Buying an Omega Seamaster 300 in 1969 I can recall a post a few years ago by Al (Archer) explaining to a poster that there were a few considerations why an owner may not want to remove his case back to show the the movement, Al went on say that, that an owner may concerned about getting grot getting into the movement and also not having the right tools for case back removal could leave the case back worse for wear The one that intrigued me, he went on to say if the Seamaster 300 was pressure tested, and you removed the case back any warranty would be void. I wonder how Omega would know if the case back was removed, today in a service, my watch was returned from Omega in 2004 after a service with no security seal on the case back.? When I purchased the Seamaster 300 in about 1969, from a very prominent Omega Retailer, Dunklings in Bourke St Melbourne AU, the Seamaster 300 had a security pin head of red paint on the case back to the case , this didn’t appear to wear or split on that back removal or to be effected in size and remained intact for a few years . During the purchase they removed the case back, and took the serial number for the Omega warranty. I didn’t think any thing about it at the time , but I expect from what I know now, the pressure test Omega did at manufacture was compromised. Interesting times.
Interesting story. The serial number should have been included in the tag so there should not have been any need to remove the caseback, if the tag wasn’t lost for any reason. You don’t happen to have this watch anymore? Pictures?
T Thankyou guys, you just need a trigger to remember some finer details. I'm not sure whether the jeweller did small servicing (in 1969 ) most had a watch maker on staff , and Omega's records certainly wasn't as good as they are today
Yes , a lot. Seamaster Lume can range from very light yellow / green to dark green .. or pumpkins ... and I think the picture doesn’t t help to see the real Lume colour .
Yes it went through a period (years) where it was nearly white, white under some light, now slightly off white ,the 300 has never been exposed to sunlight. Very close shade to the hands. I resisted getting it relumed.
thankyou.......I wore it a few times inside, It probably sounds silly to a lot of folk but I was enamoured with it looks, and I used to gaze at it from time to time and the watch being expensive relative to my wages,it was important for me to keep it pristine. All it life has been spent in the box. I lost interest in the watch,It got packed away for decades, until 2004 ,I had a look at it again and the hands were rusted, I couldn’t understand how the hands could rust when it had never seen water. So Omega service here I come………thats another story.
thankyou Jamie, In this picture you can see the difference between new hands and tritium ( Omega fitted up luminova hands 2004)
Dont send it to omega!!!! Where are you located we can recommend a specialist in vintage pieces that can retain the looks and value for you.
I don’t think they had to oprn the case to get thr awesome one, leave exactly as is. did u get the original hands and datewheel back from service ?
I’ll tell you the story…. I was quite naive at that stage about the repair process and went to the local Omega Retail shop to get them. to send it away, that was the biggest mistake I’d made for some time. I was expecting them to only replace the hands….well..months went by, over 6 months, I kept on enquiring thru the local Omega shop only to be told its in the repair chain and had to be be sent to Bienne. At about 8 months, I wanted some definite answers, this time from the “Swatch Group” they replied “Actually sir, we have lost your watch” It never went to Switzerland but was found in their store room. Hurriedly they send a quote back to the local store, $650 standard price for an overhaul. Did the job at Swatch Group HQ in Melbourne AU. 1…. Changed Hands. Hr,Min and Sec 2….Changed Crystal 3….Changed Crown……the original (returned) one has since been re-fitted as the new one, was a service part. Complete Dismantle and Service ( date wheel was always black and unchanged) It left my hands, in pristine condition, and came back with a roughed up case back with scratches, dented 1039 (crushed) Band at both ends close to watch….. I never went back and complained And yes they did return the hands , crown and the crystal…(the crystal by the way had no issues with.) I would truly hope other Omega owners wouldn’t have to go thru any ordeal like this.
Blimey! That’s pretty shocking and definitely not what you’d expect to happen. I’ve only had positive experiences with Omega here in the UK but I haven’t sent them anything vintage to service / repair. My vintage stuff goes to STS, well now it will go to Simon Freese since he’s now on his own.