Home : Omega Watches
Omega Wrist Watch Buying Guide
Before you start shopping for a new, used or vintage Omega wrist watch, there are a few things that you might like to know. Things that will save you a lot of time - and perhaps a lot of money! First, the "official" word on new watches (according to Omega). If you absolutely, positively want to be 100% certain that you are going to be getting an authentic, genuine Omega wrist watch with the manufacturer's warranty, then do not even think about shopping for one on the internet! Why?
Simply because Omega Watches does not allow their network of retail outlets to sell Omega watches online in any way, shape or fashion. Does that mean that you cannot find a new Omega watch from an online merchant? No - just make sure you know what you are and what you are not getting! There are many trustworthy, reliable merchants selling Omega watches online (more on that later) but if you buy from them, you won't be able to confirm that it is genuine. At least, not from Omega Watches.
Many online merchants actually have disclaimers on their website indicating the the watch is genuine but it will not be covered under the Omega warranty. In addition, some even state that the serial numbers will be removed. Why would they do that? Because Omega apparently maintains a record of every watch they send to their retailers. If Omega ever catches one of their retailers violating the sales agreement, their authorization would possibly be instantly revoked. Remember, this is the "official" story. Don't stop reading until you have checked out the rest of this article.
So, how can you be sure you are buying an authentic Omega watch? Well, according to Omega, there are three things you will need to do:
- Shop for your Omega wrist watch from authorized Omega watch dealers. You can find a listing of dealers on the Omega Watch website by using their Store Locator.
- Ask the retailer to provide you with the warranty card that has been completed with the 8-digit serial number for the watch you are buying, the watch reference and the retailer's full name and address.
- Before you make your purchase you will need to send the 8-digit serial number which is engraved on the outer edge of the watch case-back to Omega for verification. They will compare the number with their official records to determine whether the watch is a genuine Omega watch. If you wish to contact them by e-mail, you can complete the Contact Us form on the Omega Watch website.
So, once again (and for the last time - I promise), If you want to be absolutely positive that you are buying an authentic Omega wrist watch, then forget about shopping on the internet for one. While doing research for this article, I found several merchants that even advertise they are authorized Omega dealers but when I went to the Omega website to confirm it, they were not listed.
Oh yeah, one other thing you should know. Authorized Omega watch retailers are apparently "required" to charge the full retail price for all current watch models. OK, I think that about covers it from the "official" perspective. Now here is the "rest of the story"...as Paul Harvey might say.
Discount Omega Watch Dealers
That last little point about the price issue is what opens the door for all of the "unauthorized" online merchants to offer Omega watches. They are not required to abide by the same rules. To be honest, I really don't understand how Omega can be saying what they are on their website because we aren't talking about some hole-in-the-wall, fly-by-night outfits here - unless Amazon.com falls into that category. As of this writing, Amazon has 1257 listings for Omega wrist watches
"2 year warranty and in stock for immediate shipment. All serial numbers are intact. With box and instructions."
To see for yourself, check out this listing for the Omega Men's Seamaster Watch (that's the James Bond model). In addition, Amazon offers a free five year warranty for these watches. If you click on the link for the warranty, you will find the following two quotes:
"All of the watches from the Amazon.com Collection are genuine and authentic with serial numbers intact. We work hard to bring you high-quality products at competitive prices. Amazon is an authorized dealer of many brands of watches. As an authorized dealer, we can offer you a watch with the manufacturer's warranty in place. Amazon also buys watches from other authorized dealers, distributors, and other established lines of distribution within the watch industry. A benefit of buying through these alternative channels is that we are able to offer you a highly competitive price. The manufacturer's warranty on these watches may not be valid. In the case that the manufacturer's warranty is not valid, Amazon.com offers an industry-leading 5-year limited warranty to cover your watch."
"THE MANUFACTURER’S WARRANTY DOES NOT APPLY TO THIS PRODUCT BECAUSE WE ARE NOT AN AUTHORIZED RESELLER OF THIS WATCH. THIS WARRANTY IS THE ONLY EXPRESS WARRANTY COVERING THIS WATCH AND WE DISCLAIM ANY LIABILITY UNDER THE MANUFACTURER’S WARRANTY."
Here is a link to the full text of the Amazon.com 5-Year Limited Watch Warranty
So, they are not authorized Omega watch dealers and the watches are not covered under the Omega manufacturer's warranty. But, they do guarantee that the watches sold by Amazon are genuine and authentic. Well then, why should you consider buying from Amazon or some other "unauthorized" dealer?
Because you will be saving hundreds or even thousands of dollars! For example, the James Bond watch mentioned above has a retail price of $1,595. The price on Amazon.com is $1,017. That's a savings of $578.00!!! (All of these figures were current as of this writing - the box to the left confirms the latest pricing.) When you start looking at some of the higher-end Omega watches, you will be able to recognize a four-figure savings off the retail price.
One final thought on the Amazon.com listings before we move on. Not all of the listings on the Amazon website are part of the Amazon.com collection
So, the choice is yours. Now that you know the whole story you can make an educated, informed decision that you will feel comfortable with. If you decide to shop and buy from an online merchant, there are many other very good ones - in addition to Amazon.com. If you would like to see which new Omega watches are for sale through these merchants, be sure to check out our article "Omega Watches For Sale" - this article discusses various merchants and provides reviews and ratings of these merchants.
Used and Vintage Omega Watches
If you are looking for used or vintage Omega watches, you will need to be willing to do your homework - on both the watch and the merchant/seller. There are a number of unethical sellers in the market of used and vintage high-end watches, including Omega watches. Several dealers are actually manufacturing replicas and marketing them as "authentic" used or vintage watches. There are some great resources available to help you identify fake Omega watches. They are listed in our Replica Watch Report article. I would encourage to take the time to read that article before you venture into this market.
Needless to say, there are still some excellent and highly-regarded sellers of used and vintage Omega watches. It is just wise to be as aware as possible of the choices and options that are available to you. A few minutes of research in advance may save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars and prevent any heartache if you were to discover that you were ripped off after the fact.
I have visited hundreds of websites and spent countless hours looking for watch dealers that meet our guidelines for being a reputable watch dealer, whether selling new or used watches. Here are a few of the best ones that I have found:
Ashland Antique Watches and Jewelry
Ashland is a vintage watch dealer founded by Richard E. Gilbert, co-author of "The Complete Price Guide to Watches", and a member of the NAWCC for many years. Ashland offers you a wealth of experience and opportunties to find the vintage watches you are looking for. They have a good selection of used and vintage Omega watches at very reasonable prices. They have been selling online since early 1999 and have a very stong customer satisfaction rating.
Interwatches
Interwatches offers a wide selection of new, used and vintage timepieces. They include FREE overnight shipping on almost every one of their items. Very nice selection of Omega watches. Interwatches has been selling products online since late 2001. They have an extremely high customer satisfaction rating and excellent prices.
The Source For The Unusual
The Source For The Unusual is exactly that. They have a quite a selection of Omega watch parts, mostly New Old Stock. If you are planning to restore or repair an Omega watch yourself, this would be a great resource for you. They have been selling online since early 2000 and have an extremely high customer satisfaction rating.
I hope you have found this article to be helpful and practical in assisting you to find the right Omega wrist watch that you are looking for. If you would like to learn more about each of the Omega watch collections, be sure to check out the following articles for more detailed information on features and where you can find them:
- Omega Constellation Watch Collection
- Omega Seamaster Watch Collection
- Omega Speedmaster Watch Collection
- Omega De Ville Watch Collection
- Omega Olympic Collection
Popular Used and Vintage Omega Watches For Sale
The following Omega watches are currently available for sale from various selected sellers. To check the details of any of these listings simply click on the links below. Please be sure to read the details of each listing and take some time to check out the seller's reputation and background. We do not endorse or support any of the specific sellers.
To reference the permanent link to this entry please copy this url: (Permalink)
