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My Early Seamaster 120 Divers. What to look for and what to avoid.

Shabbaz
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Depends on what you've paid? It's not really attractive. But if you did'nt pay to much it could be a nice beater.

Case is polished to death.
Caseback is fake or polished to death.
I cant see the crown so not sure if ok.
Second hand and dial wrong.
Is there a omega symbol in the plexi?
What is the size?
Pictures of crown and movement?
Better pictures of the minute and hour hands?
 
Shabbaz
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Shabbaz Shabbaz
Yes. That's true. There are different variants of the bezel. But I'm done with the 120. And yes, I'm letting the last one go. Maybe also the first 166.027.

By the way.. in 2017 I said I was done with the 120 but I did buy another one. This one was really my last. I think I've never posted it here.
 
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M
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It's a 37mm, I paid £650. More photos below and thanks for the responses. I don't have tools for opening cases, but it does have a 565 movement.
 
IMG_20200405_102205.jpg
M
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Shabbaz Shabbaz
By the way.. in 2017 I said I was done with the 120 but I did buy another one. This one was really my last. I think I've never posted it here.
That's a corker!
 
M
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And no Omega symbol on the plexi, though it's not been on there long by the condition of it.
 
Shabbaz
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For £ 650 I would return it. There are too many problems with it. For a good example you should save up a bit more and spend between EUR 1500 and 2000.
 
Davidt
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I'm in the UK as well and although some of the dollar prices quoted in this site seem on the low side, I wouldn't consider that example unless it was practically free.

I'd suggest returning it and adding a bit more cash to get a better example.

A well known collector on this site regularly says something along the lines of "in a years time the extra cash will be forgotten but the disappointment associated with the condition of the watch will remain".
 
M
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Davidt Davidt
I'm in the UK as well and although some of the dollar prices quoted in this site seem on the low side, I wouldn't consider that example unless it was practically free.

I'd suggest returning it and adding a bit more cash to get a better example.

A well known collector on this site regularly says something along the lines of "in a years time the extra cash will be forgotten but the disappointment associated with the condition of the watch will remain".
Wise words! I know this might sound aghast to a lot of people on the forum, but as commented above, it may do as a daily beater.
The vendor is a nice chap but I think virtually free maybe asking a bit too much. Thanks for the feedback.
 
D
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What an involving and interesting thread for the uninitiated.
casebacks.jpg
One question came to mind, and after searching back through the posts I cannot seem to find the answer. What is the significance of the two different case back designs shown by blacksharpie and gemini4? Are the differences date or model related?
Thanks for any information.
 
D
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After a long search of the Internet it would appear from the Omega archives that the case back on the left is for the 1970 production models of the Seamaster 120 for the USA market.
case.jpg
 
TheDuke1979
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gemini4 gemini4
In the 1960's, with the success of the of the Seamaster 300, 3rd generation divers, the 165.024 and 166.024, Omega began their series of "baby" divers, the SM120s. Cheaper, Smaller and lighter, 37mm as opposed to the 41mm SM300, the SM120s were initially produced in 4 references. Unlike the SM300 which were only automatic, manual movements were offered as well. 31mm ladies sizes too, (I don't have any of these but be careful as some sellers neglect to mention they are selling the tiny size!!)


THE FOUR REFERENCES:
135.027 Manual Movement, No Date, Caliber 601, 611
136.027 Manual Movement, with Date, Caliber 613
165.027 Auto Movement, No Date, Caliber 552
166.027 Auto Movement, with Date, Cailber 565

Below are pics of my SM120's. Most I think are fairly nice EXCEPT THE LAST EXAMPLE WHICH IS A BOGUS KNOCKOFF AND SHOULD BE AVOIDED!

I hope this is informative and corrections and comments are always welcome.

Ref 135.027
All 4 references appear to share the same case, 5.5mm crown, hands and matte bezel. The caseback Seahorse engraving appears to be the same on all 4 references as well.
image.jpeg


Casebacks on the 135.027 and 136.027 are flat. Seahorse is lightly engraved as shown.
image.jpeg


All original legitimate cases have notches at the 3 and the 9. This notch may be missing on bogus examples.
image.jpeg image.jpeg


136.027
image.jpeg image.jpeg



165.027 For me, the hardest of the 4 to source. Dial now includes "Automatic". Note the TT location on the dial is slightly different from the 135s
image.jpeg


Caseback is now domed to make room for the movement rotor.
image.jpeg


166.027s
image.jpeg image.jpeg



THIS IS THE BOGUS 166.027!! It's plentiful, it's cheap. This was the first SM120 I bought. My mistake cost $500 before I realized there was a difference. Other than a Caliber 565 movement taken from another Omega, it's all bad
🙁

Glossy bezel, wrong 4, different bezel font. Hands too short, Dial fonts and layout (Automatic is compressed). Black date on white background from the borrowed movement.
image.jpeg


Caseback seamonster is incorrect. Engraving is too deep. Crown too small.
image.jpeg



No case notch at 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock.
image.jpeg image.jpeg
Very interesting. Thanks
 
NikoMartinez_SYD
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This is fascinating information and has mate me want one now. I have other vintage omega divers, but not this! thanks for the insights.
 
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