zOwie Omega Discussion Forum

: After reading through a number of posts, there
: seems to be strong agreement against
: purchasing Omega watches outside of
: authorized dealers. But I am interested in
: the limited edition Seamaster w/ 007 logo,
: which I understand is no longer available.
: So I'd sure appreciate any of you who would
: be willing to indulge me in some questions
: here.
: 1. Regardless of "warranty," if I
: bought the watch, would a local Omega dealer
: work on it for me, if it just needed
: maintenance, or if it needed repair?

The dealer would repair it if he had a watchmaker on staff. The Omega factory service centers would only repair it if the serial number is still intact on the back of the watch. If a gray market dealer scraped it off, Omega won't touch it.

: 2. I read somewhere that Omega watches lose 66%
: of their value. True? True w/ *this* watch?

Not with this watch. It is now a collector's item that typically sells for more than its 2002 MSRP of $2195. All other Omegas depreciate based on age and condition. A like new watch with much of its warranty remaining might retain as much as 60% of its MSRP, while an older model may only retain 40% or so.

: I saw one recently sold on eBay for $2475 on
: 9/15. What did these watches go for
: originally? Was $2475 a good price?

Given that it was limited to 10,007 pieces and is now a collector's item, it sold for only $280 over its original MSRP. If it was new and never worn then that was a good price.

: 3. "Large" Seamasters w/out the 007
: logo have sold in the last month between a
: high of $890 to a low of $735. Any comment
: on these prices or as they compare to the
: 007 version?

No comparison. The 007 was a limited edition piece while the standard Bond SMP 2531.80 is Omega's largest selling model. There are so many Bond SMP's in the marketplace that they are valued based on their condition.

: 4. "Mid" Seamasters appear to be
: less: $735 is the only price I've seen, and
: for a couple of them. Are Mid's less
: popular? Would you still consider them James
: Bond watch styles?

They are definitely the Bond style watch but they are less popular because only people with small wrists tend to buy them. Everyone wants the full-size "real" Bond watch that was worn in the movies, so the mid-size models aren't as popular and, hence, don't hold their value quite as well. Model 2531.80 is the model everyone wants, as this is the true "Bond watch".

: Thank you so much for your help w/ this! And if
: you have any direction you think I should
: consider, I'd welcome your eMails as well. I
: do a lot of lectures and presentations in my
: profession (divorce mediator, see bio), and
: I use the Omega Seamaster as a
: "value" analogy. Someone suggested
: an Omega "knock-off" to me to use
: as a prop, but I took to heart the article
: on Chronocentric about that and agree that
: it is not something to be associated w/
: under ANY circumstances.

I always feel it's better to save your money and buy the real thing rather than waste your money on a cheap fake.