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Just how rare are Seamaster 165.002?

mangozac
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Hi everyone, this is my first post here. I'm getting married in April and my fiance would like to buy me a nice vintage dress watch to get married in. I've wanted to get one for a while but had never looked into it too much.

I've discovered that in general I really like the style of vintage Omegas (more than the other well known brands) and after a bit of searching around the Seamaster 165.002 is a piece that really resonates with me. For a special occasion dress watch I don't want to have to set the date; it should simple but elegant. The 552 movement certainly seems to tick all the boxes for me.

I've been kind of surprised but just how many variations to the model there are! I definitely want the beautiful "Seamaster" script on the dial and the cool Seamaster emboss on the case back.

The style of 165.002 I've particularly fallen in love with is the white face and red crosshairs, as shown here: https://omegaforums.net/threads/1960s-omega-seamaster-165-002-red-crosshair-dial.71225/

So my question is: just how rare is this kind of model (and even the 165.002 in general)? Am I realistically likely to come across one in the next 6 weeks? For finding specific styles Iike this is it purely a matter of luck?

Thanks for reading!
 
gatorcpa
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I think the case reference is fairly common, but that particular dial style is not.

The condition on @kyle L example looks to be above average.

You will be looking for awhile to try to find a better one.
gatorcpa
 
TheBosston
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Apart from @kyle L 's listing, a have just once seen an 165.002 with a red crosshair dial. I think if you're looking for something "rare" from a dial perspective, this would be a great watch for (what I think) a pretty fair price 😀
 
Spruce
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And you might also look at a 165.003 which, in my view and speaking as a fan, has all the attributes of a 165.002 with the additional benefit of a semi-concealed crown and a more interesting, again in my view, case profile.
Also, unless you’re averse to a date window, look at the 166.002 and 166.003, which use the equally reliable 565 movement.
You can still pick up a nice example for around £500-600.
Edited:
 
S
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Looks a great watch to get married wearing. Go for it seems a fair price as well.
 
MtV
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S slavedata
Looks a great watch to get married wearing. Go for it seems a fair price as well.

And he's only 2 years late! 😉

Joking aside, definitely a nice piece, but a rare dial variant. Regular 165.002 aren't particularly uncommon and can be found on eBay for ~400-500€ quite regularly, but that'll be white dials, no red cross hair I'm afraid.
 
kingsrider
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Edited:
 
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Spruce
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Chances are that I’ll go out next week and buy a cross-hair dial watch but hitherto I’ve never really seen either the point or the attraction of a cross-hair marking.
 
Spruce
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kingsrider
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And from this forum,
https://omegaforums.net/threads/rec...-dial-seamaster-geneve-cal-552-165-002.79727/

https://omegaforums.net/threads/rec...ster-geneve-cal-552-165-002.79727/#navigation

690048-b644c6b96e9624b745abce87b39700d6.jpg
 
mangozac
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MtV MtV
And he's only 2 years late! 😉

Joking aside, definitely a nice piece, but a rare dial variant. Regular 165.002 aren't particularly uncommon and can be found on eBay for ~400-500€ quite regularly, but that'll be white dials, no red cross hair I'm afraid.
Alas, I am indeed 2 years late for that offering of Kyle's, otherwise I would have snapped it up in a heartbeat!

I'm finding in general white dials seem to be less common on this model. There are lots of silver and champagne but a silver dial on a silver watch with silver batons is a bit dull to me!
 
mangozac
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Spruce Spruce
Chances are that I’ll go out next week and buy a cross-hair dial watch but hitherto I’ve never really seen either the point or the attraction of a cross-hair marking.
I can't really work out what it is I like about it. Perhaps it lends a slightly more technical feel that I as an engineer am drawn to?
 
Spruce
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mangozac mangozac
Alas, I am indeed 2 years late for that offering of Kyle's, otherwise I would have snapped it up in a heartbeat!

I'm finding in general white dials seem to be less common on this model. There are lots of silver and champagne but a silver dial on a silver watch with silver batons is a bit dull to me!

Well, here you go .... spice things up with gold hands and batons in a ‘silver’ case 😉
upload_2021-2-26_20-17-6.jpeg
 
mangozac
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kingsrider kingsrider
165.001
https://www.ebay.com/itm/RARE-1960s-OMEGA-SEAMASTER-CAL-552-AUTOMATIC-24J-WATCH-989/114704022602?_trkparms=aid=1110006&algo=HOMESPLICE.SIM&ao=1&asc=20190920091355&meid=861e9d65e1b640e08db68e554f2dd207&pid=100036&rk=2&rkt=12&sd=154224047607&itm=114704022602&pmt=0&noa=1&pg=2047675&algv=DefaultOrganic&brand=OMEGA&_trksid=p2047675.c100036.m2109
165.002 from Australia with an offer option,
https://www.ebay.de/itm/C-1964-Vint...093987?hash=item547c071da3:g:5PEAAOSwRn9d~dQI
Being in Australia myself I was excited to find that second one before posting here but my understanding is that it's an inferior US market version, using the 550 movement and lacking the Seamaster specific details such as the rear engraving.
 
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mangozac
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Spruce Spruce
Well, here you go .... spice things up with gold hands and batons in a ‘silver’ case 😉
upload_2021-2-26_20-17-6.jpeg
That's certainly a nice example!
 
mangozac
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Spruce Spruce
And you might also look at a 165.003 which, in my view and speaking as a fan, has all the attributes of a 165.002 with the additional benefit of a semi-concealed crown and a more interesting, again in my view, case profile.
Also, unless you’re averse to a date window, look at the 166.002 and 166.003, which use the equally reliable 565 movement.
You can still pick up a nice example for around £500-600.
I have looked at 165.001 and 165.003 as well but they seem to be even less common, hence why I've been focusing on the 002. For a special occasion dress watch I prefer to not have a date complication. I don't want to have to set the date every time I put it on
 
Spruce
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The 565 has a quickset - so it takes no longer than turning the crown to set the time. It’s an option.

And, and I meant to post these photos earlier, I think that the 003 has an attractive/interesting profile.

AEC80389-1280-410F-8E83-0D1BCC95CF2D.jpeg 2C75B568-4C2D-4583-8707-66375E067CD4.jpeg
Edited:
 
mangozac
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I figured thats how they all work (my Orient daily watch is like that) but you still need to get to the correct am or pm 12 hour window.
 
Spruce
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mangozac mangozac
I figured thats how they all work (my Orient daily watch is like that) but you still need to get to the correct am or pm 12 hour window.
I don’t own an Orient so I can’t compare but you don’t have to twist the hands on the Omega, just pull/push the crown.
 
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