Vintage Omega Hunting at MASP Flea Market
Vintage

Vintage Omega Hunting at MASP Flea Market

By nilomis · Mar 26, 2012 · 16 replies
nilomis
WPS member · Omega forum
16 replies1751 views14 photos
f 𝕏 in 💬 🔗

Nilomis takes readers on a vibrant tour of the Sunday flea market under São Paulo's iconic MASP museum, a treasure trove for vintage watch enthusiasts. His photo essay captures the unique atmosphere and challenges of hunting for untouched Omega timepieces in a humid climate. This post offers a fascinating glimpse into a specific regional market, highlighting the pursuit of horological gems amidst cultural landmarks.

(Moderators - I'm posting here because of heavy Omega content. Be free to move to another proper place)

Every Sunday, from 9AM to 3PM, a flea market is organized under the arch of our main museum - MASP (Art Museum of Sãp Paulo).
The only Sundays where this market is closed are the ones that a political demonstration is scheduled.

MASP, It is well known for its headquarters, a 1968 concrete and glass structure designed by Lina Bo Bardi, whose main body is supported by two lateral beams over a 74 meters freestanding space, considered a landmark of the city and a main symbol of modern Brazilian architecture (from Wikipedia).

The museum holds several masterpieces collected along many years, in special immediately after WW II when the museum used the European crisis to acquire many pieces.

The main components of the museum collection includes:

Italian School: Raphael, Botticelli, Mantegna, Giovanni Bellini, Titian, Tintoretto, Perugino, Piero di Cosimo, Guido Reni, Guercino.
French School: François Clouet, Poussin, Nattier, Delacroix, Courbet, Manet, Monet, Renoir, Degas, Cézanne, Van Gogh, Toulouse-Lautrec.
Flemish, Dutch and German Schools: Hieronymus Bosch, Memling, Cranach, Quentin Matsys, Peter Paul Rubens, Rembrandt, Frans Hals, Anthony van Dyck, Jan van Dornicke.
English School: Reynolds, Romney, Constable, Gainsborough, Turner.
Modern and Contemporary Art: Picasso, Leger, Modigliani, Matisse, Chagall, Max Ernst, Salvador Dalí, Joan Miró, Andy Warhol, Jim Dine.
Brazilian Art: Frans Post, Nicolas Antoine Taunay, Tarsila do Amaral, Candido Portinari, Di Cavalcanti, Anita Malfatti, Lasar Segall.
Latin and North American Art: Torres Garcia, Diego Rivera, Siqueiros, Calder, Gilbert Stuart

For sure a museum visit is almost mandatory to any art lover.

Now, let's go to the flea market

Our GTG starts early with coffee (espresso, of course), in front of the MASP, waiting the sellers to show up.




This is not a huge flea market, since the space is limited and there are two other competitors on another places here.




The stalls sells antiques, curios etc.




And watches that are the main motivation for our visit.




Let's see what we have here. Challenge - One of those watches is now mine. What is "the one"?




Omega galore. Omega was a very strong brand here (40's-60's) and there are many options.




The main challenge is to locate one that is untouched.
Because of the warm/wet climate, vintage dials suffered deterioration.
The owners tried to fix the damage by redoing the dials, a no no to any PuristS.




Options, options ... C-Shaped Connie all over.




This one has, IMHO, a weird dial.




Case back over polish on many ones.




Another redone dial.




Case back is not bad, I believe.




This one is very weird. The entire case was not "made by Omega".




Look the case back:




After perusing the stalls and chatting with the sellers, from time to time (very rare) a true "gem" pops up.
When a "gem" shows up, the first one to see it has priority. Haggling is the norm.

That was my Sunday morning and I invite any PuristS to, if in São Paulo (capital), to drop by.
Few good pieces but good friendship and, of course, discussions about watches.
On a summary: It's fun to go there.

Cheers,

Nilo

Key Points from the Discussion

Advertisement
The Discussion
KY
kyle L
Mar 26, 2012

Wish there were flea markets like that where I am! Haven't found any good ones...

MR
mrsnak
Mar 26, 2012

...notably the Rose Bowl (Pasadena) flea market, but because it attracts the more affluent buyers (LA movie stars shop here for home furnishings), bargains are hard to find. My venue of choice lately has been at the NAWCC (National Association of Watch & Clock Collectors) local meetings. Not only do the larger meetings attract professional vendors, but you also have the hobbiests buying and selling at the smaller gatherings. That was still quite a nice display on the table at yours. How were the

SU
Subexplorer
Mar 26, 2012

... Sunday visit with us! I always find much pleasure visiting Flea Markets, though i had never made a watch purchase at any of them. But I like to browse through the different stands, even if I don´t collect the type of items in exhibit. I find always curious things to view, to examine, to ask about. Also its very interesting to watch the faces and gestures of vendors and potential clients. Well, as I said, i find lot of fun in visiting these places, in every place I visit. Don´t have the pleas

AM
amanico
Mar 26, 2012

I love Brazil, and I suppose Sao Paolo is a good first place to see! Hey, tell us what you got, I cannot find. Best, Nicolas

NI
nilomis
Mar 27, 2012

This was, so my friends tell me, a play field. At that time, 80's, early 90's, it was possible to buy a Speedmaster Moon for meager US$ 100. Of course, the collectors from this golden era, got then by the dozen. Now, every single seller queries the usual sites and counter argue by saying "Yes, but I saw this at XXXX by $$$$". Another point that made the market here (and I believe in Argentina too) was that during the early 00's, the US dollar was very high and many great pieces were sold on inte

NI
nilomis
Mar 27, 2012

There are daily direct flights from Paris. After "only" 12 hours and you will land here. You will be very much welcome. About the acquisition ... I'm waiting to my watchmaker to finish his magic. Be patient. Cheers, Nilo

Advertisement

Continue the conversation

This thread is active on the Omega forum with 16 replies. Share your knowledge with fellow collectors.

Join the Discussion →