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!

 

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

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.m2109Purchases made through these links may earn this site a commission from the eBay Partner Network
165.002 from Australia with an offer option,
https://www.ebay.de/itm/C-1964-Vint...093987?hash=item547c071da3:g:5PEAAOSwRn9d~dQIPurchases made through these links may earn this site a commission from the eBay Partner Network

 

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.

 

Well spotted

 

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

 

https://www.ebay.de/itm/OMEGA-SEAMA...042168?hash=item46bad21a38:g:7dsAAOSwE~RfvTV5Purchases made through these links may earn this site a commission from the eBay Partner Network

 

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!

 

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?

 

Well, here you go .... spice things up with gold hands and batons in a ‘silver’ case

 

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.

 

That's certainly a nice example!

 

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

 

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.

 

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.