Omega

Hi, I'm relatively new to the watch world and have stumbled across this forum by accident.  I have a modern GMT Seamaster, but fancy something a little different.

Can anyone tell me about the Omega Seamaster 300 which is pictured at the head of the Omega forum?  I quiet like it and would like to find out more about it - i like the colours.

Is it a special colour? is the strap genuine?

If anyone knows if there was a 'thread' regarding this particular watch, would they be able to give me some assistance?

Many thanks in advance.

Julian

Vintage SM 300 From Year 1964...

The Strap is an Aftermarket, but it works very well with this beauty!

Here are some links..

omega.watchprosite.com

omega.watchprosite.com

omega.watchprosite.com

omega.watchprosite.com

Read them all, and the answers, and you will have all the infos you wanted to have...

Best, and Welcome here, BTW!

Nicolas

Thanks very much for such a quick reply.  Now I know what i'm looking for,  I better start looking.

Nice photos by the way, should take some of my own really, but it's finding the time (poor humour was not intended).

Thanks again, Julian.

Hello Julian

I am in the middle of updating this but your post gave me a reason to post it as a work in progress...

I while back people were asking questions on vintage Seamaster 3oo. So I wanted to post what I was able to confirm this info with Omega a while back...

This is a first glance... at the world of the vintage Seamaster 3oo...

enjoy...

A History of the “Seamaster 3oo”:
1957 The First Seamaster 3oo



Case of ref. CK 2913 - automatic cal. 501 - arrow hands



CK 2913 Seamaster 3oo ad circa 1958

1960 The above replaced by:



new Case ref. CK 14755 - automatic cal. 552- arrow hands

1962 The above replaced by:



new ref. ST 165.014 - cal. 552 but w/straight hands

1964 The above replaced by ref. ST 165.024 - cal. 552 (no date) - also straight hands



Seamaster 3oo Ad circa 1965



Seamaster 3oo Date w/either 563 or 565 caliber movement ST 166.024



Royal Navy Seamaster 3oo Issued in 1969 ST 165.0024



Caseback with issue markings

From my personal observations...

The 14775 and the 165.014 is basically the same watch and movement, Omega just switched to a 6 digit case reference system.

The dial design on the 2913 was used until the case design switch to the 165.024.

Hands...

2913 used the same type of Arrow head hour hand (can be seen in the scan of the 2913). The 14755 used both the Arrow head hour hand like the 2913 and the arrow head min hand and std hour hand as can be seen in 14755 scan. Omega has commented that the 165.014 and the 165.024 (not including the Royal Navy 3oo) was fitted with stick hands (as you can see in the scan of the 165.014 and the ad for the 165.024). Omega also commented that the "Broad sword" hands were used on the Seamaster 3oo w/ date 166.024. The Royal Navy issued Seamaster 3oo was modified at MoD (Ministry of Defense). The MoD modified the 165.024 w/ fix strap bars, Broad sword hands, issue marks depending on year was either stamped over the engraved caseback or as in my scan the original Omega engraving was ground off and then stamped with the issue marks. But I have seen many examples of 165.024 No-date Seamaster 3oo (civilian) with the Broad sword hands at this time its still and open question in my book if they were originally sold with this broad hands or not.

Case design...

The Seamaster 3oo was one of three specialty watches Omega came out with in the late 50s. The two other watches Speedmaster and the Railmaster.

There is a very tight link between the Speedmaster and the Seamaster 3oo. They share the same over all case design as you compare the changes in the Speedmaster (321) line to the Seamaster 3oo line the case size and shape are very close, even the lug width between the two cases are the same. When the turned lug cases came out ... both the Seamaster 3oo and the (by now)Speedmaster Professional had the same "new" style cases.

If I find any additional information I will post it here. If you have information you which to contribute please contact me...

Good Hunting...

Bill Sohne

And that Sword hand came later...

But I based this observation on watches I saw here and there, and I generally noticed that from 67, SM 300 came with sword hand...

Generally, so, I also saw some examples which proved the contrary...

Finally, I was lost, with this matter of sword or straight hand..

Thanks you a lot for giving me lights on this matter!

Thanks a lot for this informative post, too!

You should save it, as a ref for all the SM 300 Lovers!

Best.

Nicolas

Thanks BIll ..... correct me if I'm wrong, but sword hands became customary on SM300s only after
Omega started talks with the british Ministry of Defense (to plan the MOD standards application in SM300).

That probably means late 1966-1967.  Also it seems that no 166.024 (date models) ever comes with baton
hands, only sword hands.  But on this I may be wrong

Best wishes
Franco

Hi Franco

My article was hosted on Chuck's site ... When he passed away I was planning on bringing it over to here but wanted to update it .

On the topic of sword hands... they first appeared on the MoD issed Seamaster 300 and then only on the Date model Seamaster 300. I never found a time only example with the sword hands that I felt were original to the watch from the factory. I also never seen a date model with the baton hands.

Good Hunting

Bill Sohne

Hi Nicolas

I am working on an update to the article. They are great watches...

Good Hunting

Bill Sohne

the 1967 model is probably the most faked omega in existence especially as Omega sell modern replacement parts for them. i've been lucky enough to own a genuine Royal Navy issue in the past and also to have the misfortune of owning a fake which i still have, purchased long ago before i knew about 'stubbies'. the movement is genuine as are the hands and caseback, but everything else is far eastern made. its an embarrasment to me so it sits forlorn and alone. the 565 cal movement is probably worth something, but nothing else. some of them are very hard to spot and i've even seen one for sale at a large UK watch auction house

the price you'll need to pay now for a genuine one is a very large amount indeed, however, if you really like them there is an Australian company who sell new models using the vintage movements and OEM parts apparently with the backing of Omega. they are a much more cost effective way of owning one, but it will never be 'right'.

personally i think if you have the money, buy the vintage model, just dont take it swimming.

I know the guy who puts those Seamaster 300s together. I understand what you mean about them not being quite right. But then again, no different from the factory replacing dials etc etc when servicing (a la Rolex).

The other advantage is that they have new seals! So you can wear them swimming. I have this peculiarity that an old dive watch needs to be at least able to get wet. They can be restored to this level. And that is the goal with the pieces I have.

After all, I have driven 80 year old cars and revved them to the redline...they should cope with few splashes 

 

My apologies, Mr Hutton, I did not intend my post to come across that way. I always value your opinions highly.

I too, view the true originals in a better light than the, shall-we-say "assembled" Seamasters. I am not trying to push those pieces, just attempting to make the point that they have a greater possibility to be used as intended. Which I find refreshing. I love seeing posts like Kong's where he took his IWC diving.

Unfortunately, as you state, case corrosion etc can put paid to any hope of a decent WR on vintage pieces. And like you, I guess not trusting the WR takes the gloss off a piece a little.

After all, I go swimming with my 30+ year old Seiko Diver and diving with my 20+ year old one (both of which have spare o-rings readily available and are easily rebuilt).  I also swim in my compressor cased Enicar (single crown) but the thought of doing it with my Sherpa Guide GMT makes me shudder. Particularly due to the thought of corrosion and banging up the rather fragile bezel.

As a newbie to the watch world and indeed the use of forums, i'd just like to say thanks to all that have contributed to this thread.

Bit of an eye opener really.  I knew there were many fakes/replicas of various brands, but didn't really have knowledge of these hybrids (for want of a better name) and the lengths organisations go to, to 'copy' the real thing.

It's made me a bit more cautious of perhaps going for something unusual, and potentially making an expensive mistake - I know research is the key.

Does anyone know a rough figure for the SM300 1964/65? (picking up the acronyms already).

Regards
Julian

Opps.

Thanks Graham, and apologies to all.

I like the "NOS" 166.0324 a lot! I debated whether to get one of these or look for a regular vintage one that had a vintage dial, case, and bracelet. I chose the former -- the 166.0324 -- for a few reasons. First, all other things being equal, I prefer a pristine dial with no blemishes, even on older watches. Second, although I don't have a huge vintage watch collection, I wasn't feeling compelled to go vintage. Third, and most compelling, it seems like a pretty rare circumstance for Omega to assign a new modern caseback number to a watch having a vintage Omega movement but otherwise all NOS parts. I thought this was a pretty cool situation.

As Omega's vintage website says about the 166.0324:

This reference is considered as an after sales item since 1999-2000 and doesn’t consequently belong to our International Collection. It is related to a modern watchhead, crown, dial, hands and case back for the Seamaster 300 Series from the 60's (ref. ST 165.024 of cal. 550 or 552 and ST 166.024 of cal. 565). The reason is that no watch heads were available anymore for these two watch styles and that we had then to create some new to guarantee the after sales service for such watch styles. Of course, the movement corresponding to ref. 166.0324 should always be a "vintage" movement related to the Seamaster 300 Series from the 60's.
Case : round (42 mm diameter)
Case back : engraved with the sea horse medallion and "Seamaster Certified High Pressure Waterproof".
Bezel : rotating stainless steel bezel with inserted “0-60” black scale.
Size between case lugs : 20 mm

Here are some pics of the 166.0324 and its progeny:

Love the SM300. Given all the fakes and frankens, I opted for what Watchco in Australia puts together, an essentially brand new watch using a restored correct movement and all new Omega parts -dial, case, hands, crystal, bracelet, etc.
Sadly, they've raised their prices lately to compensate for the stronger US dollar (been a while since we've seen that!).
I went for the no date.