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Best place to get WatchCo Seamaster 300 (165.0324)

max498
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Hi everyone,

I'm a massive fan of the old seamaster 300, my only current watch is a 2254 SMP (sword hands and big triangle).

I am interested in at some point purchasing a 165.0324 (no date), I'm sad to hear they don't produce them anymore with Omegas parts policy.

Does anyone have suggestions on the safest place to buy one? Is a forum like this one/WUS/reddit my only option.

Thanks in advance!
 
Fish70
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I would love to find one myself. I think the best place to buy one was 2015 or earlier unfortunately. That being said a trusted seller here or one of the other sites you listed would be my second choice.
 
Dimitar Adamski
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I am again after one,with date if possible. They are like hen teeth now.
Sorry for hijacking your thread.
Good luck.
 
JwRosenthal
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Used Watchco’s and some newer builds using factory parts popped up pretty regularly here (about one ever other month or so) until last year when Omega announced they would no longer be making cases for them- and then the door slammed shut. I don’t think I have seen one since- people are in a holding pattern.

There are a lot of fakes out there so be very careful- know what the details should look like. And be aware that there was a case change within the last couple years- @Archer poster a thread a while back showing the difference between the older case and the newer case- both are factory correct service parts, but it’s important to know what they look like versus the fake kits that are popping up on Etsy and eBay.
 
josiahg52
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Wish I could help you.

ref. 166.0324 on US 1035
IMG_20220429_155239_1r.jpg


ref. 2254.50
IMG_20220429_155528_1r.jpg


Both are well worth owning.
 
Archer
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JwRosenthal JwRosenthal
Used Watchco’s and some newer builds using factory parts popped up pretty regularly here (about one ever other month or so) until last year when Omega announced they would no longer be making cases for them- and then the door slammed shut.

Omega still makes the cases, they just require you to return an old case of the same type, in order to get a new one.
 
JwRosenthal
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Archer Archer
Omega still makes the cases, they just require you to return an old case of the same type, in order to get a new one.
Thanks for the clarification. Good to know we can still get them if we already have one- sucks if you don’t.
 
VictorAlpha
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This is a real bummer. I'd love to build another one, I even have all the parts from a previous build except the damn case.
 
SkunkPrince
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I would've but my watchmaker has mine in pieces. I should get it back in early August with new mainspring and crystal. 😀
 
guaranteed.rohu
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jYpP4XF7RUJUnjRKLMlu8g-FGEOAaUceYldxVycvDFTdtl7ZEJ2fLvjTCoOc1Ip8sruWGfdE4CLzQi4Tt4SkE9Xh6ErTitx4uCVSlM7v6QDrvi9gaXhJ8MUlTB9s4UXM1bl8OcQWOO-2UHRgErZr6UxaLWv5S3PstuF5T9uEVhKbnCT3T3c8zpzqEWfsdX2uFfYsI5jvDGNN9Khr3fi_mr1tEFOSzDDMLrv4QDH_UOTw-M33KdCpYnWUElMNf3MRAlkQHXc9YpOhLP-iDQyxNhpbZribufd-s5-deFbcxD0WjggEY6tV1_2NZ6ctiNlHEi46q640_BvWy2MyD5TdpEyBw4yCOS3w72Oc6v_MMDJtaC2D0ejX7cghKVCg5pgyDOUEAhYaThv31QreRj9cyShKirv4e5bS38OVmyETgfjSRBMFCXl98LVmeXhQAoDbTs8XZoFtm1GPWnZ2Xi1fuN2tJAkLaZGF_G7373KQDey7ruH_U7hq6Bx_pyeqcanZTaIYarpjJ9qPbYf3l93G0kFJTPr2ieGy2cNltQa4TU6kuh2svclBokRldicxaca8mmjOsPfpY6hIOr1-bJsHmBLT1l4aI0uiDiVckNkjc3rOJjFVpKFirU2PGEJvcEWCoZ07bmEP2sviWC2JpGQsMKXzuAGfCEmDOu-GBR3CqnbcHPAebvhlzbHMXCR4veyKuJSE6xguXyjaiS15qhrwwEu2QitVVqhzO8Yopdl3MbR1J-CtDJi-fgkkYMPdCQ_Se72IVUNLrGfWbSIntFEUMbM6CnPc_OVHTCHp=s914-no

My watchco !
 
Davidt
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I’d missed this update around new cases being exchange only.
That’s a bit crap as as was thinking of trying to (get a watchmaker with a parts account) make a new one up this year.
 
JwRosenthal
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Davidt Davidt
I’d missed this update around new cases being exchange only.
That’s a bit crap as as was thinking of trying to (get a watchmaker with a parts account) make a new one up this year.
Yeah, party is over. I get why Omega felt this was abusive- they are in the business of selling watches, not offering kit parts for cobbled watches.
We all know the easy way for Omega to really win here is to reissue the 300 1:1 with a modern version of the 562 and 565 like they did with the 321. Win-win-win.
 
Fish70
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JwRosenthal JwRosenthal
Yeah, party is over. I get why Omega felt this was abusive- they are in the business of selling watches, not offering kit parts for cobbled watches.
We all know the easy way for Omega to really win here is to reissue the 300 1:1 with a modern version of the 562 and 565 like they did with the 321. Win-win-win.
I would take it with a modern movement if it cost a lot less than reviving the321. I want one too 😁
 
JwRosenthal
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Fish70 Fish70
I would take it with a modern movement if it cost a lot less than reviving the321. I want one too 😁
I honestly think that if they reproduced the 300, just like the watchco’s that everyone seems to want (they clearly have the means to make the parts) and sold it as a standard model (not LE) for around $5k, they would sell as many as they could make.
 
Archer
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Fish70 Fish70
I would take it with a modern movement if it cost a lot less than reviving the321. I want one too 😁

Well, the 321 wasn't really "revived" - that is a marketing fabrication. But the for the SM300, Omega still makes all the parts, and all they would have to do is start assembling them.

JwRosenthal JwRosenthal
I honestly think that if they reproduced the 300, just like the watchco’s that everyone seems to want (they clearly have the means to make the parts) and sold it as a standard model (not LE) for around $5k, they would sell as many as they could make.

I think that this is unlikely. The SM300 would be tougher to create a halo around, as there's no single watch that was used for anything terribly significant (at least that I am aware of) that they could "scan" to "recreate" as they claim they did with the 321.

It would lack credibility doing the same with the SM300 - not that the 321 stuff has much credibility, at least to me.
 
JwRosenthal
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Archer Archer
Well, the 321 wasn't really "revived" - that is a marketing fabrication. But the for the SM300, Omega still makes all the parts, and all they would have to do is start assembling them.



I think that this is unlikely. The SM300 would be tougher to create a halo around, as there's no single watch that was used for anything terribly significant (at least that I am aware of) that they could "scan" to "recreate" as they claim they did with the 321.

It would lack credibility doing the same with the SM300 - not that the 321 stuff has much credibility, at least to me.

The halo needed for an LE sure, it’s not special enough. But the watch is iconic enough to stand on its own as a “re-issue” of itself with no moon or Snoopy or Bond needed…just let it be its own thing. It is clearly beloved and highly coveted enough to be in high demand on the used market. As for movement- any date/no date movement in their current catalog would be fine- nobody really loves the 565 so much that they must have that movement in a reissue,
 
Fish70
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JwRosenthal JwRosenthal
I honestly think that if they reproduced the 300, just like the watchco’s that everyone seems to want (they clearly have the means to make the parts) and sold it as a standard model (not LE) for around $5k, they would sell as many as they could make.
5k is too rich for my blood but I guess I would be happy for those who could drop that kind of cash.
 
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