advice needed on F300 Seamaster

Idahoo · May 11, 2020

Hi Guys

Having spent the last couple of months reading the really useful information here on the Forum I was wondering if anyone could give me some advice on a Seamaster F300 that I am interested in.

There aren't very many images but I have posted below the ones provided and I have asked the seller for more.

The watch looks fine but are there any issues that i should be looking out for?

any advice greatly appreciated

JwRosenthal · May 11, 2020

My first question would be if it’s running. The second hand doesn’t seem to have moved in any of the pictures.
It’s good looking though.

Jonathan40 · May 11, 2020

I have the same watch bought right here in the forum a few years ago. However mine did not have the bracelet but rubber strap. They are very accurate when running and the only thing I notice is occasionally when not worn the date wheel sometimes sticks. It is a well known fault with the model due to plastic gears. It does not bother me as I just set it again and then it runs fine on the wrist. Keeping it on a display stand seems to eradicate the date wheel issue down to almost never but it is always there. May I ask what price the watch was is up for?

Idahoo · May 11, 2020

Thanks for the info. They are asking £925

JwRosenthal · May 11, 2020

Idahoo
Thanks for the info. They are asking £925

Ouch! That’s either way high or I’m totally out of touch with the market!
....and is it running??

Idahoo · May 11, 2020

Lol. There are a couple of others out there at £1100 and £1400!
Still waiting to here on whether its still alive

Steve1haggart · May 11, 2020

I made the seller an offer last week of £700 i thought that was a fair price given he didn't actual say the watch was a runner £925 in the climate is far too much .

Canuck · May 11, 2020

Too much! These are not really considered a grail watch by most collectors. So you are in a buyers market with this one. There is not likely to be a line up of eager buyers. Ask him to replace the cell, and provide a video of the watch actually running. Then start your offer at half the £1,100 and see what happens. And good luck finding someone who’ll work on it when it needs attention.

JwRosenthal · May 11, 2020

Canuck
Too much! These are not really considered a grail watch by most collectors. So you are in a buyers market with this one. There is not likely to be a line up of eager buyers. Ask him to replace the cell, and provide a video of the watch actually running. Then start your offer at half the £1,100 and see what happens. And good luck finding someone who’ll work on it when it needs attention.

Am I right in thinking that this was a Bulova movement and only those who still have the tools specific to calibrating these things can work on them?

Uscjake87 · May 11, 2020

Way too much. Bid on non runners under $400. Service runs $120 to $300 depending who you use. UK based tuning fork watchmakers may cost more. At least you will know the watch is properly serviced and should run well.

Uscjake87 · May 11, 2020

JwRosenthal
Am I right in thinking that this was a Bulova movement and only those who still have the tools specific to calibrating these things can work on them?

There is a hardcore following of folks who buy the tuning fork watches. Only a few really good watchmakers. Definitely a small pool of experts. They are great watches though and once you buy one, ten more show up somehow.

JwRosenthal · May 11, 2020

Uscjake87
There is a hardcore following of folks who buy the tuning fork watches. Only a few really good watchmakers. Definitely a small pool of experts. They are great watches though and once you buy one, ten more show up somehow.

I have one- A Bulova Railroad watch. It stopped last year and my watchmaker said he got rid of the tools (including a special microscope) years ago....so yeah- only a handful doing them I guess

Uscjake87 · May 11, 2020

JwRosenthal
I have one- A Bulova Railroad watch. It stopped last year and my watchmaker said he got rid of the tools (including a special microscope) years ago....so yeah- only a handful doing them I guess

Please tell everyone about your bad experience so that there are more for me to buy. 😀

Canuck · May 11, 2020

JwRosenthal
Am I right in thinking that this was a Bulova movement and only those who still have the tools specific to calibrating these things can work on them?

The Omega F300 movement is not a Bulova movement. It likely has an Eta 9162 caliber tuning fork movement. This movement was developed by Eta after the Bulova Accutron was on the market. Eta research led them to discover a deficiency in the Accutron design. Basically, positional error. Eta improved accuracy in positions by making their tuning fork “H” shaped, and counter poised. The movements are usually imprinted with “made under license, Bulova Watch Co.”, or words to that effect.

There are people who will work on these, but these people might be hard to find, and expect them to not come cheap.

Uscjake87 · May 11, 2020

@Canuck You are missing one important piece of information which is that Max Hetzel designed the accutron. He wanted to improve upon his design so he came up with a watch called the Swissonic, whose design was later seen in the Megasonic. The problem is Bulova didn't like him using various elements, probably the tuning fork (etc), in his new design. They shelved the swissonic watch and Hetzel designed the ETA 9162 and worked out the licensing issue with Bulova which is why you see it on the caseback.

A few recommended watchmakers who have very reasonable fees to service these watches:
USA: Chris Radek, https://timeguy.com/cradek/
Thailand (aussie expat): Rob Berkavicious, http://members.iinet.net.au/~fotoplot/acc.htm

JwRosenthal · May 11, 2020

Uscjake87
Please tell everyone about your bad experience so that there are more for me to buy. 😀

Trust me, I would love to get it up and running again-it’s a fabulous watch. Had one member here who was doing a trial run with a watchmaker who specialized in them here in the states, but was underwhelmed if I recall.

JwRosenthal · May 11, 2020

Uscjake87
@Canuck You are missing one important piece of information which is that Max Hetzel designed the accutron. He wanted to improve upon his design so he came up with a watch called the Swissonic, whose design was later seen in the Megasonic. The problem is Bulova didn't like him using various elements, probably the tuning fork (etc), in his new design. They shelved the swissonic watch and Hetzel designed the ETA 9162 and worked out the licensing issue with Bulova which is why you see it on the caseback.

A few recommended watchmakers who have very reasonable fees to service these watches:
USA: Chris Radek, https://timeguy.com/cradek/
Thailand (aussie expat): Rob Berkavicious, http://members.iinet.net.au/~fotoplot/acc.htm

Just looked at Chris R’s webpage, prices seem very reasonable. May have to take a gamble.

Uscjake87 · May 11, 2020

JwRosenthal
Trust me, I would love to get it up and running again-it’s a fabulous watch. Had one member here who was doing a trial run with a watchmaker who specialized in them here in the states, but was underwhelmed if I recall.

I have sent probably 15 to 20 watches to Thailand with zero losses. Chris Radek currently has 4 of mine and has worked previously on one for me. But I get what you are saying. There are a few watchmakers you can find on google for tuning fork watches, but there is a reason why I don't recommend them.

padders · May 12, 2020

I have had a few hummers, including one of these. The SMf300 is more desirable and more valuable than most models but bearing in mind the repair difficulties I would say that unless the watch can be shown to run with a new battery you should just walk away. When running well, one of these in good condition might fetch £700-900 on a forum sale (a dealer would of course ask more) but as noted servicing can be tricky. The black dial model is more valuable than the silver in my experience. In fact one if the world’s best specialists is UK based (I am assuming the OP is too bearing in mind the currency quoted). Paul Wirdnam at electric-watches.co.uk is cheap and reliable when he is taking work. The problem is he often isn’t. I have heard very good thinks about Rob in Thailand too. There are no doubt other good repairers, I would speak with fellow member @JackDaniels83 who is an expert on hummer matters.

As noted above, the plastic date wheels on the date only movement this uses are a weak spot and may have issues. There are metal replacements available but it’s not a cheap fix unless you are a talented tinkerer.

If I were the OP I would want to ascertain that I had a repair solution on standby by contacting Paul or Rob then go from there. The OP watch looks in pretty good condition, the bezels are often damaged but that one looks good. Next you would need to work on the asking price bearing in mind the risk of date wheel issues.

model info

http://www.deskdivers.com/Site/SMf300.html

Repair and model info

https://electric-watches.co.uk/

Steve1haggart · May 12, 2020

JwRosenthal
Just looked at Chris R’s webpage, prices seem very reasonable. May have to take a gamble.

I feel your pain I have a lovely D-shape with an ETA 9162 that the battery leaked over the coils and the tuning forks , only last night I purchased 2 none running movements from fleebay hoping to use then to replace the damaged parts in my own watch . I’m definitely no expert in this field but hay with the restriction that the UK government has in place I thought to myself this should be fun putting my engineering degree to good use see if I can bring her back to life .

advice needed on F300 Seamaster

Idahoo

JwRosenthal

Jonathan40

Idahoo

JwRosenthal

Idahoo

Steve1haggart

Canuck

JwRosenthal

Uscjake87

Uscjake87

JwRosenthal

Uscjake87

Canuck

Uscjake87

JwRosenthal

JwRosenthal

Uscjake87

padders

Steve1haggart

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