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165.024 Seamaster

Caselock
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Hi all,

as far as I remember, this watch was the second Omega I purchased, it was in 2019. It came to me in "as found condition", running but with a lot of wear. These watches got/get quite some wrist time, so I am happy when they show signs of wear as long as the technical part is running fine. Thus I can wear them without beeing hesitant. This is how I got it, with a lot of Hesalite -haze. I will try to do some actual pics later. Happy to hear your opinions.

Best, caselock

IMG_0507 (1024x768).jpg IMG_0514 (1024x768).jpg IMG_0518 (1024x768).jpg IMG_0520 (1024x768).jpg IMG_0512 (1024x768).jpg IMG_0523 (1024x768).jpg IMG_0537 (1024x768).jpg IMG_0556 (1024x768).jpg IMG_0569 (1024x768).jpg
 
JimJupiter
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Will be looking great with a deep polish of the crystal or a replacement! Congrats
 
Davidt
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A good crystal polish and that should clean up wonderfully!
The case looks nice and sharp as well.

The serial looks like 28xxxxxx on your picture but I assume it’s 25xxxxxx?
 
Caselock
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The serial is a 28xxxxxx and a 550 movement so it was for the american market.

Since the SM 300 were tool watches meant to go into the water I preferably would like to have these vintage ones also be waterresistant to some degree. But that would mean to change a lot of parts like crystal, crown plus tube, and if the back shows corrosion - huh!
On the other hand: with leaving these old parts this vintage one at least looks like a tool watch, sort of a pretender....

What is the general view of things on this point here?

We have at least two votes for leaving this thing as is except for the crystal....
 
JimInOz
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Agree with other comments.
However, the crystal must be replaced.
In addition to surface scratches and the cracked section at 4:30 (that will probably allow water intrusion), I can see that there are fractures in the structure of the plastic. This happens due to age, UV exposure etc and the molecular structure of the plastic degrades.
Bump the crystal against anything and it could. fracture.

You may be able to see them by looking across the crystal and moving the watch around until the light direction is right.
 
TexOmega
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I would get a service and address the severe rotor wear from lack of service in the past.....and a new crystal.
 
Knudsen1971
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I`ve had the same dilemma, but as I want it as a daily, I`ve changed the hesalite, case tube and crown + caseback seal to be able to pass the pressure test. Movement serviced, regulated. All genuine parts are stored.
Yours is a latest example of civil 165.024, made around 26th JUN69, falls in a batch for US market, with factory fitted SD crown, nice survivor!
 
Davidt
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With very few exceptions, I get the crystal and seals changed at service as I wear rather than ‘collect’ watches.
 
Donn Chambers
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Definitely a new crystal. And I would service it and have the gaskets replaced. If you don’t choose to service it, at least change the seal on the back - it’s deteriorated so much it’s not do anything to keep moisture or dust out.
 
Caselock
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If you get close to the crystal you see there is also damage to the dial around the hour markers, probably moisture in the past. And a bit of lume on the hour hand came off....

IMG_0577 (1024x768).jpg IMG_0546 (1024x768).jpg

The inside:

IMG_0714 (1024x768).jpg
 
Fallout Boy
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Is this a "gilt" 300 ?

(Gilt in this case used as "golden" imprint on the dial)
 
Caselock
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The imprint is yellowish, certainly not white (anymore). Not sure wether this is regular aging. I will have to check with the Isnardi - book, but I would say yes, looks gilt.
 
Caselock
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Just checked with the Isnardi-book:

its type D dial with the short middle bar on the E on the Omega inscript.
 
Fallout Boy
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Does Isnardi mention, show, describe "gilt" / golden dials ( SM 300) in his book? That would be interesting!
 
Caselock
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Isnardi states type B dials as "gilt print".

Others as "silver print" and "white print".

If it is legit I could post a pic of page 162-163 here but I am unsure wether that interferes with copyrights etc.

This book is a great source of information, well written and full of pictures to underline the topics.
 
Caselock
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Knudsen1971 Knudsen1971
I`ve had the same dilemma, but as I want it as a daily, I`ve changed the hesalite, case tube and crown + caseback seal to be able to pass the pressure test. Movement serviced, regulated. All genuine parts are stored.
Yours is a latest example of civil 165.024, made around 26th JUN69, falls in a batch for US market, with factory fitted SD crown, nice survivor!

Thanks, that is a very precise dating of my watch! What is the source of this data?
 
southtexas
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Caselock Caselock
Isnardi states type B dials as "gilt print".

Others as "silver print" and "white print".

If it is legit I could post a pic of page 162-163 here but I am unsure wether that interferes with copyrights etc.

This book is a great source of information, well written and full of pictures to underline the topics.

Hi, for clarity sake, are you describing 3 distinct font colors, being 1) “gilt”, 2) silver, and 3) white?

Or is it 1) “gilt” OR 2) “silver/white”?
 
Knudsen1971
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Caselock Caselock
Thanks, that is a very precise dating of my watch! What is the source of this data?
I have collected over the years data from close to 200 SM300 watches with Extract form Omega. This gives me a useful database. In your case I have one watch, that is just 3 digits from yours, so your watch was build on the same day or very close to.
Edited:
 
Caselock
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Knudsen1971 Knudsen1971
I have collected over the years data from close to 200 SM300 watches with Extract form Omega. This gives me a useful database. In your case I have one watch, that is just 3 digits from yours, so your watch was build on the same day or very close to.

Thats great! So even if Omega does not start their EoA - business again, there is a way to date these watches...
 
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