Greetings gentlemen!

I don't post often as I usually find my answers (which are usually if technical nature) in the archives.

This time I had to post in a long time in the hope that someone that works with these calibers may assist me. I am skilled enough to change dials, mainsprings,crystals etc as I used to work in a jeweller, even for limited remedies!

I have an old GP on brass seamaster caliber 552 with reference 165.002 which is one of the most common non date models from the late 1950's to late 1969's. I have been looking for a replacement case for quite some time as s the old one is beyond feasible repair with case worn at the lug holes and the sides totally eaten out from wear over the years where dust can creep in.

I usually come across lots of per owned 166.002 SS cases for £30 to £50 from local sources, but I am aware that they are for the date version models with 562 mvts. I know that the 562 is 0.5mm thicker which will put the stem out of alignment if I go this path. This will be for my personal use and not for anyone else so I am happy to accommodate the non date mvt into a date mvt case, if the use of a spacer could do the trick. I don't want to just buy a case and then discover it was in vain! It is not about the £30-50 but would rather leave them on the market for those that might be specifically looking for It as I have never come across to a per owned 165.002 SS case in that price bracket, any feedback on the 166.002 case would be appreciated with thanks!

 

Yes, you can fit a 552 from a 165.002 into a 166.002 case without any problems.
If the case back of 165.002 is still good, you can swap it to the new case and everything will be "original".