Dear OF members, I've come accross an offer of an Omega Seamaster 300 60th anniversary case for sale (he has actually two for sale). I've asked for pictures from the seller and I've obtained the following photos :  I am very sceptical concerning the authenticity of the two cases as the associated watch is 1) a limited numbered edition and 2) the serial number of the movement is engraved on the casecase lug. Could they be fake cases? To my eyes, the engraving of the caseback looks too smooth as compared to mine (but I can't really compare as I don't have both in hands)... What are your thoughts? Fake or legit ? Thanks Cheers
I can't believe Omega would make a replacement case with an engraved LE number and movement serial number. Where is the movement that matches that number? Where is the LE paperwork to match the case LE number? Unless the seller can provide an Omega receipt for the case I would run.......
The seller says that the cases were rejected by the Omega quality control... He does not have an official receipt for it as he buys it in batches along with cases from other brands (Tag, Breitling, etc)...
I seriously doubt Omega sells their rejects to dealers to sell them on the secondary market! Fake models of this watch exist, so the most likely explanation is these are fake.
I may have mis-spoken about fakes of this watch. I swear I thought I had seen some discussed on another site I frequent, but when I looked back, I couldn’t find the thread or any pictures. I still don’t buy the seller’s story these are Omega rejects, though.
So there are also factory overruns and/or rejects for watches? Like what they do for apparel. And theyre sold at outlet stores?
Can you get the movement serial numbers from the seller? If so, I'll look them up to see if these are from actual watches that someone has taken movements from or something... You can't buy this case from Omega without returning the old one. Omega wouldn't sell cases that didn't meet specs, so if that is in any way happening, it's likely he's got a contact at the case maker. But I wouldn't expect the serial number to be on the case at that stage...
I can see a part of the engraved serial number on one of the two cases. But as you said, if the case did not pass the quality control I can't believe the inscription to be already engraved... The seller told me he has a contact in Bienne. Anyway, I'll simply pass. What also made me think it's a fake is the simple fact that Omega made these cases to have the Seamonster in vertical position when the case is close to it's maximum. It was not the case here...
Caseback doesn’t necessarily align so that is not a red flag at all but from my data, supplied I think from Al, that case number is not correct. The SM 300 LE should along the lines of 055SUZ007361
The original is highly polished on the rear too but addition of the word Trilogy is a concern and suggests it isn’t the std 3557 run watch. Unless it is one of the Trilogy set watches it isn’t right as the LE number is wrong. I think you are right. EDIT: wait. There are both the 3557 and 557 LE backs there. My comment above about case number doesnt apply to the 557 set. That would also explain the different caseback number. They could be fake and probably are but nothing stated in this thread so far proves it. The level of polish is certainly not in keeping with an original untouched caseback though.