Gray market Omega Planet Ocean

Homer

What make ye of this Omega on adverts?

linky... http://www.adverts.ie/mens-watches/omega-planet-ocean-45-5mm/689925

Anybody any experience of gray market pieces? I genuinely hadn't come across them before?

foxyboxer

I guess if you can find a reputable watch maker to service it (considering the fact it's a co-axial) when required then it's a very good price for a superb watch. You don't really need the paperwork in that case.

However, if you want to get Omega to service it themselves then they won't touch it. Personally, I'd like to have all the paperwork and original packaging if at all possible.

Monty Burnz

foxyboxer wrote: »

However, if you want to get Omega to service it themselves then they won't touch it..

Are you sure about this? I would have thought that you'd have no warranty cover, but I don't see why Omega wouldn't service a grey market watch if you pay them to.

I don't even see how they could tell it's a grey market watch!

Homer

It seems to be missing the omega logo from the pictures posted unless I'm mistaken?? Also no serial numbers on the back case. I would still have thought it was on Omega no? What factory does it come out of?

Mitch Buchannon

The Omega logo should be silver on the dial. Im guessing its the lighting in the photos thats causing the confusion. The logo should not be black. The seller mentions that the serial no's have been removed from the watch and movement. The serial no on my PO is on the 7 o'clock lug. From what I can see the anti-piracy globe has been removed from the back of the watch too. This is typicaly located on the back of the watch behind 8 o'clock (thats where it is on mine)

Now as for servicing, Im not 100% sure that omega will do it but I may be wrong.

Having looked at the advert I have seen that Bogmanfan (well known round these parts) has given the seller the "all clear".

Homer, If you want a good look at mine (I have the 42mm) give me a call/text.

Monty Burnz

Mitch Buchannon wrote: »

The Omega logo should be silver on the dial. Im guessing its the lighting in the photos thats causing the confusion. The logo should not be black. The seller mentions that the serial no's have been removed from the watch and movement. The serial no on my PO is on the 7 o'clock lug. From what I can see the anti-piracy globe has been removed from the back of the watch too.

Ah - if the serial numbers etc. are erased, then I can see Omega having a problem alright.

Homer

Cheers Mitch! I'm still curious as to who made the watch in the first instance? Either it's an Omega or it's not surely? Who removed the serial numbers etc? I am familiar with some companies selling refurbed products. I'm just still unsure where the piece was made and what if any warranty it might have.

Mitch Buchannon

Homer wrote: »

Cheers Mitch! I'm still curious as to who made the watch in the first instance? Either it's an Omega or it's not surely? Who removed the serial numbers etc? I am familiar with some companies selling refurbed products. I'm just still unsure where the piece was made and what if any warranty it might have.

Well it could be two things...
1. A fake
2. Genuine Omega via the grey market/dealer.

Now let's say it's not a fake. That rules out option 1.

That leaves us with option 2. Some dealers offload genuine Omega stock they cant shift to grey market dealers / grey market websites. Some remove the serial no's and the cards etc so the "cheap" watches can't be traced back to their dealership. If this happens they could loose their AD status and never be able to stock omega again.

bogmanfan

Mitch Buchannon wrote: »

Well it could be two things...
1. A fake
2. Genuine Omega via the grey market/dealer.

Now let's say it's not a fake. That rules out option 1.

That leaves us with option 2. Some dealers offload genuine Omega stock they cant shift to grey market dealers / grey market websites. Some remove the serial no's and the cards etc so the "cheap" watches can't be traced back to their dealership. If this happens they could loose their AD status and never be able to stock omega again.

Mitch sums it up perfectly here. Most manufacturers make a big noise about grey market sellers, but the fact is that they need them in order to survive, and usually turn a blind eye to them.
While it is unusual these days to find one with serial numbers removed, I will say that I have dealt with the seller in the past and I can assure anyone thinking of buying it that it's not a fake. Ger is very well known on tz-uk, and has owned several super high-end pieces in the past. If it was the orange bezel version, I'd have it myself.

Homer

I wasn't really doubting that it was a fake after your recommendation bogman but was more concerned about the possiblity of the manafacturer refusing to repair the watch if an issue ever arose. I can understand their annoyance at ADs carrying on the practice but they should still stand over their movements.
Thanks for clearing it up guys!
Now if anybody has a gray market IWC portugese let me know

liptonvillag

Homer wrote: »

Cheers Mitch! I'm still curious as to who made the watch in the first instance? Either it's an Omega or it's not surely? Who removed the serial numbers etc? I am familiar with some companies selling refurbed products. I'm just still unsure where the piece was made and what if any warranty it might have.

Omega made the watch. Its a real Omega made in the Omega factory. It's a grey market watch meaning that Authorised Omega dealers have off loaded the watch at cost to another smaller dealer. The reason they do this is that AD have to purchase a certain number of stock of a particular brands in order to hold onto the AD frachise. They must buy the over stock to match their numbers to hold the franchise. This is common practice with all brand watch manufacturers. The Watch seller in turn needs to off load his excess stock and hence sells it out the back door at cost. They won't stamp the warranty with their AD stamp because it's seriously frowned upon by the manufacturers because the watch is sold usually at a 40% discount of the recommended retail price set by the manufacturer. The AD cannot sell at more then a 20% officially of the shelf as the manufacturer deems this as a violation of their terms and conditions to sell the watch as an AD. The serial numbers are sometimes etched off because the AD does not want the watch traced back that it sold it onto a grey market seller. There will be no stamp from the AD either so there is no official watch Manufacturer gaurantee which is usually two years. If I was buying say a Seiko watch for 300 euro I would expect no problems for two years unless i'd bought a lemon. Off course there's replicas out there but in general grey market watches are also sold by reputable small watch dealers and shops who will readily tell you its a grey market watch and alot of people have no qualms. Many grey market sellers shops will offer an inhouse warranty for two yrs. That's the general story with them and i'd be here all night if I'd to explain anymore bout it. There's nothing illegal about it, you just don't have a worldwide warranty direct from the Watch manufacturer and can't get it repaired under warranty from a authorised dealer.

Cyrus

bogmanfan wrote: »

Mitch sums it up perfectly here. Most manufacturers make a big noise about grey market sellers, but the fact is that they need them in order to survive, and usually turn a blind eye to them.
While it is unusual these days to find one with serial numbers removed, I will say that I have dealt with the seller in the past and I can assure anyone thinking of buying it that it's not a fake. Ger is very well known on tz-uk, and has owned several super high-end pieces in the past. If it was the orange bezel version, I'd have it myself.

just to echo what John is saying here, Ger has owned watches that most of us can only dream about, he isnt someone who deals in fakes or replicas from what i know of him.

these grey market watches tend to originate from the us, and as was explained in detail by others as to the reasons why.

once you arent relying on omega to service it you are pretty ok, plus ger has already gone to the hassle of having a well respected uk specialist to service it anyway meaning it isnt an issue for another 5 years at least.

gerfmurphy

Hi Guys,
firstly thanks for the vote of confidence John and Niall.
I finally found the place:).

the PO is definitly genuine, it has just had a full co axial service by Cheal, a very annoying and slow guy, but good at what he does.( currently it has lost 6 sec in the last 72 hours)
prior to this I had it examined in a well know AD in Dublin to make sure it is genuine , coaxial is not replicated. the back was taken off and checked and the watch was monitored for frequency, it was low so I decided to have an expert service it.
there are no numbers on the case, i was told it was a service case, the movement numbers have been removed.I was told that omega will not service it, not too bad a thing as a coax service with them is 485euro

for me:

really, as i know Bogfanman and Cyrus, I am not out to make a fast $, I am the most fickle of blokes, buy something and I immedialty want something different. it is a disease known as flipperitis:)
its a hobby for me not a money making scheme. it certainly is limited by the recession but recently i am getting itchy:D

i am delighted to find an irish based site, bar meeting a couple of guys in the airports around europe i did not think that there was much interest in watches here.

Smokeyskelton

Hi,

Plenty of interest in good watches, just not so many people with money these days.

Bullseye1

Very interesting thread. Its a pity more shops don't offer these watches.

foxyboxer

If it were a 42mm but with papers I'd be all over this like a rash.
Having tried on the 45mm, it's just too big for me

Bullseye1

Man I have been thinking alot about this watch. If it had come with the bracelet and not the rubber strap I'd have jumped on this.

What would an Omega bracelet set one back?

gerfmurphy

not sure what a braclet would set you back, oem omega would be amazingly expensive i am guessing.
i am sure ebay could provide the answer.
if i make the gtg thursday you can try it on rubber, i wears very comfy:)

Bullseye1

Its a very nice watch no doubt. Are we talking 300 Euro for the bracelet? Someone has your model with bracelet post number 17. Its amazing how the Omega symbol is only visible in certain light.
http://forums.watchuseek.com/f74/omega-planet-ocean-2201-50-00-xl-45-5mm-seiko-marine-master-300m-556389.html

gerfmurphy

it is a trick of the light, it is an applied symbol, it is a silver piece stuck onto the face of the watch, not painted on.
i think only the coaxial have it(but could be wrong),
i had the 600mm seiko spring drive diver too, cool watch but seiko is always seiko even the greatest of them.:cool:

Bullseye1

Wow on the bracelets and straps:http://www.authenticwatches.com/planetocean1.html

gerfmurphy

Bullseye1 wrote: »

Wow on the bracelets and straps:http://www.authenticwatches.com/planetocean1.html

A mesh on tz uk
http://www.tz-uk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=179017
165 gb pounds could look cool