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

C
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V vanpatten
What do we think about this one? I've been watching it for a little while now. Seems to look ok to my untrained eye:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/175170075191?epid=25051618354&hash=item28c8f33a37:g:5dwAAOSwo8phprb8


To my equally untrained eye, it looks very nice, although i was under the impression that signed crystals came a bit later than the corresponding movement serial number date, (which i've also read can vary by a few years later or earlier so might not be an indicator of anything other than it being replaced during a service)

Is it prolonged exposure to the UV in strong sunlight that causes the tritium to turn amber? Maybe it's been kept in a box and it would turn more amber after some time left out if so, not in broad blazing midday sunshine but just normal indoor daytime, nice bracelet on it
 
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V
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C Concretepuppy
i found this website which i’m sure has been thoroughly analysed but you might find it interesting as well, i know i do

http://www.old-omegas.com/

Thank you for sharing that link, definitely a wealth of info there! I always enjoy finding old catalogs.
 
C
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V vanpatten
Thank you for sharing that link, definitely a wealth of info there! I always enjoy finding old catalogs.

The notes the author makes about the publications are pretty thorough too, he's obviously poured over them and cross referenced dates and models with past and future tense references to topical events like the Olympics and Gemini missions to come up with a rough time period, enjoy
 
masteroftime
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Davidt Davidt
This is the first example I’ve seen of a fake bezel on a genuine watch.

i have seen it a few times, and I confirmed it does work in this thread:
https://omegaforums.net/threads/1969-seamaster-120-conundrum-to-mix-or-not-to-mix.144849/page-2

That’s actually my listing. I decided to sell one of my two Seamaster 120’s and decided to restore/keep my 166.027.

Happy to add/share info about it. I was originally going to sell it without a bezel, but I figured this set up would make it more wearable.
 
C
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hmmmcamu hmmmcamu
The emblem on the case back .. from what i have gathered is the mark for the AFGHAN Military ... my friend ... Mustafa Sarwary in KABUL has a vintage 120 and i inquired about the mark on the case back of his 120 .... pictures of his 120 ... seems the afghan military were issued these watches according to him .. as i have seen the mark on a few pieces as well floating around for sale ... so ur statement ... "FAKER SIGNED THE CASE BACK" ... might not be so accurate
hmmmcamu hmmmcamu
The emblem on the case back .. from what i have gathered is the mark for the AFGHAN Military ... my friend ... Mustafa Sarwary in KABUL has a vintage 120 and i inquired about the mark on the case back of his 120 .... pictures of his 120 ... seems the afghan military were issued these watches according to him .. as i have seen the mark on a few pieces as well floating around for sale ... so ur statement ... "FAKER SIGNED THE CASE BACK" ... might not be so accurate
Did he have an extract from the archives to confirm it?
Like the 300s issued to the British military or 120s to Israeli military
it’s an interesting theory i suppose
 
JwRosenthal
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masteroftime masteroftime
i have seen it a few times, and I confirmed it does work in this thread:
https://omegaforums.net/threads/1969-seamaster-120-conundrum-to-mix-or-not-to-mix.144849/page-2

That’s actually my listing. I decided to sell one of my two Seamaster 120’s and decided to restore/keep my 166.027.

Happy to add/share info about it. I was originally going to sell it without a bezel, but I figured this set up would make it more wearable.
You clearly stated it in the listing- good on you. It is far more appealing with the replacement bezel to someone who just wants a Seamaster 120 than crazy collectors like us. As I have said before, since Omega has orphaned these watches we gotta do what we gotta do.
 
Davidt
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I found it interesting that it actually fit. I’m sure I’d read in a couple of threads that the aftermarket bezels wouldn’t fit a genuine case.

It’s fine in your case as you were open about the bezel not being genuine, but it highlights the need to check all aspects of these watches when buying, especially with the rarity and value of these bezels.
 
C
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C Concretepuppy
Did he have an extract from the archives to confirm it?
Like the 300s issued to the British military or 120s to Israeli military
it’s an interesting theory i suppose


Sorry i didn't mean to resurrect an old discussion with you about it, i only just realised we'd spoken and disagreed about it before.
i was reading the whole thread about the SM120 again and saw the reference to ANA issued watches so commented before making sure i wasn't going over old ground with the same person, no hard feelings
 
hmmmcamu
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C Concretepuppy
Did he have an extract from the archives to confirm it?
Like the 300s issued to the British military or 120s to Israeli military
it’s an interesting theory i suppose

I linked his info/contact, you could ask him
 
hmmmcamu
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C Concretepuppy
Did he have an extract from the archives to confirm it?
Like the 300s issued to the British military or 120s to Israeli military
it’s an interesting theory i suppose


You see the name MUSTAFA in blue? you can click on it should take you to his profile, theory I really wouldn't know,
 
hmmmcamu
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1967
OMEGA Seamaster 120
No date / Manual wind

Overhauled 2018 by Omega service center
original handset with tritium lume had flacking not because of moisture / water intrusion but due to age was replaced

she is what she now, and i still do love her ...
Edited:
 
IMG_4577.jpg IMG_4561.jpg IMG_4565.jpg IMG_4566.jpg IMG_4574.jpg
JwRosenthal
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hmmmcamu hmmmcamu
1967
OMEGA Seamaster 120
No date / Manual wind

Overhauled 2018 by Omega service center
original handset with tritium lume had flacking,disintegration not because of moisture / water intrusion but due to age was replaced

she is what she now, and i still do love her ...
One of the nicest bezels I’ve seen
 
C
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hmmmcamu hmmmcamu
You see the name MUSTAFA in blue? you can click on it should take you to his profile, theory I really wouldn't know,

Thanks for the link, much appreciated
 
W
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Hi there
any opinions on this watch? IMHO it looks genuine, white fonts, dial looks good..
 
omega2.png omega1.png omega.png
C
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W who
Hi there
any opinions on this watch? IMHO it looks genuine, white fonts, dial looks good..

It might be the light but the minute hand lume looks more yellow/amber than the hour hand and dial’s own hour-lume markers, perhaps it’s been repaired with new lume, (i’ve had one of the hands on mine done) the old tritium cracks and falls through, sometimes it can make it’s way down through the date window and into the movement, apparently, although i’ve not witnessed it happen, it sounds logical, apart from that it looks lile a nice watch, a few photos of the movement are always handy as well just to see if there’s any burred screw heads or rotor scraping occurred, which would be beyond my experience to diagnose but more of a reassurance if those wear indicators are absent
 
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