Found! Help with a Seamaster 300 MC

Hamish02 · Aug 14, 2020

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

Hamish02 · Aug 15, 2020

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.

Scooterino36 · Aug 15, 2020

Hamish02
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!

padders · Aug 15, 2020

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.

Hamish02 · Aug 15, 2020

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.

Hamish02 · Aug 17, 2020

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.

4f2045de0b019b284a93c89af2326d761fa68f59b3f99f60a357c4d68b9ad512.jpg

7bec6fd5bcb21239f9069f51c2df10459187a44dce71b988d757e5468d276b59.jpg

9ccc2b506b68b016471473a2d3e7e08c626fa2ec4d4e18d3bcb591982e3d616a (1).jpg

19fed7f9befc29164401baf5da85e7477bdd6e027db4b9e23620e6672a04a6de.jpg

62ce11abe5874e12f97563c64a4cbe6384fcbaf10b3f6da1a1ef52fd499c9573.jpg

75dfb5c88c8c3f6f8a0ad01f2118b7773f95c52c94c727447bbb9a16966719df.jpg

5745c046707f234c51379c4f580e31d87f118ecc37ff816e97a38174a7536656.jpg

27339a981f840060672a705f4df75f2de0e1d7fe76202908f87677da2d2719b1.jpg

78631f58fa331f4326dee0abbdd06f129024851c76cd4428420332d6484c7cae.jpg

96695c7c72f8b3503863ae5f37cfce73ffd06bbc9148795f9698d5dd66527089.jpg

753125022887d6b066351ce65832bf02b7147a436f4f74105be06600a072eb37.jpg

c50411ed609d15de43044562d5638800e162cc1108a7e976e4ff397b6891f3bb.jpg

d1f47158bc1d247a79f5f82ed502f279f5b4b3f60390a101bc78e45239f79101.jpg

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gbesq · Aug 17, 2020

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.

Hamish02 · Aug 17, 2020

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.

Turb0wned · Aug 17, 2020

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

Hamish02 · Aug 17, 2020

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.

gbesq · Aug 17, 2020

Nice looking watch, for sure. Good luck.

Capt Cave Man · Aug 17, 2020

@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?

Hamish02 · Aug 17, 2020

Capt Cave Man
@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 👍

Mossback · Aug 17, 2020

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

rootbeer7 · Aug 18, 2020

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

Ricoandreas · Aug 18, 2020

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.

Hamish02 · Aug 18, 2020

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

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

Hamish02 · Aug 18, 2020

Ricoandreas
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.

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.

Ricoandreas · Aug 18, 2020

Hamish02
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!

Hamish02 · Aug 18, 2020

Ricoandreas
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.

Found! Help with a Seamaster 300 MC

Hamish02

Hamish02

Scooterino36

padders

Hamish02

Hamish02

gbesq

Hamish02

Turb0wned

Hamish02

gbesq

Capt Cave Man

Hamish02

Mossback

rootbeer7

Ricoandreas

Hamish02

Hamish02

Ricoandreas

Hamish02

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