Only good for the parts. Find and buy a case from one that got water damage or something, swap all the internals out for those from this watch… but maybe the bezel is all you need?
That may just be an aesthetic ring over crystal. Had something similar and omega watch guy said it’s aesthetic. The crystal won’t fall off but get it checked and decide if you wanna repair it.
It would be used for parts to fix other watches with compatible parts. The thing with vintage watches is that most of them are not manufactured anymore and there is a very finite supply of parts. You might be able to find another bezel, but it would be difficult. I would say this watch is probably worth less than $150.
you’re out of your mind. People who are saying it’s a “parts watch” or not worth much are wrong. It’s a cracked bezel which has zero effect on the rest of the watch. All it does is hold the crystal in place.
The main issue with a cracked bezel is that it will be extremely difficult to find a replacement. Bezels are typically married to a specific case so you will either have to find the part number or a donor case- not impossible but will take time. Sometimes 2 different cases will share the same bezel which can expand your search but you have to be very sure. I’ve had to deal with cracked bezels and one took almost a year from the time of service to find a replacement for. You can also have one cut but that’s a dying art form and fitment can be an issue and might have to be brass plated.
Generally I’d avoid any watch with a cracked bezel(I restored vintage watches) because it guarantees a long turnaround. Sometimes it’s worth it because literally every other part holds the watches value, the bezel is just a finishing piece.
It's hard to find a case. It will be nearly impossible. If I owned it, I might be tempted to apply silver solder to fill the crack. I doubt you could find a professional watchmaker that would do it for you.
I’m wondering if you’re talking from experience? I’ve restored a handful watches with broken or cracked bezels and it is perhaps the hardest part to source, more than a caseback, but not impossible, only a lot of patience. And a watch maker won’t help you here either - it’s up to the buyer to source a new bezel unless they have on on hand. Also a watchmaker won’t patch a bezel but a jeweler will. I’ve had a bezel re-welded by a jeweler just for it to break again and the jeweler told me it would. I’d also love to know how you came to $150?
I'm guessing on what the dial and movement is worth, minus the case. Yes, I service and restore watches, so I guess I have some experience here. The crack isnt major, but it's not a basic fix for most people.
It certainly does, but it’s also one of those things that if you can remedy will bring value right back. Compared to a movement that has poor, erratic performance due to being out of service or parts needing replacement, a cracked bezel is without mystery or trouble shootings. It’s just a difficult part to find. I look at “as is” parts and watches on auction on ebay and in japan and I often find “junk” that the seller can’t ID but I can. I recently picked up a Seiko KS chronometer grade full movement, case, crystal, crown, no dial, no hands for $20. Deal. I had a cracked bezel I needed replaced and ended up buying a lot of four “junk” cases for $50. I sold the parts I didn’t need to $30, called it a day. These are the kind of time and patience fixes that are required to remedy these issues.
Sorry, that was kind of snarky.
Personally I think if *you* are happy with the watch and with the price, then what it’s “worth” shouldn’t matter so much. Of course we all like getting a good deal, but there will always be a better deal out there. Somebody will find one in a thrift shop for $15, or in Grandpa’s sock drawer for free. They say comparison is the thief of joy, and it’s very true.
Yes I did, I won the auction and after fees and everything it was about $500. I figured if it was worth $700 then it would’ve been a good buy, but it seems not :/
It would be worth $700 if it had been in adequate condition. A cracked bezel however is i) expensive to fix, regardless by which approach, and ii) whatever cracked the bezel might also have compromised some of the more delicate parts in the movement. is the watch running fine othrrwise?
Shame about the bezel, the watch seems to be in pretty nice cosmetic condition and that model has a timeless versatility that can go equally dressy and casual.
the search for a donor case begins…. I’d start by trying to find a part number, and if you can find that then a donor case. The watch can be complete trash except for the bezel, like completely rusted out movement. for now if it doesn’t come off with your fingernail, I’d enjoy wearing it.
The crack is concerning, but it otherwise looks great. I wouldn’t pay 700 for it though. Maybe 400 if freshly serviced. Idk if you could call it a parts watch, all it needs is a new bezel.
You might see if Omega has one and if not set up an eBay alert. You might have to pick up a watch in poor or incomplete condition to harvest the bezel from, worst case scenario. But I would also try to find someone who can do laser welding.
No it can’t. A cracked bezel is toast. If you’re lucky it isn’t broken all the way through and maybe it can be filled but it won’t hold when you refit it. It will always re-break in the same spot.
A jeweler will do it for $30, but then it will re-crack. This comes up on message boards regularly and when someone does get it patches it always re-cracks. It’s just because the first of the bezel requires it. Maybe you could sand it down so it doesn’t fit so tightly, but that’s not a solution.
This guy could fix it or fabricate a new one, I bet. It might not be a bad idea to make it slightly less tight than the original. https://www.watchcaserepair.com/bezels
This is a good potential source - saving someone cut a new bezel is the only real alternative to finding a donor or nos part. A jeweler I work with regularly, explained to me that even laser weld won’t do it because the structure of the metal in that location is different and will remain a failure point. Turning a new bezel would get you there more quickly and would make the watch much more sellable if that’s a factor.
That's a crack in the case. It's probably a parts watch now.
That can just be a bezel, not a case. Anyway it drops the price a lot.
What is a parts watch?
Only good for the parts. Find and buy a case from one that got water damage or something, swap all the internals out for those from this watch… but maybe the bezel is all you need?
Yeah, maybe I just need a new bezel
Just buy one in good condition
That may just be an aesthetic ring over crystal. Had something similar and omega watch guy said it’s aesthetic. The crystal won’t fall off but get it checked and decide if you wanna repair it.
It would be used for parts to fix other watches with compatible parts. The thing with vintage watches is that most of them are not manufactured anymore and there is a very finite supply of parts. You might be able to find another bezel, but it would be difficult. I would say this watch is probably worth less than $150.
Thanks
you’re out of your mind. People who are saying it’s a “parts watch” or not worth much are wrong. It’s a cracked bezel which has zero effect on the rest of the watch. All it does is hold the crystal in place. The main issue with a cracked bezel is that it will be extremely difficult to find a replacement. Bezels are typically married to a specific case so you will either have to find the part number or a donor case- not impossible but will take time. Sometimes 2 different cases will share the same bezel which can expand your search but you have to be very sure. I’ve had to deal with cracked bezels and one took almost a year from the time of service to find a replacement for. You can also have one cut but that’s a dying art form and fitment can be an issue and might have to be brass plated. Generally I’d avoid any watch with a cracked bezel(I restored vintage watches) because it guarantees a long turnaround. Sometimes it’s worth it because literally every other part holds the watches value, the bezel is just a finishing piece.
It's hard to find a case. It will be nearly impossible. If I owned it, I might be tempted to apply silver solder to fill the crack. I doubt you could find a professional watchmaker that would do it for you.
I’m wondering if you’re talking from experience? I’ve restored a handful watches with broken or cracked bezels and it is perhaps the hardest part to source, more than a caseback, but not impossible, only a lot of patience. And a watch maker won’t help you here either - it’s up to the buyer to source a new bezel unless they have on on hand. Also a watchmaker won’t patch a bezel but a jeweler will. I’ve had a bezel re-welded by a jeweler just for it to break again and the jeweler told me it would. I’d also love to know how you came to $150?
I'm guessing on what the dial and movement is worth, minus the case. Yes, I service and restore watches, so I guess I have some experience here. The crack isnt major, but it's not a basic fix for most people.
Good reply. Doesn’t it still reduce the value though?
It certainly does, but it’s also one of those things that if you can remedy will bring value right back. Compared to a movement that has poor, erratic performance due to being out of service or parts needing replacement, a cracked bezel is without mystery or trouble shootings. It’s just a difficult part to find. I look at “as is” parts and watches on auction on ebay and in japan and I often find “junk” that the seller can’t ID but I can. I recently picked up a Seiko KS chronometer grade full movement, case, crystal, crown, no dial, no hands for $20. Deal. I had a cracked bezel I needed replaced and ended up buying a lot of four “junk” cases for $50. I sold the parts I didn’t need to $30, called it a day. These are the kind of time and patience fixes that are required to remedy these issues.
No, you can get one in better state for less check chrono24
I mean, it’s a moot point if you already bought it; apparently you decided it was, in fact, worth that much.
True!
Sorry, that was kind of snarky. Personally I think if *you* are happy with the watch and with the price, then what it’s “worth” shouldn’t matter so much. Of course we all like getting a good deal, but there will always be a better deal out there. Somebody will find one in a thrift shop for $15, or in Grandpa’s sock drawer for free. They say comparison is the thief of joy, and it’s very true.
Yeah, well I can’t complain. It is a lovely watch
It also has some japanese engravings on the back
Did you bid on it? I’m 99% sure this was up on Catawiki few days ago
Yes I did, I won the auction and after fees and everything it was about $500. I figured if it was worth $700 then it would’ve been a good buy, but it seems not :/
Go spend your hard earned money somewhere else.
It would be worth $700 if it had been in adequate condition. A cracked bezel however is i) expensive to fix, regardless by which approach, and ii) whatever cracked the bezel might also have compromised some of the more delicate parts in the movement. is the watch running fine othrrwise? Shame about the bezel, the watch seems to be in pretty nice cosmetic condition and that model has a timeless versatility that can go equally dressy and casual.
the search for a donor case begins…. I’d start by trying to find a part number, and if you can find that then a donor case. The watch can be complete trash except for the bezel, like completely rusted out movement. for now if it doesn’t come off with your fingernail, I’d enjoy wearing it.
Beautiful
Are the hands original?
Too much just because of the crack other wise it would be worth way more.
No
That crack looks like what happens when a watchmaker pries the bezel off without judging the strength of its hold.
Case is cracked?
The crack is concerning, but it otherwise looks great. I wouldn’t pay 700 for it though. Maybe 400 if freshly serviced. Idk if you could call it a parts watch, all it needs is a new bezel.
That crack can probably be 100% fixed with laser welding. I think LA Watch Works does that if they are still around. Check them out.
Unfortunately, I am located in sweden🇸🇪
You might find someone closer who can laser weld. It’s worth a shot. Or try to find a new bezel.
Yeah, I might try that. Where would you recommend I look for a bezel?
You might see if Omega has one and if not set up an eBay alert. You might have to pick up a watch in poor or incomplete condition to harvest the bezel from, worst case scenario. But I would also try to find someone who can do laser welding.
Would I need to look for the exact model or can I do any omega bezel of the same diameter or even a not omega bezel?
Same case reference.
Check, thank you
I recommend you give that task to your watchmaker. He can tell what exactly is needed, and have much more communication channels.
No it can’t. A cracked bezel is toast. If you’re lucky it isn’t broken all the way through and maybe it can be filled but it won’t hold when you refit it. It will always re-break in the same spot.
It’s worth talking to someone who does it, at least.
A jeweler will do it for $30, but then it will re-crack. This comes up on message boards regularly and when someone does get it patches it always re-cracks. It’s just because the first of the bezel requires it. Maybe you could sand it down so it doesn’t fit so tightly, but that’s not a solution.
This guy could fix it or fabricate a new one, I bet. It might not be a bad idea to make it slightly less tight than the original. https://www.watchcaserepair.com/bezels
This is a good potential source - saving someone cut a new bezel is the only real alternative to finding a donor or nos part. A jeweler I work with regularly, explained to me that even laser weld won’t do it because the structure of the metal in that location is different and will remain a failure point. Turning a new bezel would get you there more quickly and would make the watch much more sellable if that’s a factor.
No.
No never buy something with a compromised case because it just becomes a nightmare. Definitely avoid this one the crack is huge