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simonsays
·No, “production error” or “mistake” will. Like so many brand production errors they become very valuable .... when made by the brand. Ask Rolex about that one.
No mistake, just a service replacement
Omega SM300 w/ Mesh Bracelet Built with Replacement Parts & Purchased on Chrono24
No mistake, just a service replacement
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JwRosenthal
·Can you tell by serial number what the watch was supposed to be?
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Archer
··Omega Qualified WatchmakerI think it is an opinion more prolific on this forum but not really correct. Omega just spent about £80,000 on a Seamaster with the incorrect movement. I bet ‘Franken’ won’t be in the Museam description 😲
Not sure about this view not being "correct" but Omega certainly has the luxury of calling it whatever they wish.
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Archer
··Omega Qualified WatchmakerAn extract based on serial should tell you what the movement came in originally.
I suppose it depends on which extract process you are using. The US method may work this way, but for the rest of the work if the case number and photos don't match what the serial number says it's supposed to be, you will not get the information back...
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JwRosenthal
·I’m really not sure why this debate comes up every year or so. If it is assembled with all factory parts, then it is all Omega, just not a factory assembled vintage SM300- this has been discussed ad nauseum. If you sent a beaten and damaged vintage SM300 back to Omega, this is what you would get back.
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·@Archer , curious as to what you would label this particular watch as. It is not Watchco but a different maker that builds the watch from
Parts and sells in chrono24.
Does Watchco have anything to differentiate them from this manufacturer? Is this a Franken? An Original? A fake?
I’m not loading this question, I’m just curious as to what other perspectives there are outside of mine ( already stated) and the buyers (also stated) and your experience does make your opinion very valuable.
Parts and sells in chrono24.
Does Watchco have anything to differentiate them from this manufacturer? Is this a Franken? An Original? A fake?
I’m not loading this question, I’m just curious as to what other perspectives there are outside of mine ( already stated) and the buyers (also stated) and your experience does make your opinion very valuable.
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·I’m really not sure why this debate comes up every year or so. If it is assembled with all factory parts, then it is all Omega, just not a factory assembled vintage SM300- this has been discussed ad nauseum. If you sent a beaten and damaged vintage SM300 back to Omega, this is what you would get back.
I understand and respect the opinion , I just don’t share it but maybe I’m just not getting something
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simonsays
·@Archer , curious as to what you would label this particular watch as. It is not Watchco but a different maker that builds the watch from
Parts and sells in chrono24.
Does Watchco have anything to differentiate them from this manufacturer? Is this a Franken? An Original? A fake?
I’m not loading this question, I’m just curious as to what other perspectives there are outside of mine ( already stated) and the buyers (also stated) and your experience does make your opinion very valuable.
Watchco is a description used for all these watches. Watchco made them popular by selling regularly on eBay about 10 years ago.
I think you have formed opinions without understanding what the watch is!
Omega Will service the watch and return it like any other Omega watch.
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·Watchco is a description used for all these watches. Watchco made them popular by selling regularly on eBay about 10 years ago.
I think you have formed opinions without understanding what the watch is!
Omega Will service the watch and return it like any other Omega watch.
not quite. I know what the watch is: A watch assembled from replacement parts by a third party. Call it anything.... that’s it right?
and WatchCo was not a general term or a description but an actual manufacturer in Australia. Maybe your statement should be directed to someone else.
Edited:
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·From the web:
So whats a WatchCo Omega Seamaster 300?? Well imagine you found a surplus of Omega service parts, and you could essentially build a New Old Stock watch from those parts... That's exactly what a WatchCo Omega Seamaster 300 is! WatchCo was an Omega authorized service center in Australia. They aren't anymore but still have a supply of parts for omega watches including cases, bezels, dials, and hands. WatchCo is known for assembling 1960s style Seamaster 300s from a stock of genuine Omega service parts. The watches are marketed as “New Old Stock” using a vintage movement that is sourced to power the watch. The reference 165.024 has a specific feeling and look that centers it as one of the most desirable vintage Omega diving watches ever produced by the brand. The bi-directional ratcheting bezel, luminous bezel insert, the high visibility dial, and overall larger size for a watch of its time period allowing it to remain relevant to today's sizing trends while quite literally being new old stock. The WatchCo Seamaster 300's will pass pressure tests and can actually be used for diving if you wish. The price point compared to the vintage examples is also quite affordable for a watch that you can use as a daily driver suitable for pretty much anything you can throw at it... Not literally but figuratively speaking of course!
Also note the watches then have different production codes. For example OMSM300WC
The WC being an unfortunate choice to mark
a genuine watch of eq quality... but that’s just a funny coincidence.
and BTW, I personally like the OMSM300WC, I think it’s nice to have a heritage model without faux patina and closer to the original. And they used to be well priced.
So whats a WatchCo Omega Seamaster 300?? Well imagine you found a surplus of Omega service parts, and you could essentially build a New Old Stock watch from those parts... That's exactly what a WatchCo Omega Seamaster 300 is! WatchCo was an Omega authorized service center in Australia. They aren't anymore but still have a supply of parts for omega watches including cases, bezels, dials, and hands. WatchCo is known for assembling 1960s style Seamaster 300s from a stock of genuine Omega service parts. The watches are marketed as “New Old Stock” using a vintage movement that is sourced to power the watch. The reference 165.024 has a specific feeling and look that centers it as one of the most desirable vintage Omega diving watches ever produced by the brand. The bi-directional ratcheting bezel, luminous bezel insert, the high visibility dial, and overall larger size for a watch of its time period allowing it to remain relevant to today's sizing trends while quite literally being new old stock. The WatchCo Seamaster 300's will pass pressure tests and can actually be used for diving if you wish. The price point compared to the vintage examples is also quite affordable for a watch that you can use as a daily driver suitable for pretty much anything you can throw at it... Not literally but figuratively speaking of course!
Also note the watches then have different production codes. For example OMSM300WC
The WC being an unfortunate choice to mark
a genuine watch of eq quality... but that’s just a funny coincidence.
and BTW, I personally like the OMSM300WC, I think it’s nice to have a heritage model without faux patina and closer to the original. And they used to be well priced.
Edited:
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Archer
··Omega Qualified Watchmaker@Archer , curious as to what you would label this particular watch as. It is not Watchco but a different maker that builds the watch from
Parts and sells in chrono24.
Does Watchco have anything to differentiate them from this manufacturer? Is this a Franken? An Original? A fake?
I’m not loading this question, I’m just curious as to what other perspectives there are outside of mine ( already stated) and the buyers (also stated) and your experience does make your opinion very valuable.
These all now have the nickname "Watchco SM300" even if they are assembled by someone else. This is to differentiate them from vintage watches, or w=vintage watches that were "restored" by Omega.
Watchco was simply the first to do it with this model, and the place that made them popular. I don't know the seller on chrono24, but it's unlikely they are different in any material way than what Watchco has done.
Again I'll point out that under certain circumstances, Omega allows one watch to be converted to another. They do require that you don't mix parts from several models, but if you want to take a gold plated DeVille that uses the same movement as the SM300, send it in for service, and have the parts installed to make a SM300 model, Omega allows this. They don't allow me (or anyone else) to buy up a bunch of movements, convert them, and sell them as completed watches - again this will cost you your parts account if you are caught. So the people who are assembling these, if they are selling them, they are taking a big risk.
Clearly the vintage models in good shape will command more than these do, but not everyone wants a vintage model - I use mine as a beater, so it's my travel watch and I play tennis with it, do chores with it, etc. I wouldn't do that with a vintage one.
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Archer
··Omega Qualified WatchmakerFrom the web:
So whats a WatchCo Omega Seamaster 300?? Well imagine you found a surplus of Omega service parts, and you could essentially build a New Old Stock watch from those parts... That's exactly what a WatchCo Omega Seamaster 300 is! WatchCo was an Omega authorized service center in Australia. They aren't anymore but still have a supply of parts for omega watches including cases, bezels, dials, and hands. WatchCo is known for assembling 1960s style Seamaster 300s from a stock of genuine Omega service parts. The watches are marketed as “New Old Stock” using a vintage movement that is sourced to power the watch. The reference 165.024 has a specific feeling and look that centers it as one of the most desirable vintage Omega diving watches ever produced by the brand. The bi-directional ratcheting bezel, luminous bezel insert, the high visibility dial, and overall larger size for a watch of its time period allowing it to remain relevant to today's sizing trends while quite literally being new old stock. The WatchCo Seamaster 300's will pass pressure tests and can actually be used for diving if you wish. The price point compared to the vintage examples is also quite affordable for a watch that you can use as a daily driver suitable for pretty much anything you can throw at it... Not literally but figuratively speaking of course!
Also note the watches then have different production codes. For example OMSM300WC
The WC being an unfortunate choice to mark
a genuine watch of eq quality... but that’s just a funny coincidence.
and BTW, I personally like the OMSM300WC, I think it’s nice to have a heritage model without faux patina and closer to the original. And they used to be well priced.
No idea where this text actually comes from, but there is no "production code" for these watches, at least not with Omega...that is something someone has made up.
The parts were not "NOS" they were just new parts that were ordered from Omega - they were not "found" or "discovered" in some stash, as this seems to represent. This is all part of the BS marketing that Watchco did back in the day...
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Archer
··Omega Qualified WatchmakerI’m really not sure why this debate comes up every year or so. If it is assembled with all factory parts, then it is all Omega, just not a factory assembled vintage SM300- this has been discussed ad nauseum. If you sent a beaten and damaged vintage SM300 back to Omega, this is what you would get back.
Yes, this seems to get a rehash every so often. Some people don't seem to tolerate these well, while most don't mind.
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·Interesting. This is the source for why it’s worth:
https://www.craftandtailored.com/products/omega-seamaster-300-ref-165-24
if you google OMSM300WC it does lead to the watchco but maybe someone just made that up to try to legitimize the watch.
https://www.craftandtailored.com/products/omega-seamaster-300-ref-165-24
if you google OMSM300WC it does lead to the watchco but maybe someone just made that up to try to legitimize the watch.
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Archer
··Omega Qualified WatchmakerInteresting. This is the source for why it’s worth:
https://www.craftandtailored.com/products/omega-seamaster-300-ref-165-24
if you google OMSM300WC it does lead to the watchco but maybe someone just made that up to try to legitimize the watch.
That is their stock number - has nothing to do with Omega.
Note that the advert there is misleading - they call it a 165.024, but the case is actually a 166.0324, which is the replacement spare part.
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·That is their stock number - has nothing to do with Omega.
Note that the advert there is misleading - they call it a 165.024, but the case is actually a 166.0324, which is the replacement spare part.
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JwRosenthal
·But, you would get it back from Omega? If I assemble the watch is it still a genuine Omega?
I understand and respect the opinion , I just don’t share it but maybe I’m just not getting something
To support your argument, if a factory service center were to build one of these, it would come with a factory warranty- which none of the 3rd party builders can claim.
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·I would say if you assembled it with all factory parts and a vintage movement, then yes, it is a “genuine Omega”, but not built by Omega. Any vintage piece can be cobbled from parts to make a whole (like an independent 30 years ago using a donor to repair a customers watch)- we see it all the time. It doesn’t make them any less Omega, just not as they left the factory.
To support your argument, if a factory service center were to build one of these, it would come with a factory warranty- which none of the 3rd party builders can claim.
I see.
I don’t know why I can’t really share the point, but I see it. I think there must be a reason why WartchCo is not authorized anymore and, why, as per Archer, you can’t just assemble new watches from spare parts and sell them as genuine new watches or you can loose your relationship with Omega. It would seem like they kind of agree with me.
But I am not questioning the quality, appeal or value of the pieces themselves, just the brand affiliation, or the “Genuine Omega”. I think it’s because I place the value of the Brand name , any brand name, directly with the brand and not with agents that may be using it. Even if they use it well or have a great product.
I would buy a watchCo. Or if Archer made a watch from scratch I would probably buy it ( if I liked it) I just would treasure it as what it is: good, bad, better or worse.
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Scarecrow Boat
·why, as per Archer, you can’t just assemble new watches from spare parts and sell them as genuine new watches or you can loose your relationship with Omega.
They issue parts accounts to watchmakers that meet the requirements so they can service and repair watches. Not build Omega watches from scratch to sell for a profit (again, competing with Omega).
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