I found a great deal on Seamaster 300 2531.80 on ebay and snagged it. Pics were crappy and small, so it was hard to see the details, so I was skeptical about it. Seller had good enough feedback so I rolled the dice.

I think everything checks out, other than bezel insert. And only reason I am thinking that is because of the pip at the top. It is too pronounced and bulging out. I am not sure if this was replacement insert or just someone had bad day when they made it in the factory. Hoping that experts can help me out. Serial on the case matches serial on the movement, so thats good. Going by serial number and font on the dial, it is SL, which I was a bit bummed about (was really hoping for tritium) but it is what it is. Serial puts it around 2006 production.

Thanks

 

Well, it's not really a 25318000...was the seller "exelonman" by any chance?

Serial number: 80062170
Article ref: 25328000

 

That is the serial, however seller was "junior3391" I checked his ID history, and it wasnt changed.
Article: 302763476654

Now you got me worried.

Edit: Found that seller and looked through his sold listings, but didnt find this watch in there.

 

Well, what you bought isn't a 25318000, and the bezel insert at least is Fugazzi. The serial number corresponds to a 25328000, and that has a polished bezel insert, not the anodized one you show.

The reason I mentioned the seller I did is that I have serviced a number of watches sold by this person as one model, that were not in fact that model (just like this watch). He is a well known seller with good feedback, but if it's not him that's beside the point I guess.

You certainly have grounds for a return with a fake insert and the wrong model, but I suppose that's up to you.

Cheers, Al

 

Thanks very much for this info Al. Much appreciated. Will have to see if it makes sense to keep it now or now. I will need to see how much proper bezel would cost and go from there.

From quick search I did just now, it looks like bezel insert is only difference between 2531 and 2532, is that correct assumption on my part?

 

Yes, but keep in mind that you can't just buy the insert, as Omega doesn't sell it as an individual part. If someone is offering this bezel insert as a new part, you can be sure it's fake. You would have to buy the whole bezel assembly.

 

Yes, I found your reply that stated this on few other threads, so I am making sure I am looking for the following:

Omega 082SU1361

Thanks once again Al.

 

Huh, exelonman actually has a few bezel swapped 2532s on WUS right now but he is straightforward about the bezel change and includes the steel bezel. I bought a 2531 from him and the serial number seems to correlate with the 2531 numbers (at least the first 4 digits which is as far as I can go with online searches). So if he is doing this he is not hiding it (at least from folks who understand the slight model differences) currently.

 

If he's telling people that's great, but I've had watches in the shop that were not what they were supposed to be, and the owners were not aware of it until I told them. Very possible that the seller didn't know either...

As far as I know, with the people I dealt with in this situation, they either didn't care or the seller has worked with people to resolve whatever issues there were to the satisfaction of the owners, as any decent vendor should.

 

Ended up sending watch back. Complete bezel assembly is about 300-400, and also bezel on this watch was not rotating. It could be few reasons, so it wasnt worth it. In the end that really good deal wouldnt have been deal at all.

 

Fugazzi! I’m always learning around here!