Intro + 166.0251 Purchase - first vintage watch. Thoughts?

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Evening all. Long time browser of the forum and member in recent years. Also, my first actual post here!

I've always had a keen interest in Omega watches and in recent years had the means to own them. My interest in mechanical watches started with a Seiko SKX171 my parents bought me for my 21st birthday many moons ago...

Fortunate to own a 3861 not long after release as my first Omega - a milestone for a successful first year in business. I've then collected a few others including a 2254.50, 2201.50, Mark II re-issue, plus a Rolex 14060M.

I've always kept an eye out for a SM120 with the integrated bracelet (166.0251), being fairly unique and rare. Fairly fussy and held for a good condition example.

I'm located in Australia and recently found and purchased this beauty online in California, and in what appears to be good condition.

Watch generally shows expected wear for it's age. The hands I assume may be replacement NOS. The old tritium would be toast, however the photoluminescent paint holds a charge for a fairly short period of time. The dial and hands seem to dissipate at the same rate.

The seller advised the watch was serviced by the previous owner in 2019.

I've taken this to my watch maker in Sydney who noted it is running well. Circa 1978 manufacture. Dry pressure tested and good for 30m. May need a service in 1-2 years.

When it goes in for it's next service, I'm considering replacing the scratched mineral crystal, and applying a binder to the underside of the lume on the cracked second hand (to preserve it).

Would be great to have some input from people in the know on the watch and thoughts on originality.

Positive or negative, will love and wear the 120 regardless.

Cheers
Rhys

 
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I don’t know enough about it to meaningfully contribute, but it sure looks like a beaut! Congrats on the purchase!
 
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Great acquisition. The watch looks totally original to me. Also the hands look the original ones!
 
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Thank you for the feedback, very happy with the find!
 
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Well, I'm jealous of your bezel insert!!

From those pictures, everything looks really lovely to me. The insert looks immaculate!!! Out of interest, have you had it under UV??

I own two of this reference, so can really appreciate how nice yours looks.

Well done and enjoy!
 
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Wow, this is a great looking watch. COngratulations on the find. One of my favorite pieces.
 
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Impressive choice in watches.

I can't offer any knowledge about originality of your latest addition but also think it's a beauty. It fits nicely in your watch box too.

"Fortunate to own a 3861 not long after release as my first Omega - a milestone for a successful first year in business. I've then collected a few others including a 2254.50, 2201.50, Mark II re-issue, plus a Rolex 14060M."
 
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Well, I'm jealous of your bezel insert!!

From those pictures, everything looks really lovely to me. The insert looks immaculate!!! Out of interest, have you had it under UV??

I own two of this reference, so can really appreciate how nice yours looks.

Well done and enjoy!
Thank you!

They don't come on the market often but when they did I was fussy - the bakelite bezel seems to be the one component that suffers the most, either being beaten up or experiecing blackening of the lume from moisture ingress.

I don't have a UV light, however my watchmaker showed me the watch after charging the lume and all looked good and consistent.
Charge fades fairly quick as expected.
The fade rate seems consistent between dial, hands and bezel.

Heres a shot after charging with my phone light, and turning off the lights in the office this morning.

 
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congratulations, a watch in very good condition, the most important thing being the bezel, given the red of the hand either it has not seen much light or these are hands that were changed in after-sales service at the time when they still supplied them in tritium, in any case a very nice example of my favorite diver at Omega
 
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very cool watch, never seen one of those before.
The lume looks alive!
 
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Thank you!

They don't come on the market often but when they did I was fussy - the bakelite bezel seems to be the one component that suffers the most, either being beaten up or experiecing blackening of the lume from moisture ingress.

I don't have a UV light, however my watchmaker showed me the watch after charging the lume and all looked good and consistent.
Charge fades fairly quick as expected.
The fade rate seems consistent between dial, hands and bezel.

Heres a shot after charging with my phone light, and turning off the lights in the office this morning.


Absolutely superb.

How's the bezel action out of interest? Apologies if you've already described that before?? Mines a little 'vague' on one of mine so am thinking about replacing the bearing/tube. Interestingly, the bezel itself on my two are slightly different in design. Either that or one has been modified in order to be easier to remove. They aren't the easiest to get off.
 
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congratulations, a watch in very good condition, the most important thing being the bezel, given the red of the hand either it has not seen much light or these are hands that were changed in after-sales service at the time when they still supplied them in tritium, in any case a very nice example of my favorite diver at Omega

Thank you Gael, I do love this model. A very unique Seamaster!
 
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Absolutely superb.

How's the bezel action out of interest? Apologies if you've already described that before?? Mines a little 'vague' on one of mine so am thinking about replacing the bearing/tube. Interestingly, the bezel itself on my two are slightly different in design. Either that or one has been modified in order to be easier to remove. They aren't the easiest to get off.

Bezel action is great, smooth and audible clicking action from the bearing.

Whoever serviced it circa 2019 it seems did a great job.
 
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Do you know what kind of screw or spring bar these use to attach the bracelet to the watch head. I got a new bracelet but they couldn't supply the attachment parts...
 
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Do you know what kind of screw or spring bar these use to attach the bracelet to the watch head. I got a new bracelet but they couldn't supply the attachment parts...
I know a little bit about these bracelets. Mainly because i restored a 166.0196 Omega once. The bracelet on that watch looks identical.



Its not identical, the refs differ. The ref of the bracelet of this watch is 1257/220. The ref of your bracelet is: Omega 1321/295. Also yours has holes on the side of the bracelet, mine doesnt.

The watch has these kind of pins inside of the bracelet.



Bear in mind that the pins that connects the bracelet to the case is a bit bigger if i recall correctly. Omega is able to supply these pins.

Also, if the pins are rusted to the bracelet, they are almost impossible to remove. Took me three hours to remove one.



Keep in mind that my experience goes for my ref, yours can be different. But i think the pins are the same.
 
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I know a little bit about these bracelets. Mainly because i restored a 166.0196 Omega once. The bracelet on that watch looks identical.



Its not identical, the refs differ. The ref of the bracelet of this watch is 1257/220. The ref of your bracelet is: Omega 1321/295. Also yours has holes on the side of the bracelet, mine doesnt.

The watch has these kind of pins inside of the bracelet.



Bear in mind that the pins that connects the bracelet to the case is a bit bigger if i recall correctly. Omega is able to supply these pins.

Also, if the pins are rusted to the bracelet, they are almost impossible to remove. Took me three hours to remove one.



Keep in mind that my experience goes for my ref, yours can be different. But i think the pins are the same.
Thank you for the insight but the 166.0196 is slightly different than the one of the 166.0251. My watch doesn't have the slots on the watch head to get to a spring bar. On my watch it actually looks that the pins are the full width of the bracelet since I can see the rounded ends. I am just wandering if there is a sleeve that sits on the inside of the protruding endlink of the watch head
 
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Thank you for the insight but the 166.0196 is slightly different than the one of the 166.0251. My watch doesn't have the slots on the watch head to get to a spring bar. On my watch it actually looks that the pins are the full width of the bracelet since I can see the rounded ends. I am just wandering if there is a sleeve that sits on the inside of the protruding endlink of the watch head
If the topicstart is okay with it, would you mind to show some photo's of the bracelet?
 
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If the topicstart is okay with it, would you mind to show some photo's of the bracelet?
Here are some pictures:
As you can see there are no access slots in the center part for a spring bar:

And here you can see the rounded head of the pin in the lug hole:
 
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Very nice! Love the style of bracelet. I have it on a couple of watches and find it very comfortable to wear.