Community Stories

2024 cost to build ‘WatchCo’ SM300?

Davidt
Posts
11,558
Likes
20,230
Morning all

I’m contemplating trying to find a really ratty SM300, something that’s been water damaged perhaps, and having it ‘WatchCo’d’ by Omega with new case, bezel, dial and hands etc.

As far as I’m aware, this is is the only route to getting a new build as conversions are no longer allowed.

Regardless as to how long it takes me to find a suitable watch in the first place, does anyone know the current prices for a 166.0024 case, dial, bezel, hands etc?
 
hejsam
Posts
2,163
Likes
15,456
Davidt Davidt
Morning all

I’m contemplating trying to find a really ratty SM300, something that’s been water damaged perhaps, and having it ‘WatchCo’d’ by Omega with new case, bezel, dial and hands etc.

As far as I’m aware, this is is the only route to getting a new build as conversions are no longer allowed.

Regardless as to how long it takes me to find a suitable watch in the first place, does anyone know the current prices for a 166.0024 case, dial, bezel, hands etc?
Im not really up to date with prices on 165.024 and especially not on WatchCo SM300s. But that does sound very expensive instead of just buying a decent or good vintage and just use it? 😀
 
Davidt
Posts
11,558
Likes
20,230
hejsam hejsam
Im not really up to date with prices on 165.024 and especially not on WatchCo SM300s. But that does sound very expensive instead of just buying a decent or good vintage and just use it? 😀
Yes possibly. The issue is that Omega watchmakers can no longer 'build' a watchco/service part SM300 from a spare movement or another watch. They can only 'update' an existing SM300 with modern service parts.
So as far as I'm aware, if you want a 'WatchCo' SM300 you either need to buy one on the secondary market, or have your existing SM300 serviced and have the case, bezel, dial etc replaced with service parts. Clearly it makes no sense doing this with a nice vintage SM300 but really ratty, water damaged one's do surface from time to time.

I would like a 'WatchCo' SM300 as a daily beater as I'm not a huge fan of modern Omega's but I do want something waterproof and resilient. A vintage Sm300 doesn't really fit the bill. I've had them in the past but was concerned about knocking the bakelite bezel and obviously they generally aren't as water resistant as the cases are 50 years old.

It might be more cost effective to simply buy a used WatchCo Sm300 but i kinda like the idea of saving a trashed one. Just not if it's going to cost me £3000 more, hence me seeking to understand the cost for the parts from Omega...
 
hejsam
Posts
2,163
Likes
15,456
Davidt Davidt
Yes possibly. The issue is that Omega watchmakers can no longer 'build' a watchco/service part SM300 from a spare movement or another watch. They can only 'update' an existing SM300 with modern service parts.
So as far as I'm aware, if you want a 'WatchCo' SM300 you either need to buy one on the secondary market, or have your existing SM300 serviced and have the case, bezel, dial etc replaced with service parts. Clearly it makes no sense doing this with a nice vintage SM300 but really ratty, water damaged one's do surface from time to time.

I would like a 'WatchCo' SM300 as a daily beater as I'm not a huge fan of modern Omega's but I do want something waterproof and resilient. A vintage Sm300 doesn't really fit the bill. I've had them in the past but was concerned about knocking the bakelite bezel and obviously they generally aren't as water resistant as the cases are 50 years old.

It might be more cost effective to simply buy a used WatchCo Sm300 but i kinda like the idea of saving a trashed one. Just not if it's going to cost me £3000 more, hence me seeking to understand the cost for the parts from Omega...
I understand your standpoint, I'm not really sure that even a beaten up water damage 165.024 is "cheap" thought. Dont recall if I have ever seen even the worst examples sell for less than 2000EUR but as I said Im not up to date with the prices.

It seems like a better option financially to just buy a completed WatchCo watch than restoring a wreck.

I like wearing my not-that-good example without caring to much, except the water resistance it will not hurt that much to put a dent in the case or knocking the bezel (its been restored so not the 60year old bakelite). But I obviously dont do anything in water with it 😀
IMG_6133.webp
 
Davidt
Posts
11,558
Likes
20,230
I Kinda agree. I would like a decent level of confidence in taking it in the water though, but an original beater might also be am option. I just need to understand the costs of updating to a WatchCo to help me decide...
 
masteroftime
Posts
559
Likes
587
I think doing a full case exchange rarely makes sense. I have yet to see a SM300 with a case bad enough at a cheap enough price (i’ve kept an eye out). A hybrid option probably makes more financial sense, but there are more uncertainties associated.
 
AdamVT227
Posts
232
Likes
363
If you have patience then you probably can find all the new part on the 2hand market . and just buy a correct movement
 
Davidt
Posts
11,558
Likes
20,230
AdamVT227 AdamVT227
If you have patience then you probably can find all the new part on the 2hand market . and just buy a correct movement
Yep thats certainly an option, but to understand if it’s a worthwhile option, I’d like to have a ballpark figure of what they cost from Omega.
 
JwRosenthal
Posts
16,307
Likes
44,912
This thread needs pictures- pre-embargo Watchco, from Watchco right before they ruined the party for everyone.
IMG_2496.webp


Wear it daily without worrying about cracking the bezel on a door frame.

I would like to say you could probably find one for around $4kUS, but nobody is selling! I think I’ve seen 2 for sale on this forum in the last 3 years.
 
padders
Posts
9,686
Likes
15,260
Al might be able to provide current part price info but from what little I’ve gleaned in the past couple of years I’d suggest you are looking at over a grand for a full case, maybe £400 for a dial and hands and £450 for a bracelet. I suspect you’d be out maybe £2k plus on top of your original spend plus maybe the cost of a full service so nearer £3k extra perhaps. It would be rather cheaper to buy a pre built one. But be careful as some are way better than others and fake parts abound. I’d want paperwork from the build personally showing someone reputable did it and original parts were used. No way would I trust a loose one without this.
 
padders
Posts
9,686
Likes
15,260
Thinking further, it would be likely cheaper to buy a nice 2254, 2201 or even Trilogy Seamaster than the route you are considering. Not the same I know but until Omega release a true SM300 tribute that’s maybe as close as you can get from the factory.
 
Davidt
Posts
11,558
Likes
20,230
padders padders
Al might be able to provide current part price info but from what little I’ve gleaned in the past couple of years I’d suggest you are looking at over a grand for a full case, maybe £400 for a dial and hands and £450 for a bracelet. I suspect you’d be out maybe £2k plus on top of your original spend plus maybe the cost of a full service so nearer £3k extra perhaps. It would be rather cheaper to buy a pre built one. But be careful as some are way better than others and fake parts abound. I’d want paperwork from the build personally showing someone reputable did it and original parts were used. No way would I trust a loose one without this.

I'm almost certain it would be cheaper to buy an existing watchco SM300, but if the premium isn't too much, I'd consider creating one from a knackered vintage 300. As you say, the quality of some builds is questionable but it would also be nice to get one 'new'. Just depends how much of a premium it works out at.

padders padders
Thinking further, it would be likely cheaper to buy a nice 2254, 2201 or even Trilogy Seamaster than the route you are considering. Not the same I know but until Omega release a true SM300 tribute that’s maybe as close as you can get from the factory.
Funny you say that as I have strongly considered a 2254. Ultimately, I know I'd like a SM300 though
 
Davidt
Posts
11,558
Likes
20,230
Lovely one Jim!

I can feel the push from everyone to just buy one. I don't know why, I've just got a desire to make one (well, have one made, I won't be doing it!).
 
JwRosenthal
Posts
16,307
Likes
44,912
Davidt Davidt
Lovely one Jim!

I can feel the push from everyone to just buy one. I don't know why, I've just got a desire to make one (well, have one made, I won't be doing it!).
Understood, but that ship sailed about 3 years ago when Omega started mandating a trade-in. I remember the mad fury of people trying to buy up the loose parts that were left out in the world and then the market went silent- people are just holding.

The parts are out there (if they haven’t already been built)- but I’m willing to bet kept close hold by collectors- particularly on this forum. You would have to have something very tasty to offer in exchange, to the right collector- it won’t be about the money.
 
josiahg52
Posts
1,145
Likes
2,133
My 166.0024(0324) just back from service earlier in the year. I bought the parts from Ofrei, movement from eBay and had a trusted independent provide some additional small parts to finish it and the labor about ten or so years ago. I wear it like any modern watch. I like the style and could've purchased one of the pre-assembled ones available at the time, but the idea of "doing it myself" seemed cool and then I realized I had no business inside a watch.

On a US1035:
IMG_20241010_101635.webp


I could've tracked down a vintage model, but I already had experience with a vintage Speedmaster and I wanted a watch I could wear normally. You can't get anything like it new so I've no plans to sell it. At least with the Speedmaster, it's practically unchanged since the late 1960s.
 
Davidt
Posts
11,558
Likes
20,230
JwRosenthal JwRosenthal
Understood, but that ship sailed about 3 years ago when Omega started mandating a trade-in. I remember the mad fury of people trying to buy up the loose parts that were left out in the world and then the market went silent- people are just holding.

The parts are out there (if they haven’t already been built)- but I’m willing to bet kept close hold by collectors- particularly on this forum. You would have to have something very tasty to offer in exchange, to the right collector- it won’t be about the money.

That's my point JW. I can't easily get hold of all the required parts on the secondary market now, but if i had a vintage SM300 in poor condition I could ask an Omega watchmaker to update it with service parts, effectively creating a 'WatchCo'. I just don't yet know if the cost of doing it this way is going to be prohibitive.
 
JwRosenthal
Posts
16,307
Likes
44,912
Then I guess a rust bucket, polished to a nub with a missing bezel horror show is your next quest….anyone…anyone.
 
Davidt
Posts
11,558
Likes
20,230
JwRosenthal JwRosenthal
Then I guess a rust bucket, polished to a nub with a missing bezel horror show.
the dream of any good watch collector!😉
 
SerP
Posts
178
Likes
36
This is a very interesting topic and the idea is very tempting..
Today I picked up my Planet Ocean - from service and could not deny myself the pleasure of talking to people from Omega official service (EU, Riga, Latvia)..
I will be brief: they do not have cases and they will not be able to replace a bad case 165.024/166.024 with a service one (166.0324). The rest of the components are available (back lids, glasses, heads, bezels, etc.). I asked the price of the bezel - they said that it costs 400 euros.
This service does not have its own spare parts warehouse and gets everything from the manufacturer's warehouse. Something like that..
Edited:
 
45 More Posts...
Sign up or log in to reply...

Similar threads

J

Do all Watchco SM300 use 166.0324 case?

JohnRuth Vintage Omega Watches Help, Discussion and Advice
khangct
khangct
Posts
30
Views
5K
bigtriangle68

Anyone tried a 1450 bracelet on vintage 1960 Seamaster 300 or Watchco SM300?

bigtriangle68 Vintage Omega Watches Help, Discussion and Advice
Davidt
Davidt
Posts
17
Views
4K
Ogion

45000 to build modern (ish), 5 watch collection

Ogion Open Discussion
janice&fred
janice&fred
Posts
2
Views
1K
Dimitar Adamski

Building a Watchco SM300

Dimitar Adamski Vintage Omega Watches Help, Discussion and Advice
davidswiss
davidswiss
Posts
30
Views
6K
jaegodylan

Omega Seamaster 300 166.0324 Lewis Watchco Build

jaegodylan Private Watch Sales
Privateday7
Privateday7
Posts
6
Views
19K
super70

The 176.001 mystery ... or how to build a nearly non-franken 176.007

super70 Vintage Omega Watches Help, Discussion and Advice
Andy K
Andy K
Posts
3
Views
1K