New Seamaster 300M 8800 - Question about inscribed marking on movement

rahul718 · Mar 17, 2020

Hey guys,

Recently bought a new Seamaster 8800 from my AD and while I was scrutinizing the movement, I noticed an inscribed marking that doesn’t seem to be other Seamaster 8800 movements via a Google search. I can’t make out what the text actually says.

However, when I look at the 8800 movements in the Planet Ocean and Aqua Terra, I can see the same inscription. I was only able to find one Seamaster Diver 8800 movement with the inscription in this area, no other watch had it.

What is this marking and is there a reason mine has it but the large majority of Seamaster movements online don’t have it?

attached some pics. The first is mine and I circled what I’m referring to and the two other pictures are what I’ve found online with no inscriptions in the circles areas. You might say these are stock images and it’s not a good comparison but I’ve seen used Seamasters for sale and I’ve looked at those movements and also cannot see those inscriptions. Wondering if anyone with a Seamaster 8800 can check theirs?

Archer · Mar 17, 2020

Explanation of AZY/X:
A = Version of calibre
ZY = Year and month of production (ex: L3)
X = Hand fitting height (ex: 3)

Cheers, Al

rahul718 · Mar 17, 2020

Archer
Explanation of AZY/X:
A = Version of calibre
ZY = Year and month of production (ex: L3)
X = Hand fitting height (ex: 3)

Cheers, Al

Thanks Al. Is there a reason why not all Seamaster 300m 8800 movements have this inscription in this area? I'm not referring to stock images, but actual image movements

Budozer · Mar 17, 2020

Mine does not have the marking

rahul718 · Mar 17, 2020

rahul718
Thanks Al. Is there a reason why not all Seamaster 300m 8800 movements have this inscription in this area?

@Archer

under a loupe mine says AV4/3. According to what you said, this means it’s a 8800A. How would I interpret V4? And what does hand fitting height mean? Sorry for the questions, I’m just really curious why some Seamaster 8800 movements have this inscription and some dont

jerm · Mar 18, 2020

Got mine yesterday, louped the hell out of it - no markings like yours

Archer · Mar 18, 2020

rahul718
@Archer

under a loupe mine says AV4/3. According to what you said, this means it’s a 8800A. How would I interpret V4? And what does hand fitting height mean? Sorry for the questions, I’m just really curious why some Seamaster 8800 movements have this inscription and some dont

I've asked Omega how to interpret the date code, but the answer came back that this is for "internal use only" so they don't want that information out there clearly.

The hand height reflects the length of the items that the hands attach to, so the seconds wheel, the cannon pinion, and the hour wheel. If you have a flat painted dial the posts for the hands don't have to be very tall, but if you have a dial with applied markers, the posts have to be taller so the=at the hands clear the markers. Some calibers come in 4 or 5 different heights.

As to why some are marked and some aren't, I suspect they all are, but the location may be where you can't see it on some.

Cheers, Al

rahul718 · Mar 18, 2020

Archer
I've asked Omega how to interpret the date code, but the answer came back that this is for "internal use only" so they don't want that information out there clearly.

The hand height reflects the length of the items that the hands attach to, so the seconds wheel, the cannon pinion, and the hour wheel. If you have a flat painted dial the posts for the hands don't have to be very tall, but if you have a dial with applied markers, the posts have to be taller so the=at the hands clear the markers. Some calibers come in 4 or 5 different heights.

As to why some are marked and some aren't, I suspect they all are, but the location may be where you can't see it on some.

Cheers, Al

Thanks Al. Did you ask Omega due to my inquiry or this was something you always knew? If you asked based on this thread, then I thank you for reaching out and investigating!

My first thought when I saw this (and didn't really see it on the vast majority of Seamaster 8800s) was this I was sold a fake.

Archer · Mar 18, 2020

I asked them this back in 2018...

ScubaRawb · Mar 18, 2020

Just checked mine...no markings on that location.

savio.79 · Mar 18, 2020

ScubaRawb
Just checked mine...no markings on that location.

Same here!

borre · Mar 18, 2020

No marking on mine...

ScubaPro · Mar 18, 2020

This is a puzzler. I think is could be a specialized manufacturing number that perhaps is an indication of the beginning or end of a batch? This is pure speculation of course. I feel it's unlikely it's a fake, less you would find other evidence of such. I look forward to somebody figuring it out, in the meantime I think you should enjoy it.

rahul718 · Mar 18, 2020

ScubaPro
This is a puzzler. I think is could be a specialized manufacturing number that perhaps is an indication of the beginning or end of a batch? This is pure speculation of course. I feel it's unlikely it's a fake, less you would find other evidence of such. I look forward to somebody figuring it out, in the meantime I think you should enjoy it.

It’s a head scratcher for sure. In my experience Omega is usually good about having everything in their movements match within others of the same model. I guess in the grand scheme of things it doesn’t really matter.

I did find one other Seamaster 8800 on eBay and when looking at the very last picture with the magnifier, the text is there in the same spot as mine, so that’s a relief for sure. Screenshot of it attached

https://www.ebay.com/itm/OMEGA-Seam...952023&hash=item4b75dfe8cc:g:ptsAAOSwdXheaShU

still, it would be nice to know if there was a rhyme or reason behind why the large majority don’t have the marketing but mine (and another on eBay) do.

Archer · Mar 18, 2020

ScubaPro
This is a puzzler. I think is could be a specialized manufacturing number that perhaps is an indication of the beginning or end of a batch? This is pure speculation of course. I feel it's unlikely it's a fake, less you would find other evidence of such. I look forward to somebody figuring it out, in the meantime I think you should enjoy it.

No puzzle...I’ve explained what it is above.

New Seamaster 300M 8800 - Question about inscribed marking on movement

rahul718

Archer

rahul718

Budozer

rahul718

jerm

Archer

rahul718

Archer

ScubaRawb

savio.79

borre

ScubaPro

rahul718

Archer

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