Forums Latest Members

Loose SM300 Bezel - New Bezel Required, or Fixable?

  1. ffej4 Survey Man Jul 8, 2018

    Posts
    909
    Likes
    1,415
    Hello, ladies and gents:

    I have recently re-acquired one of my grails after a long period of waiting and debating - an older “WatchCo” SM300 constructed of Omega service parts. My experience in handling “NOS” versions of this watch leads me to believe that mine was constructed 5-10+ years ago. The crown easily screws in and screws out, and the bezel is very easy to operate... a little bit too easy! Relative to the crowns and bezels on brand new 166.0324 cases, the easy crown easy operation is much appreciated.

    The bezel on my watch is very easy to bump forward or backward, and it also has a little bit of play from side to side. I wanted to ask if anyone has had experience tightening these bezels to reduce the play by manipulating the bezel spring, or if this phenomenon is only correctable by installing a new bezel. Has anyone addressed this before?

    Thanks a bunch as always. This forum is an invaluable resource.

    Jeff
     
  2. billythekid Jul 8, 2018

    Posts
    269
    Likes
    154
    it sounds , fishy, to me. as it should,nt show any play...
     
  3. ffej4 Survey Man Jul 8, 2018

    Posts
    909
    Likes
    1,415
    Unless this is the most convincing fake I’ve ever seen, I believe everything is legit. I can upload photos if need be, though.

    A few weeks ago, I handled a vintage SM300 in Boston and the bezel behaved similarly - much looser compared to the NOS replacement cases.

    EDIT: Photos attached. Sorry for the lackluster quality. Currently sitting in the back of a car. The caseback looks like one of the 165.0024 service case backs because of the four circles on the seamonster’s torso (on the rightmost set of circles). D1A472B1-D80C-49F8-86DE-DB70A406F9F7.jpeg 74FA9688-E23E-4C29-B373-0D9230225BD6.jpeg F653765E-DF5D-4389-88CF-800B4EFC0D5A.jpeg 332AFA47-1A53-443D-A60D-5582CB83D31F.jpeg DCAA1D2E-80E1-4962-BB12-E44D17EFDABB.jpeg D72578C1-B528-4ECA-A19C-ACC3FBDDE2D8.jpeg
     
    Edited Jul 8, 2018
  4. Northernman Lemaniac Jul 8, 2018

    Posts
    4,422
    Likes
    18,121
    Steve in SoCal and ffej4 like this.
  5. ffej4 Survey Man Jul 8, 2018

    Posts
    909
    Likes
    1,415
    @Northernman I did not know about the rubies! That’s very interesting. I’ll give that thread a read. Thank you!
     
  6. Mr Blond Jul 8, 2018

    Posts
    356
    Likes
    406
    There are 3 of them, I had to have mine replaced. Clickers the watchmaker called them, not sure if that’s the correct term
     
    Steve in SoCal and ffej4 like this.
  7. gemini4 Hoarder Of Speed et alia Jul 8, 2018

    Posts
    5,855
    Likes
    16,579
    Perhaps a compatibility issue between the case and bezel.
    In the earlier SM300s, bezels for the 2913 and 14755 appears identical but often do not fit proper on the other’s, slightly different sized, case.
     
    Edited Jul 8, 2018
    ffej4 likes this.
  8. ChrisN Jul 8, 2018

    Posts
    2,218
    Likes
    4,756
    Does it only happen when the bezel triangle is at 12:00? If you move the bezel a few clicks around, does it stop wobbling?

    Chris
     
    Archer and ffej4 like this.
  9. ffej4 Survey Man Jul 8, 2018

    Posts
    909
    Likes
    1,415
    @ChrisN The play/wobble is consistent from any position as far as I can tell.

    @gemini4 That would be an interesting issue... I’m quite certain that this is a modern service case with a 165.0024 caseback. I’d imagine the bezel is also modern, so I’d be surprised if there were any compatibility issues. Next week, I’ll try to get into a Boston watchmaker to take a look at things.
     
  10. ChrisN Jul 8, 2018

    Posts
    2,218
    Likes
    4,756
    Okay. Quite a lot of these Watchco SMs have a misaligned bezel insert so the triangle is not exactly at 12:00. One "fix" for this was to file down the bezel teeth which correspond to the ball positions when the bezel is at 12:00 - to make it line up. Can't believe they'd do every tooth so it doesn't sound like that. Probably missing a ball/spring or they are jammed in.

    Cheers, Chris
     
    ffej4 likes this.
  11. ffej4 Survey Man Jul 8, 2018

    Posts
    909
    Likes
    1,415
    @ChrisN After reading through the linked forum post, my suspicion is that a ruby needs to be cleaned/replaced or the spring needs to be fiddled with. Luckily, this bezel lines up perfectly at noon and all of the minute markers — this is the first example I’ve handled that actually does that spot on. :)
     
    Steve in SoCal and Northernman like this.
  12. speedamatuer Jul 8, 2018

    Posts
    265
    Likes
    783
    Does the bezel spring from the 165024/165.0324 case also work for a 165014 case? Or is there a separate part?
     
  13. ChrisN Jul 8, 2018

    Posts
    2,218
    Likes
    4,756
    Yes, that's what I was trying to say.

    I've just realised that you seem to have sought out a 10-15 year old Watchco - is there now a premium for older ones? Seems a bit odd as the cases are still available.

    Cheers, Chris
     
    ffej4 likes this.
  14. Northernman Lemaniac Jul 8, 2018

    Posts
    4,422
    Likes
    18,121
    The bezel spring and bezel click springs are two completely different items.
    The bezel spring secures the bezel, the click springs are tiny devices sitting under the click rubies.
     
    Steve in SoCal and ffej4 like this.
  15. gemini4 Hoarder Of Speed et alia Jul 8, 2018

    Posts
    5,855
    Likes
    16,579
    I think the parts are different.
     
  16. ffej4 Survey Man Jul 8, 2018

    Posts
    909
    Likes
    1,415
    @ChrisN I didn’t intentionally seek an older one out, it was just what I ended up with. I picked one up a few weeks back having no idea how old it was (the guy I bought it from was like the third owner, so he didn’t know, either), but I can tell it’s a bit older due to the crown and bezel action. To my knowledge, there is no premium for older WatchCos.

    An interesting thing is that, on older no-date dials, the font is slightly different than the latest service dials. Other than some other very small details, that’s one of the only differences I can detect between the older and newer builds.

    Cheers,
    Jeff
     
  17. sog00d Jul 8, 2018

    Posts
    373
    Likes
    275
    When I first picked up my Seamaster Spectre it has the same issue, way too size to turn. Even putting it under a tight cuff would turn it. I brought it to Omega and they fixed it up very easily and now it’s much more stiff
     
  18. sog00d Jul 8, 2018

    Posts
    373
    Likes
    275
    Oh and the wobble is okay as well. My Spectre’s bezel had the same play as you described it got a little better after the service but it’s still there. I was told that this fine and happens because it’s a bidirectional bezel.
     
  19. Steve in SoCal Jul 12, 2018

    Posts
    66
    Likes
    26
    Yeah as stated it is a combination of (1) the 3 ruby / mini spring combos which sit in recessed pockets under the bezel and (2) the bezel mainspring thing which is just s long bent wire that goes under the circumference of the bezel. My 1969 166.024 needed a ruby/mini spring or two to be replaced to get a more consistent click feel. If memory serves me I also had the watchmaker attempt to replace the longer spring with a new one but it was impossible to turn so the old one went back in. I believe parts can found on cousins U.K. or the folks here is California.