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Do all Watchco SM300 use 166.0324 case?

J
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Hello Omega Forum. I was hoping if someone could help me clear things up about the Watchco Seamaster. To my knowledge, Omega's modern replacement case for the 165.024 (non-date) and the 166.024 (date) is the 166.0324. When in need of doing so, they will use the 166.0324 to replace the case of vintage SM300 regardless of whether it is date or non-date. Since Watchco used modern replacement parts I would assume all Watchco SM would be 166.0324.
Now, I saw a discussion posted a few years ago saying that an owner of a Watchco was declined a service by Omega for having mismatched parts (date vs non date parts). He had a 552 non-date movement but the case was for a 565 date. Is the 166.0324 specifically a date case? If Omega themselves use 166.0324 case for the 165.024, why was the watch declined by Omega?
Thanks in advance.
 
JimInOz
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J JohnRuth
...................... why was the watch declined by Omega?
Thanks in advance.

Until I've seen documented proof of this I consider it to be anecdotal interwebby stuff.

My Watchco non-date had a 166.0324.

Back_1.JPG Caseback.JPG
 
J
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JwRosenthal JwRosenthal
But why would you want to send it to Omega? Any certified omega independent can get parts for them.

I know, I would just send it to my watch maker and get it serviced for half the price. I was asking out of curiosity.

There are people who argue that Watchco is a franken watch, and I’m sure that topic has been debated on this forum before and tho I see both side’s arguments to be valid, if Omega themselves are willing to service a watcho I think it would be harder to argue against its “authenticity” so to speak.

I haven’t seen anyone talk about what happened when they took their watcho to a AD so it was just a thought.
 
JwRosenthal
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J JohnRuth
which bracelet is that? Looks great on your watch
Uncle Seiko Holzer. I got both the 19 & 20mm endlinks, loved it so much on a few other watches I ended but buying a second for this one.

https://unclestraps.com/products/us-mexico-holzer-omega-speedmaster-bracelet-19-20mm

I got the two tone finish (brushed/polished) since the case has both finishes. His flatlink also fits it nicely (had that on for a while but love the look of the Holzer on this watch). Many people go for the all brushed bracelets but the cases have two finishes so why not highlight that.
 
josiahg52
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Does Omega use the serial number or reference number to service the watch? Ref. 166.o324 is a replacement case number for date and no-date SM300. The other parts are all Omega parts that a busted original SM300 might have.
 
J
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josiahg52 josiahg52
Does Omega use the serial number or reference number to service the watch? Ref. 166.o324 is a replacement case number for date and no-date SM300. The other parts are all Omega parts that a busted original SM300 might have.

I'm guessing every single component has to be correct ones for a specific reference for them to take in and service. I thought all Watchco had a 166.0324 on the caseback, but there are some with 165.0024.
x53927-e2e8db2f7fdb07cf9280a9e9b38859c6.jpg.pagespeed.ic.UU8QiWqcBP.webp
https://omegaforums.net/threads/omega-seamaster-300-sm300-watchco-no-date-165-0024.12823/

From what I've read there is no 165.0024 case, only the caseback with that number which is the modern replacement for the 165.024. So from my earlier post regarding someone getting their Watchco rejected by Omega, I'm going to guess that since he had a non-date he needed a caseback with 165.0024. I think 166.0324 is technically a for a date.

There is also a 165.0324 caseback according to this chart. Maybe he needed that caseback instead?

369059-22f4cce43de1f821af54ad74148d6c59.jpg
https://omegaforums.net/threads/sm300-help-165-024-vs-165-0024-case-ref.55700/
 
J
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kingsrider kingsrider
73960D4B-8341-43CD-B0EB-993DC384A5FB.jpeg


No regrets picking this one up a few years back.

Great looking piece! I personally think the SM300 looks better on a nato strap than on a braclet
 
X350 XJR
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Original 166.024 case and movement with new bezel, dial and hand set, vintage 1171 bracelet.

IMG_2975.jpg
 
J
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X350 XJR X350 XJR
Original 166.024 case and movement with new bezel, dial and hand set, vintage 1171 bracelet.

IMG_2975.jpg

Awesome piece. If you don’t mind me asking, how much did it cost for you to source the service parts and put it together?
 
josiahg52
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J JohnRuth
I'm guessing every single component has to be correct ones for a specific reference for them to take in and service. I thought all Watchco had a 166.0324 on the caseback, but there are some with 165.0024.
x53927-e2e8db2f7fdb07cf9280a9e9b38859c6.jpg.pagespeed.ic.UU8QiWqcBP.webp
https://omegaforums.net/threads/omega-seamaster-300-sm300-watchco-no-date-165-0024.12823/

From what I've read there is no 165.0024 case, only the caseback with that number which is the modern replacement for the 165.024. So from my earlier post regarding someone getting their Watchco rejected by Omega, I'm going to guess that since he had a non-date he needed a caseback with 165.0024. I think 166.0324 is technically a for a date.

There is also a 165.0324 caseback according to this chart. Maybe he needed that caseback instead?

369059-22f4cce43de1f821af54ad74148d6c59.jpg
https://omegaforums.net/threads/sm300-help-165-024-vs-165-0024-case-ref.55700/

Partially correct. Ref. 165.0024 is a service caseback for the 165.024 and 166.024 vintage watches or a ref. 166.0324 case. Ref. 166.0324 is a complete case for the date or non-date SM300. If I needed a new caseback for my assembled SM300, I would get a ref. 165.0024 caseback. I've never read of Omega denying service to one of these watches. Quite the opposite, actually, and I believe that's Omega's policy.
 
Archer
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This gets a bit into the weeds, but technically there is no replacement case for the 165.024 case. If I look that case up on the Omega Extranet, it simply says this:

"This item is not available anymore" and there's nothing else - this means there's no replacement. However there is a replacement case back available for this case.

However, if I look up the 166.024 case, it says this:

"The article055ST1660024 is not available, it was replaced by 055ST1660324 STEEL CASE CAL. 565
Return article for exchange"

So the 1660324 is really for date models only, but I suspect if a replacement case is needed for a non-date model. they use the same case frame and bezel, and just replace the case back with a 1650024 case back.

So for them to say this wasn't correct and refuse service for it, would be a bit pedantic. I suspect if the case back was swapped to a 1650024 case back, that would eliminate the conflict.

This watch being refused service would makes me wonder if this is just some uneducated person refusing this because they simply don't know better, or if this is some effort on Omega's part to punish people for buying these from Watchco. It's probably the former, rather than the latter.
 
JwRosenthal
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Yeah, you figure the people checking in watches at Omega aren’t watch historians and quite possibly not even watch enthusiasts- they are just doing their job of verifying there are no red flags and a different reference number for what “should” be there is a red flag.
 
X350 XJR
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J JohnRuth
Awesome piece. If you don’t mind me asking, how much did it cost for you to source the service parts and put it together?

Did this well over ten years ago I don't remember the cost.
 
Knudsen1971
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If I rememeber well, few years ago, when those parts were still available for public at Cousins UK for example, the price for full case, dial+hands was cca 1500 GBP including VAT?

The separate 165.0024 caseback is still available form Omega? This would be a new info to me..thx.
 
Archer
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Knudsen1971 Knudsen1971
The separate 165.0024 caseback is still available form Omega? This would be a new info to me..thx.

Yes.
 
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