New SM300 165.024!

Myron · Jan 6, 2022

A month or so ago I posted for help on a poorly listed and photographed Seamaster 300 165.024. The membership here was extremely helpful in my efforts to validate the watch. If you want to re-read that thread you can find it here.

Happily, the seller and I agreed on a price. He shipped as soon as the payment cleared (PayPal imposed a 21 day hold, probably because his account had been dormant for so long). This was frustrating, but we worked through it and the seller was true to his word and shipped the watch the very day the payment was thawed by PayPal.

The seller shipped it Registered Mail, which meant it took another 10 agonizing days to get to me, but at least I was able to take comfort in it being safe and safely insured. Finally, it arrived today, and it's much better in person than the poor photographs had led me to believe.

Movement seems a little dirty and would no doubt benefit from a service, but its vital signs all look good. I am super thrilled to have it.

One question for an expert: Should the crystal have the microscopic Ω in the center? Mine does not, which presumably means it is a replacement. Everything else looks really great, and quite original.

Thanks again to all those who offered their expertise and observations.

Myron

Enchanted · Jan 6, 2022

Congrats! Did it come with a band? Was the seller in Mexico? How much was it?

pmontoyap · Jan 6, 2022

Congrats, looks like the wait was well worth it. The crystal does have the Omega symbol, they used to be less obvious back then.

Dan S · Jan 6, 2022

The lume in the hour hand looks pretty fragile. It you want to preserve it, you should have it stabilized.

Myron · Jan 6, 2022

Holy smokes, thanks @pmontoyap! I took my glasses off and scrutinized it up close but still couldn't see it. Thank you!

Yes, @Dan S thank you. My plan is to have the movement serviced and the hands re-lumed to color match the excellent dial.

Would you guys replace the crystal? It has some crazing in it but doesn't bother me particularly.

Dan S · Jan 6, 2022

People have their own thoughts about crystals, but if it's not distracting, I don't replace it.

JwRosenthal · Jan 6, 2022

pmontoyap
Congrats, looks like the wait was well worth it. The crystal does have the Omega symbol, they used to be less obvious back then.

Lol- I need to wear my glasses when I’m on my damn phone.

JwRosenthal · Jan 6, 2022

Myron
Holy smokes, thanks @pmontoyap! I took my glasses off and scrutinized it up close but still couldn't see it. Thank you!

Yes, @Dan S thank you. My plan is to have the movement serviced and the hands re-lumed to color match the excellent dial.

Would you guys replace the crystal? It has some crazing in it but doesn't bother me particularly.

If you are going to the trouble of having the lume redone on the hands (I would too, that lume is not long for this world and the color has gone to baby puke) and the service is being done my a watchmaker with a parts account- it’s kind of a- while your there- kind of thing.
In for a penny, in for a pound!

Enchanted · Jan 6, 2022

Myron
Holy smokes, thanks @pmontoyap! I took my glasses off and scrutinized it up close but still couldn't see it. Thank you!

Yes, @Dan S thank you. My plan is to have the movement serviced and the hands re-lumed to color match the excellent dial.

Would you guys replace the crystal? It has some crazing in it but doesn't bother me particularly.

I'm in the process of getting mine relumed too, do you know where you are planning on taking your for the hands?

Myron · Jan 6, 2022

Hi @Enchanted . The watch did come with a bracelet, although I no longer remember which one. I think I mentioned it in my original thread that I linked to above. 1171 maybe? Not a bracelet guy and just don't remember.

The watch did not come from Mexico. My seller was in the US. Although it may have originally been sold in Mexico, if the warranty/instruction booklet that came with it is in fact original. An archival extract might shed some light on this.

I have not decided where I'll send it for a movement service and relume. I will check in with my usual suspects and see what I come up with. 😀

Myron

jantjewgm · Jan 6, 2022

What a beautiful sm300!

Myron · Jan 6, 2022

Thank you! It was kind of an epic adventure actually getting it. The seller was a good guy, but with some weird buy/sell expectations. We worked through it and now it is on my wrist.

Revo · Jan 7, 2022

^^ is that a series 1 Land Rover?!

jaguar11 · Jan 7, 2022

Big congratulations! Good to see you back with an update. Wear in the best of health.

166026 · Jan 7, 2022

Congrats, nice find, it's a beauty.

Cuttysark · Jan 7, 2022

Congrats! It's a nice watch! please post a picture under the sun, so we can better admire the color of the tritium 😀

ConElPueblo · Jan 7, 2022

Revo
^^ is that a series 1 Land Rover?!

Asking the important questions here 😁

pmontoyap
Congrats, looks like the wait was well worth it. The crystal does have the Omega symbol, they used to be less obvious back then.

The moment I read about the missing logo, I zoomed in on the photo as well 😜

size11s · Jan 7, 2022

Congrats Myron, fabulous watch with a memorable 'buying story' that helps bonding with the watch imo, not that you would need any help. My tuppence worth I wouldn't relume the hands, just stabilise them. I think fully matched lume on hands and dial can often look a little 'off and unnatural' somehow. Then again I am partial to a bit of patina.

padders · Jan 7, 2022

I love that, bravo. 👍

I am far too scared to go down the SM300 rabbit hole, the Speedy excepted it is the Omega model that has the most bear traps along the way to ownership and I would want to study for months before parting with cash but you seem to have navigated the dangers well.

Regarding the hands, personally I would rather it looked nice than fully original so it would be straight off to J Hyman if it were mine. He can work miracles and if you want them to not match exactly I am sure he can oblige.

Revo · Jan 7, 2022

padders
I love that, bravo. 👍

I am far too scared to go down the SM300 rabbit hole, the Speedy excepted it is the Omega model that has the most bear traps along the way to ownership and I would want to study for months before parting with cash but you seem to have navigated the dangers well.

Regarding the hands, personally I would rather it looked nice than fully original so it would be straight off to J Hyman if it were mine. He can work miracles and if you want them to not match exactly I am sure he can oblige.

I suppose the old ones could be taken off and kept safe, then a new set fitted with vintage'd lume? That way the originals remain, well, original. Can't be many left in untouched condition.

Mind you if it's going to be a wearer I might think of swapping the bakelite bezel out for something more robust, too.

What a peach though. Beats a Sub hands down, any day.

New SM300 165.024!

Myron

Enchanted

pmontoyap

Dan S

Myron

Dan S

JwRosenthal

JwRosenthal

Enchanted

Myron

jantjewgm

Myron

Revo

jaguar11

166026

Cuttysark

ConElPueblo

size11s

padders

Revo

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