Omega Seamaster 300

S Shane Foster

I hope all you Sea Master fans out there will be able to help me:-

I have recently inherited my late Fathers Seamaster 300.

My Dad was in the Merchant Navy all his working life an I remember him always wearing it up until about 20 years ago. I remember it being in not the best condition latterly and never thought to ask about it. It seemed to disappear.

Whilst sorting through his possessions, after his death, I came across it in the same used state as I remembered it latterly.

I then started doing some research and was somewhat surprised at what I found out.

I believe he had it from new and don't think he had any work done to it although I could be wrong.

I've attached some photos. You can see the serial No. is 165.114-63 with a movement No. 20308276.

There is also a number engraved on the lug at 10 o'clock RC10059P.

I took it to a watch dealer who said it had had new hands. On searching the internet I couldn't find the same watch with that hand and hour marker combination so I thought he must be right. Then I came across OMEGA PASSION and there it was an identical watch. Thanks to Stuart of OMEGA PASSION for his help. The dealer also failed to point out the significance of the original strap.

I have three questions if you can help me please?

1). What is the significance or the engraved numbers on the lug?

2). If it is as original as I think it is then it must be pretty rare. I can't find another photo of the same watch (apart from on Stuart's website.) Does any one have any comments please? Photos of your watch, if identical, would be great.

3). I would like to wear the watch, but I would like it to look more like as I remember it as a boy, so that means a sensitive restoration of the bezel and hopefully I have the right man lined up to do it. I guess some of you will be holding your hands up in horror at that but, if I don't have the bezel done I know I won't wear it, and it deserves to be worn. Best advice seems to be to wear it with a different strap and put the original in the safe!

Best Regards

Shane

cristos71

Is it possible to just go out and buy only the insert, without the bezel, for a SM300 re-edition? Will that even fit? And if it does will it be the correct fit and finish for a 165.014? Also there is a price consideration to be taken into account as I'm pretty sure an Aldo/other bezel insert will come in a hell of a lot cheaper than an OEM product (if that even exists!)

Dan S

Just to be clear, the OP watch bezel does not take an insert, and would not look right at all with an insert. It originally had a bake-lite style inlay embedded in the groove, most of which gradually break and flake out over time.

bigtriangle68

This is the 2017 1957 Seamaster 300 60th Anniversary reissue. If you no longer have the factory bezel insert, I would investigate if the bezel insert from this 2017 reissue fits your 1963 model. If so, perhaps you could have your watchmaker buy the Omega bezel insert ala carte from Omega.

bigtriangle68

Serial number dates it to around 1963.

The engraved numbers on the lug might be some sort of personal identification number that was relevant to your dad: in case the watch was stolen he could prove ownership.

Do you have the original bezel insert? If not, Omega reissued the 1957 Seamaster 300 a few years ago. If you have lost the bezel insert, I would investigate if the bezel from that 2017 1957 Seamaster 300 reissue might fit your watch, and if so, you could have a watchmaker just buy the reissue bezel insert parts and install it. Might be cheaper than trying to obtain an original bezel.

The baton hands are the correct style for your 1963 model. The lume on your baton hands and second hand is a different shade than the hour markers. Perhaps they were replaced or relumed at some point. Or perhaps they just aged differently. It's hard to say.

I would try to keep everything as original as possible and not polish anything so you maintain maximum value.

That looks like an original 19mm flat link Omega bracelet. If it is stretched out, you could have it repaired, or just put a new Forstner or Omega 19mm flat link bracelet on it and keep your original bracelet in storage. The Forstner 19mm flat link bracelet will be cheaper than a new OEM Omega bracelet.