December 3, 2024

2019 Omega Seamaster Limited Edition 511.13.38.20.02.001 38mm $7,500.00 CAD. 510-00195

Omega are known for producing many limited edition watches; to the point that they sometimes don’t seem all that special. Here is a limited edition that came out with little fanfare but is notable none the less. Omega produced just 1948 of these limited edition Seamasters to mark the 70th anniversary of one of their most popular models. The original Seamaster was itself a commemorative model marking the 100th anniversary of Omega. This watch stays quite true to the very first generation of Seamasters but is manufactured with modern materials and most evolved master chronometer movement in Omega’s line up. The only outwardly obvious difference is the case size is a more modern 38mm diameter compared to the originals that are closer to 34mm. The old style logo found on the dial, crown, and buckle is an accurate duplicate to the first generation as is the arrow shaped and Arabic 3,6,9,12 hour markers. The tapered hands with luminous stripes always looked a little short in my opinion, still look a little short to me on the limited edition version. The domed crystal on the new version is made of optically perfect and super hard sapphire where the original was made from soft plastic. Omega even went to the trouble of etching the vintage logo in the centre of the sapphire crystal in the same manner as the plastic. The silver dial has a subtle turned down edge and discreet minute track as the original. The movement inside is far more complicated and accurate compared to what Omega supplied in the late 1940s. The in-house manufactured 35 jewel calibre 8806 qualifies to master chronometer accuracy levels. Omega has thrown down the gauntlet with the introduction of the 35 jewel in-house developed calibre 8806 Master Chronometer movement. This automatic winding masterpiece is certified by the Swiss Federal Office of Metrology (METAS). The testing goes above and beyond the typical COSC chronometer standards. METAS requires all the movements to already be COSC certified but also be stable when exposed to magnetic fields of up to 15,000 gauss. The accuracy requirements are also tighter than COSC. A final test confirming the manufacturer’s water resistance rating (200 feet in this case) is conducted on the complete watch with movement. The beautiful automatic winding calibre is visible through a decorated sapphire display back window. It has a long power reserve of 55 hours and the hairspring is made from completely non-magnetic silicon. Our example is number 199 out of only 1948 produced for the international market. It comes complete with 3 factory supplied straps and a tool to help swap them out. The fully endorsed warranty from a Canadian Authorized Agent is dated June 19, 2019. The fancy faux leather box serves as a display with a magnet stand (both embossed with the vintage Omega logo). A limited edition certificate, instructions, foam liner, and outer box complete this package. The watch remains in 100% original condition. It displays some scuffs and scratches from a few years of occasional use. We’ve opted to leave it in original condition. The highly polished lugs can easily be polished by one of our onsite goldsmiths while you wait, if you want it tidied up to look like new. Including our complimentary 1-year warranty, this rare Omega is estate priced at $7,500.00 CAD. Stock #510-00195.

2022 Omega Seamaster 300 Professional 42mm 210.30.42.20.01.001 $5,400.00 CAD. 510-00189

The Seamaster 300 Professional has come a long way since it was introduced as an all-new model in 1993. The current version doesn’t look all new but pretty much everything about it is different from the original. 30 years is a long time for any consumer product to stick around without any fundamental styling change. The original Seamaster 300 Professional was powered by an ETA 2892-A2 21-jewel automatic winding movement; a sturdy, robust, workhorse that debuted way back in the 1970s. It was reliable and could be tuned within chronometer accuracy levels by Omega watchmakers with hardly any alteration, but it wasn’t exotic or exclusive to Omega. A decade or so after the original Seamaster 300 debuted, Omega fitted the movement with their proprietary Co-Axial escapement with goals of even greater accuracy, longer service intervals, and a more sophisticated perception among watch collectors. With our newest Seamaster 300, Omega has thrown down the gauntlet with the introduction of the 36 jewel in-house developed calibre 8800 Master Chronometer movement. This automatic winding masterpiece is certified by the Swiss Federal Office of Metrology (METAS). The testing goes above and beyond the typical COSC chronometer standards. METAS requires all the movements to already be COSC certified but also be stable when exposed to magnetic fields of up to 15,000 gauss. The accuracy requirements are also tighter than COSC. A final test confirming the manufacturer’s water resistance rating is conducted on the complete watch with movement. The beautiful calibre is visible through a clear sapphire display back window. It has a long power reserve of 55 hours. The hairspring is made from completely non-magnetic silicon. The internal differences are only part of the story. The original simple printed dial markers have been replaced with applied indexes. Original tritium luminous hands and plots are now treated with brighter, longer-lasting luminova. The minute hand glows green along with the zero minute index while everything else glows blue. This is not a mistake, this helps to distinguish the timing minute hand from the hour hand. The old aluminum bezel inserts were prone to fading and scratches from impacts have been replaced with super hard and colourfast high-tech ceramic. The bushed rivet locking bracelet pins that all eventually fail have been swapped out for longer-lasting solid rivets secured by cap screws. The fold over locking buckle with a diver’s extension now includes a micro adjustment for fine-tuning the length when a touch more room is needed. The latest generation of Seamaster Professionals showcase wave textured dials crafted from ceramic with a subtle ZrO2 etching in the center of the dial. The use of modern technology and traditional watchmaking techniques is something Omega does better than almost any other manufacturer. They are very confident in the latest generation of watches extending the international warranty from 2 years to 5. This example has the factory warranty remaining until April 2027. It was purchased at an authorized Omega agent in Ontario and comes complete with its full set of cards and wallet, inner/outer presentation box, hand tag, instruction book, travel pouch, but pillow. The watch is in excellent condition only showing light scuffs and scratches on the buckle, case, and bracelet. The watch remains in original condition and has not been polished or refinished. This is a current product and can be seen on Omega’s website where it shows a retail price of $8,100.00 CAD. Our hardly worn example is 33% less expensive at $5,400.00 CAD. Stock #510-00189.

SOLD

December 2, 2024

1.14ct. SI1-P very good cut natural diamond 6.6mm x 4.2mm $1,800.00 CAD. 191-00171

Now my be a great time to buy an estate natural diamond. Lab-grown diamonds have been putting pressure on naturals as cheap substitutes. A current search on our database for man made lab-grown diamonds of the same size as our natural diamond but higher colour grades show retail pricing of just $200.00 U.S. dollars!!! Manufacturing lab-grown diamonds has become efficient on an industrial scale. Chinese factories are producing more than 50% of the world’s supply. Mother Nature’s diamonds are limited to what has been mined, those not recovered from existing and undeveloped mines. This natural diamond weighs nicely over 1 carat, is very well cut, and displays a warm hue that is quite common in natural diamonds. The warm tint is not something you’d not typically see in modern lab-grown diamonds which are almost always manufactured virtually colourless. This diamond has a large footprint of 6.6mm diameter. It is appropriate for use in any ring or pendant design. We can find another similar if you want to make a large pair of earrings. If you’re in the market for a lab-grown diamond, don’t be fooled by those taking advantage of a hot market. You don’t need to spend a few thousand as many are advertising. You truly only need to spend around $200.00 USD or less for an excellent cut, high quality, 1.00 carat lab-grown diamond. Our 3 billion year old natural estate diamond is priced at $1,800.00 CAD.  Stock #191-00171.

December 1, 2024

1.01ct. VS2-F (GIA) Tacori Dantela 2627ECMW (109=0.61ct. tw. VS-G) 7gr. 18kt. $13,988.00 CAD. 101-00396

Tacori is a brand that needs no introduction and one we’ve had the pleasure of showcasing several times. This complete wedding set is a personal favorite as it features an emerald cut center accompanied by GIA pedigree. That document can be viewed here and describes the 1.01 carat emerald cut as VS2-G quality with very good polish, good symmetry, and no fluorescence. If you’ve ever shopped for an emerald cut diamond you’ll know they tend to show their inclusions more readily than other cuts. That is due to the calmer nature of their facet pattern; where brilliant cut diamonds can hide or disguise inclusions in a kaleidoscope of busy sparkle, step-cut diamonds (emerald, Asscher, baguette) act like a hall of mirrors reflecting and illuminating anything within their depths. For this reason, diamond cutters have to be very mindful of where they’ll position an inclusion, a slight shift can cause the inclusion to be reflected and multiplied throughout the gem, reducing the clarity grade the diamond will receive. The tiny grade-setting feather in this diamond has been positioned perfectly! It is still visible without magnification to the sharp-eyed, but it has remained one single small inclusion in an otherwise dazzling diamond. For anyone who has really done their research, this emerald cut also features a 59% table and a 60.1% depth. As only round diamonds receive a GIA Cut Grade, savvy consumers should arm themselves with an understanding of the ideal proportions for the diamond shape they are shopping for. Otherwise, you could unintentionally purchase a diamond with high clarity and colour but low light return and sparkle, and then you may as well not be buying a diamond at all since their intense sparkle is what they’re prized for! For emerald cuts, the ideal table percentage range is between 61-69% and the ideal depth is 61-67%; this diamond falls just short of excellent, landing in the very good range. The Tacori engagement ring model 2627EC that bears this exceptional diamond is made from top-quality 18 karat white gold and features VS-G quality accent round brilliant cut diamonds, of high cut grade despite their tiny size. The price of the “Dantela” engagement ring without the centre diamond or matching wedding ring has a price of $7,490.00 USD according to the Tacori website. The contour wedding band partners with the engagement ring perfectly; with the addition of its diamonds, the total count for the set jumps to 109 equaling 0.61 carats total weight. The set currently measures a finger size 7 with some room to adjust. It’s accompanied by its original box, a copy of the GIA certificate, and a CJEX appraisal from 2021 stating a replacement value of $23,700.00 CAD. We feel a competitive replacement value with new would be $18,650.00 and our estate price $13,988.00 CAD. Stock #101-00396.

November 30, 2024

Bell & Ross BRV192 Military 38.5mm with box & papers $1,950.00 CAD. 501-00347

If you’re familiar with the Bell & Ross brand, you likely picture an oversized square case watch that looks like an instrument you’d see in an aircraft. They also produce some interesting designs from their Vintage collection that are a little more traditionally styled. Our newest estate watch is one of their most basic looking but it still has the look of a military issued timepiece. For a high quality, function first watch, it would be pretty hard to beat the Bell & Ross BRV192. At 38.5mm in diameter its a size that anyone can wear. The large dial and thin bezel make the watch wear a little larger than the size suggests. At only 11mm in total thickness it is easy to tuck away under a shirt. The semi-gloss black dial is rather minute centric with large printed Arabic numbers printed inboard of the hour markers and a thin minute track on the outside dividing the seconds into fifths. Even the extra long minute hand reaches almost to the outer edge of the dial. All 12 hour markers and hour/minute hand have been treated to a luminous faux patina mimicking a vintage watch with radium or tritium luminous paint. Despite the tan hue they still glow effectively in the dark. The triangle with two dots is a traditional feature found on many military watches to easily instantly distinguish the 12 o:clock index. I’m not sure if by coincidence or design that the tail of the seconds hands appears to be the silhouette of a delta winged jet aircraft. As a final acknowledgement to the military design the MT in a red circle stands for Military Type. A small calendar between the 4 and 5 is a small concession given for a little utility. The tiny cutout hardly interrupts the perfectly balanced dial and is very discreet with thin white print on a black background. The domed sapphire crystal is a vintage looking feature that also disperses reflections better than a flat surface. Powering the BRV192 is the Bell & Ross calibre 302 (Selitta base SW300) it is a robust performer with a more than 2 day power reserve. The original strap and buckle have been replaced with a generic replacement. The 20mm lug width allows a large variety of choices for different straps. If comes complete with the original inner/outer boxes, endorsed warranty card and product tag showing a retail price of JP¥269,500 Japanese Yen ($2,400.00 CAD). The Japanese Yen is currently very low compared to many international currencies. It has lost more 25% of its value compared to the CAD over the past 5 years. This watch is in very good condition showing little signs of use except on the generic strap. Bell & Ross still feature this model on their website where it is priced at $3,100.00 CAD. Including our 1-year complimentary warranty this watch is estate priced at $1,950.00 CAD. Stock #501-00347.