Hi all,

I’ve posted in some other threads about my hunt for a SM300MC but have started a new thread just to gather some of your thoughts, if possible. Initially, I went down the AD route and have had a couple of conversations and tried on the watch. Ultimately, I’ve decided I couldn’t justify paying huge money for a brand new one so started looking pre-owned as another poster suggested.

I have found this for sale by Iconic Watches:

https://www.iconicwatches.co.uk/as-...-co-axial-41mm-233-30-41-21-01-001-43485.html

I’ve googled their name and searched on the forum and they seem to get good feedback from those who have used them. My initial thoughts was the price looked good, however, I had questions over the photos - over exposed and high contrast but also the description, “Refurbished: In-depth clean and very gentle polish. Watches shape and sharp edges maintained” worried me slightly.

I asked for some more photos of the watch and I was sent these:



Based on these, I have a bit more faith in the watch and to my eyes looks good. The fact I can still read the engravings on the back of the lugs is good and the edges look okay.

Please could I trouble you for some of your thoughts, just incase I’ve missed anything glaringly obvious, or any pointers of things I need to check further. Iconic have said there is a 14 day returns policy so I could buy the watch and return it if I had second thoughts or wasn’t happy.

Thank you in advance for your assistance and input. Hamish.

*edited for typo

 

Sorry to bump my own thread; I think I’m going to go ahead, might try to haggle down a bit but I don’t think I’ll find a better price atm. H.

 

You could perhaps find a lower price from a private seller, but at the cost of increased risk and likely lack of a return policy. I see no issues with the watch from the photos.

Good luck!

 

Iconic are trustworthy and the price looks about right*. I sold one privately last year for around £2,600 I think it was but you would expect a private sale watch in good but worn condition to be rather lower than from a dealer. Regarding the refinish, if they used someone good like STS then it will be indistinguishable from a factory refinish like it would get at an Omega service so is likely nothing to be concerned about

*The lack of warranty might concern me though, it ran out in January. It may be worth seeing if they will cover it for a year, not sure what their usual terms and conditions are. I wouldn't pay that with no warranty, having to lay out ~£500 for a service within 6 months say wouldn't feel very nice.

Bearing in mind the dates on the listing, they have obviously had that for sale for quite some time, a year maybe, suggesting they may be amenable to a reduction in price, particularly now the warranty has expired.

 

Thank you both very much for your responses. I’m glad the watch appears to be okay in your eyes too. With regards to private sales, I haven’t really looked around apart from a search on here which didn’t come up with anything - I know patience is key really.

@padders I hear you regarding the warranty, £500 down the line wouldn’t be ideal so I’m going to put in an offer of £2800 And work on the principle that <£3000 would be acceptable.

Thanks again.

 

Hi again,

Iconic wouldn't lower their price so given the lack of warranty I decided against it. Next on the list is this one:

https://www.watches.co.uk/Omega-Seamaster-300-Master-Co-Axial/OM-21057S?search_string=seamaster+300

I emailed them, they're not open to negotiation on price and it is from 2015 but they do have their own 12 month warranty on pre-owned watches. They also offer a 14 day returns. They said it has had a case and bracelet refinish but I would just like someone else's input from the photos - much appreciated. One to ponder for the time being and can't see any at a lower price. (I've attached the images from the website for ease)

Thanks. H.

 

This one looks good to my eye. You might also want to check with Crown & Caliber. They currently have two for sale. The first is with the stainless steel bracelet priced at $4,300. The second is with a brown leather band/deployant clasp priced at $3,900. Both are in excellent condition and come with box, papers and C&C's one year warranty. They also have a pretty liberal return policy.

 

Thanks for the input @gbesq, it’s looking like this is the one for the time being - I found a newer one by a couple of years but was ~£500 so I passed. C&C would be an option but I live in the UK. Cheers, H.

 

Call Topper Jewelers and see what price they give you brand new, then see if its worth just going new.

 

Thanks but UK based! New I can get for a little over £4000 but out of my range unfortunately I’ve decided. Low 3000s at a push and anything lower than that a bonus.

 

Nice looking watch, for sure. Good luck.

 

@Hamish02, we need to organise that beer and introductions at some point

Have you thought about holding fire until you reach the magical 200 post count, your already nearing 190 - then create a WTB thread?

 

Haha, yes we do! Probably met already, everybody knows everybody around here!

That’s not a bad shout actually, not far to go and I’m sure somebody has one they’re trying to move on

 

Hamish, if you don't mind please keep us posted on your SM300 adventure. It's fun to follow along with you.

 

I got lucky with mine. No bracelet or set, but box and 1 year guarantee for well below £3k. They are out there.

 

Got my titanium 300MC for just over £4k from a UK high street AD (Ernest Jones - albeit was bought online) a few weeks ago. I saw Goldsmiths had this one on the leather strap heavily reduced the other day too, and EJ had the stainless steel on bracelet last month for about £3600 - definitely worth watching those AD sites for deals.

 

Thanks, I think the chase is part of the fun!

 

Yea, there's bound to be deals out there although this particular SS on bracelet model seems to be quite scarce within the ADs. Interestingly, I went to view one at Ernst Jones in P'boro, they had to order it in and they said it was 1 of only 2 available - still could only drop to £4630 - similar story in Cambridge. Dominic Hackett, who I got my FOIS from, grey market could do me one for £4075 brand new. Then there's the refurbished ones around £3400-3800, can't see much cheaper than that.

I'm caught in 2 minds - spend £1000 more and go brand new with 5 yr warranty (which I've actually had to use for my FOIS) or 1000 less and go pre-owned with a year warranty on an older watch. I think my bank might have the final word.

 

If going for pre-owned, would you be factoring in getting the watch serviced too? I'd actually been eying up that 300MC at watches.co.uk for a couple of months - they're just over the river from us - but was leaning towards a Moonwatch, and then the titanium ambushed me! There were some comparable age and priced stainless steel 300s on Watchfinder when I last looked, and a handful on Chrono24 too. Captain Cave Man's suggestion of waiting till you hit 200 posts sounds like solid advice though!

 

That’s the other thing isn’t it, a service. I suppose that would be taking it more towards the £4000 mark a little further down the line. Lots of things to think about! Only issue with buying privately is not being able to pay on credit card, which I think is a necessity for me atm. The price rise affecting all markets is in the back of my mind also.