zOwie Omega Discussion Forum

Rodney is here to serve a noble purpose. Watch forums are like internet dating sites. Unless you post a photo, you don't get any traffic.

Thanks, Rodney!

As some of you know, I'm co-moderator of this forum. This implies (perhaps falsely) that I have some expertise in Omega watches.

I will confess only to loving Omega watches, having a general familiarity with most topics that commonly come up, knowing where to look for the things I don't know (I'm a decent researcher)and knowing who to ask when I have no idea. There are a few areas in which I will claim modest expertise. Which areas are irrelevant to this discussion. :)

When you hold yourself out as an expert, or are in a position where you are expected to have a certain level of expertise, I think you take on certain responsibilities to those around you who believe you are an expert or have greater knowledge.

Or do you? This has been a topic of conversation among people whom I consider true experts, and is a source of some discomfort at times to all of them.

Those responsibilities might include:

A -- You have a responsibility to those who regard you as an expert to carefully watch what you say. Although, sometimes, even that is not enough.

B -- Your remarks need to carefully delineate:

1) what you know,
2) what you believe and
3) what is your opinion.

C -- Others may regard a watch you are trying to sell as having been subject to careful gradation and restoration; after all it was owned by an expert!

Examples to illustrate each responsibility help:

A

While I don't consider myself an expert, I am conscious of not extending my remarks beyond my level of knowledge. If I have doubt, I try to say so, and cite sources for things I believe might be contested.

Someone might actually believe me when I'm wrong . . .

It's easy to forget and just say what you think without proper documentation so you aren't misinterpreted.

I have seen some rather ugly things occur to persons with real knowledge that they have been kind enough to share with many others, free of charge. They were careful in their remarks, sourcing their facts, documenting their beliefs, annotating their opinions.

Some people absolutely delight in "correcting" an expert. And we have seen posters attack an expert for a variety of reasons, none of them good. Careful remarks didn't help in these situations.

B

A self confessed expert recently stated on another forum "Omega never sold that type watch with that type dial". He was wrong -- not because he might not be correct, but because HE CAN'T KNOW.

Omega has no records of what dial was sold with what watch. Movements were shipped uncased to many countries at times to avoid tariffs. So if Omega can't know, how can this so called expert?

So he can't KNOW. He can BELIEVE that is the case, based on his and others experience -- but he needed to say that was the basis for his remark.

Others may differ and have an opposing view. Then it is just his OPINION. In the real life example above, that was the case.

The one thing I have learned from hanging around real experts is that they keep finding exceptions to what they thought Omega did. There don't appear to be many, if any absolutes about Omega watches.

Why does this matter? Two reasons:

1) the irresponsible self proclaimed expert publishes his opinion as fact without qualification or caveat, thus unsuspecting and uncautious newbies read it and believe what they are told and

2) repeat something false enough times and it becomes fact.

Ever heard that Omega plated their vintage movements in rose gold? Antiquorum repeated this myth in a early press release commentary to the Omegamania auction. It ain't so: it's a copper alloy with absolutely no gold in it.

But what do most people believe?

C

I haven't experienced this. I have some watches that have a questionable past and I know it. They're "dicey" at best. I bought them when I was inexperienced and wouldn't buy them today.

What responsibility do I have when I sell one of these "dicey" watches? Do I disclose all I have learned, or simply make sure photographs show all the things I should have seen as a buyer?

I obviously don't have all the answers for these examples or this topic

-- wait -- correction

any of the answers.

But what do you think?

Sam

a self-confessed non-expert