Hey everyone! Hope you are all healthy and not going too stir crazy. I found a vintage seamaster (165.003) listing on eBay and it looks pretty good to me. There seems to be a little rotor rub and the yellow gasket seems a little strange (is it strange?), but those seem like minor issues. I can’t see much else wrong so I figured I would post it here to see if any of you can see any red flags that I am missing. Price is at about $400US for now.

As always, thank you so much for your responses!

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.com/ulk/itm/353030099898

 

Looks good IMO. I think the crown has been replaced.

Pre-check if you can buy it, because the seller uses the ebay GSP. There are restrictions sometimes.

And don't forget it will likely need a service.

 

Dial looks clean. Here's a pic of my Seamaster (different reference) with the "crooked" S.

 

Watch looks good, nice edges, clean movement, good dial. Looks well preserved and in original condition.

As far as I know the yellow gaskets were used in the time these watches were produced in.
They were later followed by black ones.
The presence of this yellow gasket indicates that the last service was carried out very long ago.
Otherwise it would have been changed during every service as its damaged.

IMO the crown is still the original one, this type is seen on other .003 examples with the yellow gasket still present.

 

Pics or it didn't happen...

 

my pleasure:

 

The same crowns?

 

Few more things:

Rust & dirt under the bezel. This watch is asking for an ultrasonic bath.

Crystal polished/replaced. A very reasonable thing to see on older watches but something you should be aware of anyways.

Jewels are clean & dry, dry moisture buildup on the axle. This watch has not seen much use from its owner.

 

Are you referring to the OPs watch or the one that @Passover posted pictures of?

 

OP only, just a few things that others may miss.

 

What is wrong with the crystal?

 

Most likely polished or replaced by another Omega crystal. It looks too new compare to the case.

 

Is the Swiss Made spacing correct??

 

Yes, I think so. There was the "SWISS MADE" only version and the "T" "T" and the "T" to the right and the "-" "-" and the "- T" "T -" as far as I remember... So all were a bit different.

Here is the OPs "-" "-" version on a different (ref. 166.003 date version) watch:

 

Well, I can't tell. If you can, you should post here more often...

 

Thanks, I'll try to post more often. I am leaning towards polished. Green polishing paste stuck between crystal & bezel close to 9 o'clock and few spots from 11 through 12 o'clock. Edge of the crystal slightly chipped around 11 o'clock.

 

But at least the crystal looks genuine, doesn't it?

 

It sure does. I would buy this watch if I were in the market for one. It hits all the right points for me. One of my favorite cases from vintage Seamasters. All original in stunning preserved condition. All the above, what I said gets resolved with your routine service.

 

wow, good detective work on that!

 

Thanks to everyone for the responses. I decided to go for it but, sadly, was outbid. Oh well, on to the next!