The Breitling Watch Source Forums

For literally years, I have been searching on and off for the ideal vintage watch. I must admit almost total paranoia about buying one from someone unknown to me online. Not just that fact, but I really didn't see anything that was appealing enough. To my surprise, within the past week, I have found not just one, but two gorgeous vintage pieces at a local well-established watch service centre, which also specializes in repair, restoration and selling pre owned watches. The shop called Otto Friedl has been in business for decades. My father even bought some Omega watches there, and he was last in the shop in January, 1970 when he had his 50's Bumper Automatic serviced.

The two watches I found there, both in mint condition:
Omega Bumper Automatic circa 1953-55
Omega Geveve Dynamic I Manual Wind circa 1968

The Bumper Automatic Calibre 351:





The Omega Geveve Dynamic I Calibre 601. This one has everything original,even the hesalite crystal with the Omega logo etched in the centre, although it doesn't show up in the pics. The icing on the cake is the NOS bracelet which they found for it. It looks as though it has always been on the watch:







I feel very fortunate to have found these two beauties. To finally wear a quality vintage watch, it is a totally different feeling than wearing a new watch. Although the cost of these two vintage watches is a fraction of the cost of my new watches, to me they are priceless!
Thanks for looking.

Cheers,
Carl

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'63 Omega Seamaster, 2014 Omega Speedmaster MarkII

"Those who possess a sense of entitlement are seldom satisfied"

Very nice indeed Carl!

I know this is tantamount to heresy to many vintage watch afficionados, but while I like the look of many vintage pieces, I personally hate patina with a passion. (My face is getting "patina" as I'm getting older and I have yet to see a single positive thing to say about it! ). So these two almost-factory-fresh pieces of yours really hit the spot for me.

Both lovely looking watches.

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Driver8

Site Moderator

So glad you bought both, as I thought the post was heading to a poll on which was preferred, which would have been impossible, since they're both stunning.

both beautiful, Carl !

Great pick ups Carl, I don't think that you have ever bought a watch that I didn't like. The bumper is iconic of course but that General Dynamic is amazing.

edit Geneve Dynamic - but leaving the original post there to demonstrate my continued failure to translate brain to keyboard. Thanks to Fred for subtly pointing out my oops.

Well said! One big reason it has taken me so long to find the right vintage piece(s). I don't mind the well-worn look (I guess I get used to it, too, every morning), but the amount of "patina" that I see on quite a few available pieces would bother me.

You can tell that both of these watches have been worn, but very lovingly.

Cheers,
Carl

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'63 Omega Seamaster, 2014 Omega Speedmaster MarkII

"Those who possess a sense of entitlement are seldom satisfied"

Both look great, my dynamic says hi!

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Breitling navitimer super constellation LE
Omega Ploprof 1200m
Bremont supermarine
Rolex milgauss GV
Olivant and Botsford 40mm Gold edition

Gorgeous! Thanks,
Carl

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'63 Omega Seamaster, 2014 Omega Speedmaster MarkII

"Those who possess a sense of entitlement are seldom satisfied"

congrats Carl. i am starting to dig the vintage vibe. as of late I have been wanting to get into vintage rolex.

Carl, you got two beauties there. I was a huge collector and restorer of vintage Omega for a long time and you did well. Any bumper in pristine shape is a winner as they are getting hard to find and not getting let go of often anymore. Dynamics are those funny did not sell well in the day watch which means a most wanted today watch. Just hold it and smile.

Wayne

Thanks, Wayne. Funny you should say this, as every time I take out the Dynamic to look at it or wear it, I do smile! Just one of those unique yet timeless pieces that still manages to look great. Very controversial design back in the day, maybe not quite as much as, say, the Z-33 is today, but a novelty nevertheless.
Cheers,
Carl

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'63 Omega Seamaster, 2014 Omega Speedmaster MarkII

"Those who possess a sense of entitlement are seldom satisfied"