WTB Omega 2220.80 - SA version in CR

Hart008

Hey guys, if any of you are selling or know a piece thats for sale under USD 2100 please let me know
Cheers y=guys

Chriscoop

Hart008 wrote:

Hey guys, if any of you are selling or know a piece thats for sale under USD 2100 please let me know
Cheers y=guys

Seen quite here in UK, but import tax would be the killer.

Hart008

my sister will be heading to uk quite soon so maybe that could help save

Chriscoop

OK, I will keep an eye out

Chriscoop

Just to be clear you mean this one

Chriscoop

Maybe worth a £1750 offer? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/282391408120

Hart008

Thanks so much for the info Chris
i will kee p an eye and begin browsing , yesterday on elady there was one for 1850 USD but the bezel was severe scratch, i noticed you said you use generic bezel? do you have a link where i can buy i decent one too?
and yes thats the model your talking about is correct

the one used in the Casino Scene :x :x :x :x :x

Chriscoop wrote:

Maybe worth a £1750 offer? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/282391408120

Jag

We need to distinguish between the bezel and blue bezel insert. Omega don't sell the inserts on their own, so if you are after genuine parts, unfortunately you need to replace the whole bezel, which will cost a few hundred dollars. The cheaper option is to have the bezel polished/restored and just the insert replaced by an aftermarket one. Trouble is, all the aftermarket inserts significantly differ in colour from the original. Once you know the real thing, you will always be able to tell if the insert is genuine Omega or not. If anyone here knows of an aftermarket insert that actually matches the original, please let me know, but I doubt it exists.

Chriscoop

Jag is right, omega don't sell bezel inserts, we've had this discussion over on the watch porn thread a few weeks ago, so I won't repeat it here. I didn't spend very much money on mine as it was in horrific condition and I wasn't aware it was the one worn in CR I've just never taken much notice of that watch, so I was happy to go the aftermarket insert route as the actual bezel was fine. I got mine shipped from Miami and it just snaps into the bezel no glue or anything needed. offrei did supply ceramic bezel inserts for smp once, but not sure if they still do? Below is a picture of the bezel I fitted. If you want the link I'm happy to pm it, just let me know.




Just to say, I would not go aftermarket route on any of my newer and more valuable watches, but I couldn't justify spending £300 on a new bezel for a watch that I've seen on sale for £1300.

Higgins

While I agree, that it does not make sense spending US$ 400,-- for a bezel on a 1800 watch, this kind of Omega policy annoys me.

People rightly praise the SMP being a good alternative to the Submariner (well- less the friction pins in the bracelet and the crappy clasp) - but this is another reason, why Rolex is simply better than Omega.

If you look around SMP ads, basically all of them have horribly faded inserts - the quality of the coating is obviously significantly worse than Rolex.

If a Rolex insert fades, you spend 60-80$ for a new insert and you are done!

Omega insists to sell you exclusively a complete bezel and not the insert alone - while it's technically possible to exchange the insert like with a Rolex.

The insert plays a significant part in the visual appearance of a watch and it's totally understandable that people want to replace faded inserts.

Omega's lack of customer focus leads to

1. disappointed consumers by that unfriendly policy
2. lack of sales because 90% of all owners will buy aftermarket inserts which mean no money at all for Omega.

Omega's goal is to reach and surpass Rolex - this minor example shows, why they still have a long way to make this happen.

Chriscoop

Higgins wrote:

While I agree, that it does not make sense spending US$ 400,-- for a bezel on a 1800 watch, this kind of Omega policy annoys me.

People rightly praise the SMP being a good alternative to the Submariner (well- less the friction pins in the bracelet and the crappy clasp) - but this is another reason, why Rolex is simply better than Omega.

If you look around SMP ads, basically all of them have horribly faded inserts - the quality of the coating is obviously significantly worse than Rolex.

If a Rolex insert fades, you spend 60-80$ for a new insert and you are done!

Omega insists to sell you exclusively a complete bezel and not the insert alone - while it's technically possible to exchange the insert like with a Rolex.

The insert plays a significant part in the visual appearance of a watch and it's totally understandable that people want to replace faded inserts.

Omega's lack of customer focus leads to

1. disappointed consumers by that unfriendly policy
2. lack of sales because 90% of all owners will buy aftermarket inserts which mean no money at all for Omega.

Omega's goal is to reach and surpass Rolex - this minor example shows, why they still have a long way to make this happen.

I completely agree, the inserts just click into place, so with care taking the old one out they are readily changeable. To have to buy a complete bezel is a waste of money and in many situations the bezel itself.

Chriscoop

Another one here
http://www.chrono24.co.uk/omega/seamaster-300m-41mm-co-axial-automatic-blue--full-set--id5906391.htm

Hart008

Thanks Chris still the price above my budget hehe

sure if you could pm me the link to the bezel insert - how do you remove just the insert, isnt it very stuck into your bezel ?

Chriscoop

Hart008 wrote:

Thanks Chris still the price above my budget hehe

sure if you could pm me the link to the bezel insert - how do you remove just the insert, isnt it very stuck into your bezel ?

No, but you will destroy the old one, I remove the pearl and I use a hook (made from a bent pin pusher) to pull it out, the new bezel will just snap in. I always put a touch of watch crystal adhesive on but you don't really need this, and dont put too much on or you'll have a raised bezel insert and adhesive everywhere.
I've pm'd you the link.

Jag

Higgins wrote:

While I agree, that it does not make sense spending US$ 400,-- for a bezel on a 1800 watch, this kind of Omega policy annoys me.

People rightly praise the SMP being a good alternative to the Submariner (well- less the friction pins in the bracelet and the crappy clasp) - but this is another reason, why Rolex is simply better than Omega.

If you look around SMP ads, basically all of them have horribly faded inserts - the quality of the coating is obviously significantly worse than Rolex.

If a Rolex insert fades, you spend 60-80$ for a new insert and you are done!

Omega insists to sell you exclusively a complete bezel and not the insert alone - while it's technically possible to exchange the insert like with a Rolex.

The insert plays a significant part in the visual appearance of a watch and it's totally understandable that people want to replace faded inserts.

Omega's lack of customer focus leads to

1. disappointed consumers by that unfriendly policy
2. lack of sales because 90% of all owners will buy aftermarket inserts which mean no money at all for Omega.

Omega's goal is to reach and surpass Rolex - this minor example shows, why they still have a long way to make this happen.

I got my Brosnan blue wave 300m last year. It took many months of searching, sniping and negotiating, but I wasn’t in a hurry and found one in a reasonable condition. A little polishing was required, but my local watchmaker made it look brand new. Unlike many other specimens I’ve see, the face and hands are in a great condition, with no colour fading at all, and the crystal is perfect too. The watch must have been worn, but probably not much and mainly indoors. The reason I need to replace the insert (or probably the whole bezel) is that it is scratched – not too badly, but I fancy the watch being fully restored. From what I’ve seen, the inserts (as well as hands) tend to fade in the sun badly, so replacements every now and then just makes sense. If Rolex offers just inserts (and if they don’t fade as easily) then it’s great, but then you also pay a lot more for the whole watch, whether new or used. My Seamaster will probably not have cost GBP 1,300 even after replacing the whole bezel! Talking about ceramic bezel inserts, would it be possible to get one for the older Seamasters to replace the original aluminium one? I’d be tempted to go that way, for the sake of durability, even is the result would not be entirely screen accurate.

Commandant

Some omega authorized dealers are more flexible than others.
You should ask to change only the bezel insert.
I'm sure it is possible.
Rolex faded inserts are very desirable and cost much more in the secondary market.
Some inserts have become so popular and cost over USD10k...
I would try to keep the watch as original as possible...

Jag

Commandant wrote:

Some omega authorized dealers are more flexible than others.
You should ask to change only the bezel insert.
I'm sure it is possible.
Rolex faded inserts are very desirable and cost much more in the secondary market.
Some inserts have become so popular and cost over USD10k...
I would try to keep the watch as original as possible...

I agree about keeping the watch as original as possible. The chance of getting a ceramic replacement bezel insert is slim, so for now I will just wait until I get the funds to replace the whole bezel - while waiting I can see if I can find just a genuine insert, but chances are slim.

Chriscoop

Jag, I totally agree with Commandant, he is rarely if ever wrong when it comes to omegas. But Higgins makes a great point, omega for what ever reason deemed it unnecessary to produce an oem insert despite how easily and quickly they can wear, and how easy it is to replace!! I always attempt to keep my watches original and attempt to replace parts with genuine items where possible. But I fall short of buying a whole bezel unnecessarily and then throwing a perfectly sound one away. That Omega produced a ceramic insert for a time and not an aluminium one makes no sense as ceramic is supposedly "bullet proof" though I've seen early ones faded and badly chipped. The supplier I used makes an honest reproduction to fill a gap in the market left by Omega. They've sold over 10,000 of these things. I bought my smp in bad overall condition, no box, no papers but with an authenticated certificate from a watchmaker I chose. I paid £780 for it, I was never going to pay £289 for an unnecessary bezel. If my po Ti needed a bezel insert I would replace it with an oem item. What I would say is, what if omega stopped making pallets for a watch? would you throw it away if you could buy a reproduction pallet for £30 from the Internet and keep your watch ticking? I would. It's horses for courses but I'm happy with these bezel inserts and the look of my watch. -{