zOwie Omega Discussion Forum

:Hi I have an Omega La Magique which was left to my husband which I no long want - do you know anyone who might be interested in purchasing it from me?
Kind regards
Trina

I was home this afternoon as I wasn't feeling well and suspected I
: might be contagious. Telecommuting allowed me to still be
: productive.

: But, I had a couple of minutes to update my "original
: cost" data inflation adjustment. As you know, the Omega
: Vintage Database often includes the retail cost of a watch at a
: certain date and in a certain currency. I have also grabbed
: original cost data from a few other sources.

: But knowing what a watch cost in 1925 in French Francs is not
: particularly helpful. But if you know the exchange rate at that
: time into US Dollars (which I have captured) and you can make
: CPI-based inflation adjustments, then you have something
: meaningful, at least in theory. It's a simple calculation in my
: database.

: I have data on 46 Omega watches. The data did not paste in well
: from my database and spreadsheet, but the layout is consistent

: >>Description

: >>Original cost year; Original cost currency (CHF Swiss
: Franks, FF French Francs, DM Deutchmarks, USD US Dollars);
: Original cost amount

: >>Foreign currency/US Dollars exchange rate at the time

: >>Inflation factor -- how much prices have increased per the
: CPI

: >>Equivalent prices after currency translation in today's US
: dollars

: Like comparing sports figures -- and sports figures salaires from
: different eras, it is hard to say what is a good comparison.

: PRE WAR INNOCENCE and HARD TIMES OF WAR

: Watches are cheap -- less than $500 in todays money.

: 1) 1924 Omega ladies OJ 716 AI manual, 14kYG/green lizard, gold
: aged (23.7 T2)

: 1925 FF 750.00

: 20.98 French francs per US dollar

: 11.90 US prices have increased this much since 1924

: $426.00 equivalent price today

: What would a ladies manual wind 14k gold watch cost today?

: 2) 1934 Omega Tank CK 891 AL manual, SS/leather, white
: face/subsecond (20F)

: 1933 FF 525.00

: 19.88

: 16.02

: $423.00

: Ten years later, a mens steel watch cost as much as the ladies gold
: watch did!

: 3) 1943 Omega 30 T2 CK 2902 manual, YGP14k/black leather, black
: redial/subsecond (30 T2)

: 1943 CHF 137.00

: 4.30

: 12.04

: $384.00

: Wartime prices were driven down, I suppose.

: POST WAR ERA

: Prices are driven up by automatic winding and date complications --
: and especially by limited edition premium watches -- too modern
: levels in equivalent dollars.

: 4) 1947 Omega Cosmic Moonphase CO 2486 manual, 14kRGP/leather,
: silvered redial/1st year (27 DL PC)

: 1958 CHF 345.00

: 4.29

: 7.21

: $580.00

: A very complicated watch for Omega and for its day, Omega's first
: date watch -- they went for the complete calendar and moonphase,
: too! Relatively expensive compared to the 30 T2 of four years
: before.

: 5) 1947 Omega hybrid F 6212 bumper auto, 14kYGF/leather, Art Deco
: white/subsecond (28.1 RA PC)

: 1949 CHF 225.00

: 4.29

: 8.75

: $459.00

: Automatics were expensive, apparently, as this time only watch is
: in shouting distance of the Cosmic.

: 6) 1948 Omega Centenary OT 2500 auto 1, 18kYG/leather, gold
: face/Jubilee watch (30.10 RA PC AM JUB)

: 1948 USD 450.00

: 1.00

: 8.64

: $3,889.00

: Wow! This one makes me wonder about some of the other calculations.
: Omega really charged a premium for their first automatic
: chronometer, and their 100th anniversary watch. But consider
: that the Musuem Re-edition of this watch has a MSRP of about
: $8,000 . . ..

: 7) 1949 Omega Automatic Chronometre OT 2514 auto, 18kYG/leather,
: gold redial/gold indices index reg. (343)

: 1949 CHF 680.00

: 4.29

: 8.75

: $1,387.00

: One year later an automatic chronometer is one-third the cost?
: Smaller size and not the first one, and not an anniversary
: edition. I wonder if part of the difference is the huge duties
: the US charged at the time.

: 8) 1951 Omega bumper auto, 14kYG/leather, black face/sweep second
: (351)

: 1949 CHF 475.00

: 4.29

: 8.75

: $969.00

: Chronometer grade movement, but not certified. Automatic prices
: have declined.

: INTO THE FIFTIES

: Prices per watch remain generally above $500 each with premium
: pieces commanding large premiums, as in the Deluxe and Grand
: Luxe Connies.

: 9) 1952 Omega hybrid N 6555 manual, 14kYG/leather, black
: face/subsecond (302)

: 1961 USD 145.00

: 1.00

: 6.97

: $1,010.00

: Manual wind -- not sure why the premium price. Again, perhaps the
: differential is due to US duties.

: 10) 1952 Omega Seamaster Calendar CO 2627 auto,14kGP/SS, white
: face/date @ 6 (353)

: 1954 CHF 350.00

: 4.29

: 7.74

: $632.00

: Bumper auto #8 above was more money without a date in 1949, but it
: was 18k gold and this is gold capped. Prices seem to continue to
: drop.

: 11) 1953 Omega Seamaster Deluxe OT 14324 auto, 18kYG/leather,
: hooded lugs/chronometer (352)

: 1954 CHF 900.00

: 4.29

: 7.74

: $1,625.00

: Premium price for a premium watch . . . what would an 18k gold
: cased time only subsecond chronometer cost today. And remember,
: these are the MSRP prices, before bargaining.

: 12) 1954 Omega bumper F6266 auto, 14kYGF/leather, black
: face/subsecond (344)

: 1953 USD 71.50

: 1.00

: 7.80

: $558.00

: Average gold capped watch, average sort of price.

: 13) 1956 Omega Constellation De Luxe OT 2799 auto, 18kYG/18kYG
: mesh, mirrored gold/sterling box (354)

: 1954 CHF 2,690.00

: 4.29

: 7.74

: $4,855.00

: This is a price on an 18k bracelet for a Constellation Deluxe. By
: comparison, the Hour Vision on bracelet is $20,000 today.

: 14) 1957 Omega Ladymatic 2940 auto, SS/SS, white/1st ladies rotor
: auto (455)

: 1960 CHF 260.00

: 4.32

: 7.04

: $424.00

: Ladies watches seem to be cheaper than mens, or perhaps because
: this is steel.

: 15) 1958 Omega Constellation Grand Luxe OT 2930 auto, 18kYG/18kYG,
: mirrored stepped gold/brickworks (505)

: 1958 CHF 3300.00

: 4.29

: 7.0276

: $5,544.00

: The modern version of the brickworks bracelet in steel, which has
: 10 times fewer parts, is $2,000.

: OMEGA's GOLDEN DECADE THE 1960s

: Omega thrives and charges premium prices (for the day) for their
: watches

: 16) 1961 Omega Constellation CK 14393 auto, SS/SS grains of rice,
: black pie pan/date (561)

: 1960 CHF 395.00

: 4.32

: 7.04

: $643.00

: The extragance of the Grand Luxe is shown by the comparison with
: this steel Connie of only two years later.

: 17) 1964 Omega Seamaster De Ville KL 6610 auto, 14kYG/leather,
: white crosshair/date (560)

: 1967 USD 185.00

: 1.00

: 6.24

: $1,154.00

: A premium price for a non-chronometer 17 jewel watch

: 18) 1966 Omega Jewelry manual, 18kWG rectangular/18kWG,
: silver/backwinder 8 diamonds (690)

: 1966 CHF 3,090.00

: 4.33

: 6.43

: $4,588.00

: Jewelry and diamonds . . .

: 19) 1968 Omega Seamaster WG Day Date BC 168.0023 auto, 18kWG/18kWG,
: silver/chronometer expansion bracelet (751)

: 1971 CHF 1,335.00

: 4.11

: 5.14

: $1,671.00

: This price is for the watch head on a strap, not including the 18k
: WG bracelet. The bracelet would likely have doubled the price.

: THE END OF AN ERA -- FASHION EXCESS AS MECHANICALS DIE -- THE 1970s

: Prices slide a bit -- but chronographs are the high priced items,
: along with jewelry

: 20) 1970 Omega De Ville Ladymatic BA 751.0253 auto, 18kYG/18kYG
: textured, gold face (661)

: 1967 CHF 540.00

: 4.33

: 6.24

: $778.00

: No diamonds, much more reasonable price -- even with an automatic.

: 21) 1970 Omega Ladymatic auto, 14kYGF/leather, white face, sweep
: second/date (680)

: 1971 CHF 300.00

: 4.11

: 5.14

: $375.00

: No gold bracelet and case and the price drops more than half.

: 22) 1970 Omega Seamaster Memomatic ST 166.0072 auto, SS/leather,
: gray-black/minute alarm date (980)

: 1975 CHF 600.00

: 2.58

: 3.87

: $900.00

: Obsolete within a few years of introduction, Omega and Lemania
: perfected the mechanical alarm too late.

: 23) 1972 Omega F300hz 198.0045 tuning fork, 14kYGP/leather
: gold-brown/day-date chronometer (1260)

: 1972 CHF 550.00

: 3.82

: 4.98

: $717.00

: Tuning forks were adopted by Omega too late and they could not
: charge premium prices for soon to be outmoded technology.

: 24) 1973 Omega Jewelry AA 7874 R manual,14kYG/14kYG mesh, textured
: gold/ marquise 28 diamonds (485)

: 1974 USD 750.00

: 1.00

: 4.23

: $3,169.00

: Omega can still charge for diamonds & gold!

: 25) 1973 Omega Speedmaster 125 ST 378.0801 auto,SS/SS,
: black/Jubilee watch chronograph/chronometer (1041)

: 1975 CHF 820.00 or about USD 320

: 2.58

: 3.87

: $1,231.00

: 125th anniversary watch of gargantuan dimensions, almost unwearable
: until today. Not an expensive watch in relative terms -- quartz
: was already hurting pricess

: 26) 1974 Omega Speedsonic 388.0800 tuning fork, SS/SS, mirror
: gray/tuning fork chrono (1255)

: 1977 CHF 980.00 or about USD 410

: 2.40

: 3.44

: $1,404.00

: Interesting that the tuning fork chrono was more than the Speedy
: 125.

: EIGHTIES OMEGA GOES HIGH END QUARTZ, THEN BANKRUPT

: Omega tries ridiculously expensive high end quartz and mechanicals
: while cutting prices of everything else to survive. It's not
: pretty.

: 27) 1981 Omega Equinoxe 386.0813 quartz, SS/SS, reversible
: chronograph/timer analog/digital (1655)

: 1982 CHF 1,500.00

: 2.03

: 2.16

: $1,595.00

: Cool quartz experiement watch -- two sided movement essentially a
: quartz Reverso with digital and analogue displays.

: 28) 1981 Omega La Magique 191.8523Z quartz, 18kYG/leather
: brown/mystery dial (1357)

: 1982 CHF 6,250.00 or about USD 3,100

: 2.03

: 2.16

: $6,646.00

: Premium price for a premium watch. Sells today for a fraction of
: the original cost.

: 29) 1983 Omega Phase de Lune Or BA 156.0002 auto, 18kYG/leather,
: engraved silvered/ moonphase triple date (715)

: 1987 CHF 6,590.00

: 1.49

: 1.83

: $8,110.00

: Omega's last gasp attempts at high end watches before the descent
: -- in house movements, limited editions, very high quality.
: Compare this to #4 Cosmic for USD 580 in today's dollars, a
: watch with the same functions, manual wind versus this
: automatic. Hard to pay $7,500 for automatic winding. It hasn't
: held its value at all.

: 30) 1985 Omega Speedmaster Mark V ST 376.0806 auto, SS/SS,
: black/Teutonic (1045)

: 1985 CHF 1,100.00

: 2.46

: 1.94

: $866.00

: Automatic chronographs are cheaper than the #25 Speedy 125 now,
: $900 versus $1200. Try finding a Mark V for this price! rarity
: of a desivable watch carries a premium.

: 31) 1986 Omega Speedmaster Teutonic Moon ST 345.081 manual, TT
: 18kYG/TT 18kYG brushed, white/moonphase (866)

: 1987 DM 4,950.00

: 1.80

: 1.83

: $5,048.00

: Rarity of a desirable watch carries a premium. This one would get
: this price today and then some.

: 32) 1988 Omega Seamaster Polaris 1/100th 382.1231/2493 quartz,
: 18kYGSS/18kYGSS, black/chronograph-date (1670)

: 1990 CHF 2,360.00

: 1.39

: 1.59

: $2,706.00

: A rarity in its day, this watch is not that unusual now.

: OMEGA RE-EMERGES IN THE 1990s WITH HITS AND MISSES

: Omega adapts to the premium mechanical wristwatch market with a few
: hits and many misses. Prices are astronomical in historical
: terms.

: 33) 1991 Omega Louis Brandt II 5331.30 chronograph auto,
: 18kYG/leather, white Clous de Paris guilloche/decorated mvmt
: (1158)

: 1991 CHF 9,200.00

: 1.44

: 1.53

: $9,771.00

: Louis Brandt watches of the second 1990s ETA-based collection don't
: command a premium, although they are fine and well executed
: watches. MISS

: 34) 1991 Omega Louis Brandt II Date 5311.30 auto, 18kYG/leather,
: white guilloche/21k rotor (1119)

: 1991 CHF 5,800.00

: 1.44

: 1.53

: $6,160.00

: Louis Brandt watches of the second 1990s ETA-based collection don't
: command a premium, although they are fine and well executed
: watches. MISS

: 35) 1991 Omega Louis Brandt II Perpetual 175.0200 auto, 18kYG/black
: leather, white Clous de Paris guilloche/decorated mvmt (1116)

: 1994 CHF 14,000.00

: 1.37

: 1.41

: $14,363.00

: Louis Brandt watches of the second 1990s ETA-based collection don't
: command a premium, although they are fine and well executed
: watches. MISS

: 36) 1997 Omega Seamaster Professional Chrono-Diver 2296.80.00
: auto,TT RG/TT RG, blue wave/date-double chrono (1164)

: 2002 CHF 6600

: 1.56

: 1.157865

: $4,900.00

: Significant premium for the rose gold; compare #40 below. Three
: years after introduction and Watch of the Year award. HIT

: 37) 1998 Omega De Ville Prestige Tonneau 4653.31 auto,
: 18kYG/leather, white sunburst/jump hour (1221)

: 1998 CHF 5,100.00

: 1.45

: 1.28

: $4,496.00

: This one never caught on and can't get this price today. MISS

: 38) 2001 Omega Speedmaster Rattrapante ST 377.320/3540.30 auto,
: SS/SS, silver/X-33 case (3600)

: 2001 CHF 5,300.00

: 1.69

: 1.18

: $3,689.00

: This one never caught on and can't get this price today. MISS

: THE NEW CENTURY -- TODAYS OMEGA -- MOONWATCHES, COAXIAL AND MUSEUM

: Today, Omega's prices are high (very very high) in historical
: terms, but are appropriate relative to the market. Omega is
: still a good value.

: Nonetheless, it is difficult to compare a Deville Coaxial cased in
: steel on a steel bracelet (albeit an expensive one) at $3,860 is
: today's dollar s with a 1960s Constellation cased in steel on a
: steel bracelet which cost the equivalent of $643, or 1/6th as
: much.

: 39) 2002 Omega Museum 1951 Cosmic 5701.80.03 auto, 18kRG/leather,
: blue/triple date-moonphase (2601)

: 2002 USD 7,850.00

: 1.00

: 1.16

: $9,089.00

: Five years later and Omega still has this limited edition
: available. Omega showed it could tastefully mine its heritage.

: 40) 2003 Omega Seamaster Professional Chrono-Diver 2298.80.00; TI
: 378.0504.400 auto,TT/TT, blue wave/date-double chrono (1164)

: 2003 CHF 4,100.00

: 1.35

: 1.13

: $3,438.00

: Worth the money.

: 41) 2003 Omega Speedmaster Professional 3578.51.00 manual, SS/SS,
: Snoopy dial/caseback (1861)

: 2005 USD 3,195.00

: 1.00

: 1.09

: $3,484.00

: Same price as the plain one today.

: 42) 2004 Omega Speedmaster Triple Date 3523.30 auto, SS/SS,
: silver/triple date-chronograph-24hr (1151)

: 2004 USD 2,235.00

: 1.00

: 1.10

: $2,465.00

: A relative bargain, now replaced by the significantly more
: expensive chronometer verison of the same movement, the calibre
: 3606. .

: 43) 2006 Omega De Ville coaxial 4531.31.00 auto, SS/SS silvered
: white/brickworks chronometer (2500)

: 2006 USD 3,760.00

: 1.00

: 1.03

: $3,860.00

: $2,000 bracelet on $1,900 watch? Seems a bargain, if you think the
: bracelet is worth it.

: 44) 2006 Omega De Ville coaxial GMT 4533.31.00 auto, SS/SS silvered
: white/brickworks GMT chronometer (2628)

: 2007 USD 5,700.00

: 1.00

: 1.00

: $5,700.00

: Seems a lot for the GMT, but the current MSRP on the date is now
: much larger -- $4,300?

: 45) 2006 Omega Seamaster GMT 2538.20 auto, SS/SS, white GMT (1128)

: 2006 USD 2,500.00

: 1.00

: 1.03

: $2,567.00

: The Great White -- is it worth an extra $3,100 for a bracelet and
: coaxial?

: 46) 2007 Omega Speedmaster 50th Anniversary Patch
: 311.30.42.30.01.001 manual, SS/SS, black w/patch/chronograph
: (1861)

: 2007 USD 4,000.00

: 1.00

: 1.00

: $4,000.00

: Seems steep -- good thing our AD discounts! MISSED OPPORTUNITY!

: What are your comments on the scattering of prices over time?
: Watches today are more expensive than they have ever been in
: terms of purchasing power.