Researching Rare Vintage Watches
Omega has been known to release a number of rare and limited edition models that are extremely collectible. Some of the older watches that are in great shape are very collectible because of their history and/or limited availability. When a seller is selling a limited edition watch through the internet or in a private sale, make sure that you get all of the verification needed to find out if the watch you’re planning on purchasing is really a rare collectible watch as the seller claims. Be sure to look out for these key elements:
If the seller is claiming that a watch is rare just to get buyers pumped up, do some research. Often these watches are ordinary models. Also sellers that claim that a particular watch is rare or a special edition watch because it has some extra inscriptions on the back, especially watches like the Speedmaster Moon Watch. Many of the Moonwatch models have an inscription on the back. Also be sure to watch out for counterfeits. The Omega limited edition watches and skeleton watches have been counterfeited by the makers for cheap fake watches.
How can you really be sure that a model that you’re looking into buying is really rare? The best way to find out is to get the serial number of the watch and have Omega verify it. The older Omega watches and some of the new ones that were bought from illegitimate sources may have the serial number on the inside, which will require a jeweler to open it. Also knowing what year the watch was made will help out on spotting a real from a fake. The styles of watches change over time.
Open an account at Omegawatches.com/openaccount. Omega will allow you to look up tons of details on vintage models. When you have the serial number of the watch, go to Omega’s homepage at www.omegawatches.com Select their customer service section and then you can select the option of valuing a watch. Remember if you’re looking at a rare watch, there could be a chance that the watch isn’t on the Omega Watch website. It doesn’t automatically mean that it’s a fake. Go to omegawatches/vintage to see if you can find the vintage model that you’re looking for.
Researching vintage watches on these websites will help you from making the mistake of buying a replica watch that looks just the like real thing.