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Has anyone had Omega convert a 552 or 565 based watch to an SM300?

rcs914
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A few years ago I recall reading a thread here in which it was stated that you could have Omega recase say a 552 based Seamaster Geneve into a SM300 case/dial - essentially an Omega assembled "Watchco". At the time I know that at least one member was going to inquire with Omega about doing this, but I don't recall ever seeing a followup, and now I can't find the thread in which this was discussed.

If anyone has successfully had this done, what does it end up costing? I'm sure not cheap - but just curious.
 
Sherbie
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But why would Omega do that ie make a franken watch?

now I presume you could ask your watchmaker to source new case, hands, dial etc to repurpose your cal 552 ( from another reference - be it geneve or whatever)

as long as you disclaim exactly what it is when you come to sell it, I cant see a problem, but down the road, who knows what and who this watch will deceive in a few decades time ?

TBH - just buy the real thing, If you can find and afford one, or just buy a WatchCo
 
rcs914
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Sherbie Sherbie
But why would Omega do that ie make a franken watch?

now I presume you could ask your watchmaker to source new case, hands, dial etc to repurpose your cal 552 ( from another reference - be it geneve or whatever)

as long as you disclaim exactly what it is when you come to sell it, I cant see a problem, but down the road, who knows what and who this watch will deceive in a few decades time ?

TBH - just buy the real thing, If you can find and afford one, or just buy a WatchCo

Well watchcos now are hardly a bargain. I do not have proof that anyone has ever successfully been able to do this, but I recall it was mentioned that the Omega "rules" regarding service do allow for it.
 
kip595
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It'd be an interesting if bizarre project.

There's a well-known dealer in NYC who is, or recently was, selling an 'assembled' SM 300 they openly described as a 'frankenwatch' - and had listed around WatchCo prices. 🤨
 
JwRosenthal
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I remember that thread too and the poster worked in some capacity for an AD if I recall. If my memory serves, he mentioned the cost of the parts- sans donor movement and cost of service/assembly was in the range of $1.6k (not sure if there was a dealer accommodation discount applied to that total). That would indeed be a little cheaper than buying a second hand Watchco provided the donor movement and cost of service/assembly was less than about $1k.
“Watchco” has become the generic name for any build like this- and there is no provenance or branding associated with the builds that came from the company Watchco except for the early ones which are rumored to have been SM300 born movements that can be proven with an extract...key word is rumored.
Paying a premium for a watch that was built by Watchco is simply a misunderstanding of what those watches were- they were all “franken” watches if by Franken it’s implied that the movement didn’t come with that case/dial/hands. But all parts are from Omega, so other than it not coming directly from Omega as that exact build, they are all the same- be them from Watchco or an independent with a SG account.
One of our resident Omega cert watchmakers made the point in that thread that it doesn’t go against any Omega policy and that an independent Omega watchmaker with a Swatchgroup parts account could in theory do this if a donor was provided- but questionable if Omega themselves would do this at a customer’s request.
 
kip595
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JwRosenthal JwRosenthal
I remember that thread too and the poster worked in some capacity for an AD if I recall. If my memory serves, he mentioned the cost of the parts- sans donor movement and cost of service/assembly was in the range of $1.6k (not sure if there was a dealer accommodation discount applied to that total). That would indeed be a little cheaper than buying a second hand Watchco provided the donor movement and cost of service/assembly was less than about $1k.
“Watchco” has become the generic name for any build like this- and there is no provenance or branding associated with the builds that came from the company Watchco except for the early ones which are rumored to have been SM300 born movements that can be proven with an extract...key word is rumored.
Paying a premium for a watch that was built by Watchco is simply a misunderstanding of what those watches were- they were all “franken” watches if by Franken it’s implied that the movement didn’t come with that case/dial/hands. But all parts are from Omega, so other than it not coming directly from Omega as that exact build, they are all the same- be them from Watchco or an independent with a SG account.
One of our resident Omega cert watchmakers made the point in that thread that it doesn’t go against any Omega policy and that an independent Omega watchmaker with a Swatchgroup parts account could in theory do this if a donor was provided- but questionable if Omega themselves would do this at a customer’s request.

Good points on the WatchCo pieces. My shock in the current market is the prices people are asking for, and apparently getting, on watches that openly have non-Omega parts...frankens squared? Next level frankens? Something like that.
 
JwRosenthal
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kip595 kip595
Good points on the WatchCo pieces. My shock in the current market is the prices people are asking for, and apparently getting, on watches that openly have non-Omega parts...frankens squared? Next level frankens? Something like that.
Yeah, I don’t know what we would call something with aftermarket parts mixed with factory.... perhaps Fruken.
 
georgepalmer
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kip595 kip595
It'd be an interesting if bizarre project.

There's a well-known dealer in NYC who is, or recently was, selling an 'assembled' SM 300 they openly described as a 'frankenwatch' - and had listed around WatchCo prices. 🤨

I bought my one (date window, shark mesh) for around USD 3,300 about 5 years ago. Any idea what they go for these days? cheers
 
JwRosenthal
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Donn Chambers
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There used to be a store in Burlington Arcade in London that sold “New Old Stock” Omega Seamaster 300s that they claimed were built at Omega exclusively for the shop out of the service parts And old movements. The price was outrageously high. I went in there around 2007 or so, and happened to have my refurbished Seamaster 300 from 1967 on my wrist. I pointed out mine was essentially the same as theirs (although mine had the original case and caseback) and cost me a lot less. That’s when the salesman told me theirs were built by Omega and came with an Omega warranty and so that was why they were more expensive.

Right.

I figured it was builshit and these were just WatchCo-like watches, but perhaps this is what the OP was referring to?
 
rcs914
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Donn Chambers Donn Chambers
There used to be a store in Burlington Arcade in London that sold “New Old Stock” Omega Seamaster 300s that they claimed were built at Omega exclusively for the shop out of the service parts And old movements. The price was outrageously high. I went in there around 2007 or so, and happened to have my refurbished Seamaster 300 from 1967 on my wrist. I pointed out mine was essentially the same as theirs (although mine had the original case and caseback) and cost me a lot less. That’s when the salesman told me theirs were built by Omega and came with an Omega warranty and so that was why they were more expensive.

Right.

I figured it was builshit and these were just WatchCo-like watches, but perhaps this is what the OP was referring to?

Maybe - but I'd be willing to bet your first inclination was more correct 😗
 
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