Diamond Watches

The Omega calibre 750 movement was the first calibre to feature date and day of the week. The Constellation version, calibre 751 with 24 jewels and official chronometer certification, came out in the late nineteen-sixties.

The 751 has the same heritage as the legendary calibre 551 and has inherited the staying power of its famous cousin. It’s certainly not like some of the very recent Omega calibres that spend so much time in the workshop you’re lucky to get visiting rights for them on a weekend!

You’ll not have to cosset or pamper this old workhorse much, and it will amble along indefinitely at its comfortable 19,800 oscillations an hour if you have it serviced at intervals of four to five years.

Parts are usually not a problem for this movement if, on the rare occasion, they need replaced. Tens and tens of thousands of them were produced, and most savvy watch makers have one or two around from which they raid for spares.

Why, then, are they so relatively cheap? The answer is complex, but one of the answers is that the earlier constellation calibres 551, 561 and 564 have not yet reached prices that would require a second mortgage on the family home to pay for them. And so, the demand for calibre 751, while steady, is not overwhelming.

Calibre 751 Omega Constellations can be purchased for as little as 400 US dollars in on-line auctions. They represent excellent value, particularly if they come with an integrated bracelet or an original C Case bracelet, as do many of the examples available.

So, what do you do if you net one for such a price? The first thing you do is take it to your horologist/watchmaker and have it dissembled, cleaned and oiled. Make sure your watchmaker actually dissembles the watch and isn’t one of the Short-Cut Charlies who throw it in a cleaning machine without taking it apart first.

While there are some quite cheeky operators about, you shouldn’t really have to pay much more than $US 120.00 for a traditional clean and oil and it should be a bit less, still making your acquisition an extremely good buy.

If you’re buying from a bricks and mortar dealer, make sure you ask if, and when, the watch was serviced. Sometimes vintage watch dealers have a watch serviced, stick it in the window under lights and there it stays for quite some time. If the watch hasn’t been serviced in the preceding twelve months, chances are a combination of window light heat and immobility has dried out the lubrication and the watch will need servicing again.

So, how much should you pay for a good quality 751 at a bricks and mortar outlet? Using a base of US $400.00 which is about average for on-line auctions, add $40.00 for rent and services, $120.00 for a service (If indeed it has been serviced) an additional $100.00 for orthodontist bills for the dealer’s children, and you arrive at a figure of around $660.00. Take $60.00 off the dealer’s margin (This is your haggling bonus) and you arrive at around the $US600.00 mark. If you pay more than $650.00 for a stainless steel calibre 751 at a vintage watch outlet, you’re edging towards paying too much.

(c) Desmond Guilfoyle

Desmond Guilfoyle in an award winning commentator on influence, persuasion and charisma. He has written three books on those subjects and his book ‘The Charisma Effect’ has been published in seven languages around the globe. He can be contacted at mondodec@tpg.com.au For further articles, tips and information visit his blog at http://charismacom.blogspot.com/ He also collects vintage Omega Constellations to remain sane, and his comprehensive blog on Constellations can be found at http://omega-constellation-collectors.blogspot.com/

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The A. Lange & Sohne Lange 1 Moonphase has such highly pr

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These days buying online has become common place and you are able to get almost anything you like, for instance, are you in the market for a gift? Maybe for your mother, father or possibly for a valued work colleague who has provided many years of loyal service? Perhaps someone you know is celebrating a landmark birthday or anniversary? No matter what the occasion, watches make wonderful gifts for almost anyone; it doesn’t matter whether it’s a 100th birthday, or a child’s first watch.

The ways in which you can purchase a watch are many and varied. If you like a bit of glamour you could jet off to Switzerland where keeping time is an art form, or, if you like a ‘bargain’ your experience could be as seedy as someone on a street corner in a large overcoat selling things that has just conveniently fallen off of the back of a truck. Have you ever considered the idea of buying watches online? When you buy watches online you could be saving both time and money.

The Internet has become one of the most useful tools in the last ten to fifteen years. It is both a blessing and a curse to the more traditional retail outlets around the world. You can purchase just about anything on the web and watches are no different.

You can search in the convenience of your own home which has the added bonus of not having to endure high pressured sales techniques used in some shops. Many times you can have the item delivered to your own home when buying watches online. There are many advantages.

If you are quite new to the process of watch buying you may have a few questions regarding how one goes about buying watches online. One of the most useful, and easiest things you can do, is just sit at your computer and do a few searches. This is especially true if you’re just starting out and looking for information. Just by typing “watches online” into any major search engine you’ll bring up a vast multitude of options. You will find many companies and even individual stores advertising their watches online.

Even if you haven’t purchased a watch before just browsing online can give you an idea on what watches cost, the styles available and the brands. It is also a great source of information on the watch you are searching for. Many take this information and head to a watch retailer to purchase. Of course you can actually take it one step further and purchase your watch directly from a store online.

If buying off of the internet then a good piece of advice would be to purchase via a major online retail site. Another option is via the watches online company official website. It’s essential that you use secure sites as you can never be too careful when putting your credit card or bank details online. They also tend to offer the best protection, warranties and often will deliver free of charge.

By using the Internet for our research we have access to information that we can digest at our own pace and convenience. By purchasing watches online you have the choice and quality you want right in your own home.

The author of this article is Alan Paterson. The author is also the owner, and main writer at http://www.the-shopping-guru.com where you will be able to find other shopping related articles.

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