]

Go back and get that watch! :-!

I thought about taking a cell phone pix but I figured "Why bother 'cuz it might already be gone the next time that I go in there.". Oh well...

[GJ]

$80,- for a broken Omega..hmm..:think:

If you have a watchmaker in your neighbourhood it's well worth a shot..:-!

If the dial is good and original I would go for it..:-!

[openwheelracing]

I would get it if you like the look of the watch....for $80 it's worth the gamble....

[CajunMike]

For $80 I would have bought it without even checking to see if it worked or not. The sum of the parts are easily worth that. The dial can be refinished and a second hand is $30 or so. In all, you could spend $300 and have a $500 watch.

[Beau8]

Go for it~Omega parts can be sourced and you can always put it up for sale if you so choose. Cheers! ;-)

[modyblu]

And you live where? I couldn't imagine someone given that up, unless it belonged to someone whom is no longer around. I would take a chance on it. Have you ever watched Antique Roadshow? Where people get things is what is amazing, and items can be quite valuable.

[I Like Watches]

Hello fellow WUSers!! After everybody telling me to get the watch, I finally went back to look for it and it was still there. Now my question to you is... can anybody help me ID this watch? Thank you very much in advance for your time in this matter!:thanks
http://i38.tinypic.com/qzhc0m.jpg

[I Like Watches]

Hello Again!!

I know that you're all sick of hearing about this old watch by now. (sorry!!) I just dropped the watch off at the local watch repair shop. The owner said that the crystal is not cracked (could be buffed out), and there is very, very minor rust damage. Evidently whoever worked on the watch before didn't replace the gasket on the back of the watch so some water was able to get inside. The movement is an Omega movement but I didn't notice which calibre. He said that he'll put a seconds hand back on and clean out the watch for me. He also told me that the watch is about 60-70 years old. Does that sound about right?:-s He also suggested a new leather band for it.:-! (I was going to do that anyways!! LOL!!) I told him that I wasn't in a big hurry to get the watch back. He told me that it should take him a few weeks and not to bug him for it until he calls me.:-d

Thanks again and thank you for all of your help!!:thanks

[children]

wow for 80 bucks thats a great watch, now i wonder what the repair bill will be :-)

[Hippocampus]

Looks to me it's probably from the 60's, cal 5xx maybe? Omega made a lot of watches that didn't fall into any of the model series back then. I love the lugs on yours, will look fantastic with a leather band b-)

[Joe K.]

Looks to me like a 60's watch. Should clean up nicely. I agree with the leather band suggestion. The flex band on the watch has spring loaded ends, which will rub against the inside of the lugs and eventually damage them.



Hello Again!!

I know that you're all sick of hearing about this old watch by now. (sorry!!) I just dropped the watch off at the local watch repair shop. The owner said that the crystal is not cracked (could be buffed out), and there is very, very minor rust damage. Evidently whoever worked on the watch before didn't replace the gasket on the back of the watch so some water was able to get inside. The movement is an Omega movement but I didn't notice which calibre. He said that he'll put a seconds hand back on and clean out the watch for me. He also told me that the watch is about 60-70 years old. Does that sound about right?:-s He also suggested a new leather band for it.:-! (I was going to do that anyways!! LOL!!) I told him that I wasn't in a big hurry to get the watch back. He told me that it should take him a few weeks and not to bug him for it until he calls me.:-d

Thanks again and thank you for all of your help!!:thanks

[joe band]

good score! i think that was definitely worth the $80, even with repair bill factored in, you'll have a nice addition to wear.

[I Like Watches]

The Watchman left me a message today telling me that my watch is ready to be picked up. Not sure what the repair cost is going to be. Hope it isn't too steep. I'll swing by the shop tomorrow afternoon to pick it up. I'll have to ask him what was wrong with the watch. Photos of the watch will be up tomorrow night.

[cloud9]

Please post some pictures as soon as you bring it home! I can't wait to see the transformation! :-)

[DoctorC]

Fantastic! There is something refreshing about rescuing and old watch and giving it a new life.

[I Like Watches]

I got the watch back this afternoon. The watch looks a lot better and it works!! Two minor "flaws" that bug me. I need to take it back to get a longer second hand. (Although this second hand works just fine, it is not as long as all of my other Omega watches.) BTW: The second hand isn't bent, this illusion is due to the watch being scanned on my scanner. The only other thing is that the black line on the minute hand needs to be "repainted". Other than the two minor flaws that a non-WIS wouldn't notice, I think that the watch looks great. Get those two cosmetic things fixed, a gold OMEGA buckle for the strap and I'll truly be happy. (Not bad for a thrift store find 'eh?) What do you think?
http://i34.tinypic.com/2re5yrd.jpghttp://i35.tinypic.com/icolj6.jpg

[I Like Watches]

http://i33.tinypic.com/160zk1v.jpg
I took the dust jacket off of the book...

[blackstallion]

So what did the watch cost you in the end? $80 + repair + band = ? if you don't mind me asking. I think that is a great find and it looks great too :-!

[I Like Watches]

So what did the watch cost you in the end? $80 + repair + band = ? if you don't mind me asking. I think that is a great find and it looks great too :-!

$80.00 for the broken watch...
$50.00 to repair the watch...
$12.00 for the band...
???? for the Gold Omega buckle for the band...

As of right now, I know that this watch is worth at least $142.00. (ha-ha)

Am I being too "nitpicky" about the second hand being too short and getting the minute hand "repainted" or should I just leave it alone as it is?

[GTSCODE]

Am I being too "nitpicky" about the second hand being too short and getting the minute hand "repainted" or should I just leave it alone as it is?

What a bargain and yes you are being too picky!!

[I Like Watches]

What a bargain and yes you are being too picky!!

Sorry... >heh-heh<

I was just thinking that any other Omegaphile would be able to spot the "shorter" second hand thus "lowering the value" of the watch because of it. There's also a little mark on the bottom of the plastic crystal between the 5 & 6 markers. I think that can be buffed out as well.

Now if I only knew what model this watch is...? Judging by the OMEGA logo and font, I'm guessing that this watch was made in the 50's?

Can anybody out there help me ID this watch?:thanks