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bags1971
·As a few of you may know I recently purchased a 165.024 off a OP on this forum I hadn't intentionally set out to buy the watch but help the OP put up some pictures.
As I just sold my 16760 I had some spare cash so speaking to the OP and only being a hour away decided to look at the watch.
Meeting up with with the OP in his garage showed me the watch. The OP proceeded to tell me the history which I've added below.
The watch was running 6 seconds per minute fast with very slow balance.
We agreed a price and I left very happy.
Strangely when I opened the case back I used a little blower on the movement to see if any dirt was in it the balance sped up and started keeping near perfect time.
It's booked for a full service of the movement only no polishing at all as I love how it has all the nicks scratches from daily wear.
I feel very privileged to be the new owner of this watch with a rich and colourful history
The OP's email to me with the history
Omega 300 Seamaster Divers Watch History 1968-2020
Serial No 24208XXX
Case back 165024
The watch was bought most likely early/mid 1968. I was based in HMS Mauritius from November 1967 until January 1969. My 1st SCUBA dive wasn’t until 27/1/68 so I guess I bought the watch sometime after dive number 5 or 6 in March 1968.
I bought the watch with the help of the NAAFI who did what would now be know as an interest free loan. I paid it back at £5 a week, sailor’s pay then was about £8 but we did get overseas allowance so £5 wasn’t too difficult. We didn’t have much to spend our money on and had a duty free bar which helped the money go further.
The watch came from Poncini et Fils in Port Louis, Mauritius for 500 mauritian rupees, about £45. Aldo Poncini who sold me the watch was reputedly the richest man in Mauritius. The Company still trades in Mauritius from the same shop.
The original strap was a “specially treated” fabric watch that failed by rotting away at the watch strap spring bar. Just as I was about to enter the water on a dive, I spotted it and left it in the boat. It was almost the end of the watch’s story!
I have a few photos of me wearing the watch, but it isn’t possible to identify it.
This was after we had a visit from a RN man at the top and had a Divisions Parade. This was later in my stay in Mauritius.
By now the watch was on the standard rubber diver’s watch strap available then.
I think this is Le Chaland where the navy had a recreational are. It was very good for snorkling.
Since I have a wet suit with weights and blue Cressi fins it would fit into the timeline of Omega ownership. The fins where my 2nd set, the 1st nipped my toes and eventually I ended up with numb digits. Cressi fins were the ones recommended by the diving fraternity.
I can’t accurately place when in the log diver’s book I acquired the watch.
It took a while to get the hang of spear fishing. Not as easy as you might imagine.
The last Samurai below (eat your heart out Tom Cruise).
This was a fancy dress that was held towards the end of my stay in Mauritius. Again the watch now on a metal bracelet is not identifiable but the “halo” shows very strongly.
The watch stayed with me for the rest of my time in the Navy. I had it serviced as required, approx every 18 months. The last dive I had with the Omega 300 was on the Mary Rose, Henry VIII’s warship sunk in the Solent.
I left the Navy in 1972 and married in 1974 the watch was in daily use. About 1976 Quartz watches were affordable and Omega Service charges went up alot. With the normal financial pressure on the not long married, the Omega was not used so much.
I found a 3rd party Service Agent (ex Omega outlet) and it was serviced by them a couple of times.
I was going to sell the watch to “someone who would appreciate it for what it was” but I was persuaded to give it the my father-in-law maybe 1976/7.
The f-in-law may have had it serviced once but as far as I can gather did not have it serviced any more, instead taking it to a “market” watch repairer who regulated the watch until it could no longer be realistically adjusted. Thankfully the repairer declined requests to service the watch although he did give it the scratches on the case back.
After the “regulation” ran out, the watch resided in a jar on the mantelpiece, I’d guess for a number of years. After f-in-law died I was asked if there was anything of his I wanted.
The Omega 300 was returned to me.
The original box, receipt for purchase, services and the Omega buckle had been thrown away :-(
By now Omega service charges were IMO very high and I put the watch in a drawer while I considered what to do. Consideration seems to have taken a very long time because after about 12 years I decided the have the watch serviced.
The rest you know.
The last picture is one ive taken with the watch on a 70's 1171
As I just sold my 16760 I had some spare cash so speaking to the OP and only being a hour away decided to look at the watch.
Meeting up with with the OP in his garage showed me the watch. The OP proceeded to tell me the history which I've added below.
The watch was running 6 seconds per minute fast with very slow balance.
We agreed a price and I left very happy.
Strangely when I opened the case back I used a little blower on the movement to see if any dirt was in it the balance sped up and started keeping near perfect time.
It's booked for a full service of the movement only no polishing at all as I love how it has all the nicks scratches from daily wear.
I feel very privileged to be the new owner of this watch with a rich and colourful history
The OP's email to me with the history
Omega 300 Seamaster Divers Watch History 1968-2020
Serial No 24208XXX
Case back 165024
The watch was bought most likely early/mid 1968. I was based in HMS Mauritius from November 1967 until January 1969. My 1st SCUBA dive wasn’t until 27/1/68 so I guess I bought the watch sometime after dive number 5 or 6 in March 1968.
I bought the watch with the help of the NAAFI who did what would now be know as an interest free loan. I paid it back at £5 a week, sailor’s pay then was about £8 but we did get overseas allowance so £5 wasn’t too difficult. We didn’t have much to spend our money on and had a duty free bar which helped the money go further.
The watch came from Poncini et Fils in Port Louis, Mauritius for 500 mauritian rupees, about £45. Aldo Poncini who sold me the watch was reputedly the richest man in Mauritius. The Company still trades in Mauritius from the same shop.
The original strap was a “specially treated” fabric watch that failed by rotting away at the watch strap spring bar. Just as I was about to enter the water on a dive, I spotted it and left it in the boat. It was almost the end of the watch’s story!
I have a few photos of me wearing the watch, but it isn’t possible to identify it.
This was after we had a visit from a RN man at the top and had a Divisions Parade. This was later in my stay in Mauritius.
By now the watch was on the standard rubber diver’s watch strap available then.
I think this is Le Chaland where the navy had a recreational are. It was very good for snorkling.
Since I have a wet suit with weights and blue Cressi fins it would fit into the timeline of Omega ownership. The fins where my 2nd set, the 1st nipped my toes and eventually I ended up with numb digits. Cressi fins were the ones recommended by the diving fraternity.
I can’t accurately place when in the log diver’s book I acquired the watch.
It took a while to get the hang of spear fishing. Not as easy as you might imagine.
The last Samurai below (eat your heart out Tom Cruise).
This was a fancy dress that was held towards the end of my stay in Mauritius. Again the watch now on a metal bracelet is not identifiable but the “halo” shows very strongly.
The watch stayed with me for the rest of my time in the Navy. I had it serviced as required, approx every 18 months. The last dive I had with the Omega 300 was on the Mary Rose, Henry VIII’s warship sunk in the Solent.
I left the Navy in 1972 and married in 1974 the watch was in daily use. About 1976 Quartz watches were affordable and Omega Service charges went up alot. With the normal financial pressure on the not long married, the Omega was not used so much.
I found a 3rd party Service Agent (ex Omega outlet) and it was serviced by them a couple of times.
I was going to sell the watch to “someone who would appreciate it for what it was” but I was persuaded to give it the my father-in-law maybe 1976/7.
The f-in-law may have had it serviced once but as far as I can gather did not have it serviced any more, instead taking it to a “market” watch repairer who regulated the watch until it could no longer be realistically adjusted. Thankfully the repairer declined requests to service the watch although he did give it the scratches on the case back.
After the “regulation” ran out, the watch resided in a jar on the mantelpiece, I’d guess for a number of years. After f-in-law died I was asked if there was anything of his I wanted.
The Omega 300 was returned to me.
The original box, receipt for purchase, services and the Omega buckle had been thrown away :-(
By now Omega service charges were IMO very high and I put the watch in a drawer while I considered what to do. Consideration seems to have taken a very long time because after about 12 years I decided the have the watch serviced.
The rest you know.
The last picture is one ive taken with the watch on a 70's 1171
