How Did I Do? - Seamaster Automatic Pre-T Dial

Posts
963
Likes
1,251
Happy Saturday, OF family.

First Omega purchase, how did I do?

eBay find, in need of a service, no movement shots (yet,) unrestored and priced accordingly.

Seamaster, unconfirmed 165.001

Vertical bushed, 'pre-T' tritium dial

Signed crown & crystal

Period correct Speidel Twist-O-Flex (Made in USA)

 
Posts
3,211
Likes
33,403
I like it! That bracelet is cool but may not be kind to the lugs.
 
Posts
34,345
Likes
38,958
Nice, I’d bin the twist o flex and get it on a strap but a decent Seamaster
 
Posts
963
Likes
1,251
Nice, I’d bin the twist o flex and get it on a strap but a decent Seamaster

Thanks, dsio!

Twist-O-Flex is coming off, but not going in the bin. There's a fair chance the band was added at time of purchase, so it's getting an ultrasonic and going into the box.
 
Posts
316
Likes
287
Nice catch. Hope you can save the crystal, looks like it might be cracked.

I bet we’re curious about what you paid.
 
Posts
1,534
Likes
3,239
I like the twist-o-flex bands myself. Both of my grandfathers had nice watches and had Speidel expansion bands, so I have a soft spot for them. The spring loaded ends can wear the insides of the lugs but I am easy on the two watches they are on and they are only worn occasionally.
 
Posts
963
Likes
1,251
Nice catch. Hope you can save the crystal, looks like it might be cracked.

I bet we’re curious about what you paid.

Crystal looks solid to me, there's a long gash for sure, but I'm not seeing a crack.

What would you pay for this watch?
 
Posts
24,387
Likes
54,271
I think it's a good find. The only issue I see at all is that I would assume it has been re-lumed. Which is not a big deal for a watch like this IMO.
 
Posts
963
Likes
1,251
I think it's a good find. The only issue I see at all is that I would assume it has been re-lumed. Which is not a big deal for a watch like this IMO.

Hey Dan,

Any tip offs that it's been relumed? I'm seeing lume plots that are relatively consistent in shape and don't seem to have moisture discoloration. What else should I be looking for in terms of lume?
 
Posts
24,387
Likes
54,271
IMO the lume dots are not the size, shape or color that one would expect to see for the original lume on a watch of this era. Again, not a big deal.
 
Posts
24,387
Likes
54,271
I used the following as reference.

( From https://www.blackbough.co.uk/produc...963-steel-automatic-vintage-wristwatch-wyosw/)

Do these lume plots look original? They're somewhat more deteriorated than mine.

Probably, yes. Or at least they are more correct-looking. Those lume dots are smaller and yellowed, and they are sitting nicely inside the concave ends of the markers instead of spilling out of it. However, I suspect that the bright white lume in the hands is not original.
 
Posts
963
Likes
1,251
Here's my dial charging under UV light, then immediately after dark. Glow falls off after a few seconds.

 
Posts
2,720
Likes
5,552
165.002.
An educated guess. This is not pre-T
The lack of T (tritium) is an indication that originally, dial and hands did not have tritium lume. Earlier versions of the 165.002 and 166.002 had a single T if they were lumed, then later two T's.

Movement shot and case reference are needed. Price? paid or asking?
Edited:
 
Posts
963
Likes
1,251
165.002.
An educated guess. This is not pre-T
The lack of T (tritium) is an indication that originally, dial and hands did not have tritium lume. Earlier versions of the 165.002 and 166.002 had a single T.

This is a 165.001, as it has no bezel. 165.002 is nearly identical, but with a separate bezel.

This watch was manufactured after the switch to tritium, but before the Swiss standardized on the T mark on the dial. The tritium lume with the lack of a T on the dial places the manufacture date between 1962 and 1963.