Omega SM300 w/ Mesh Bracelet Built with Replacement Parts & Purchased on Chrono24

Nobel Prize

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.

Scarecrow Boat

This is buying parts from Omega, making watches with said parts, and selling them as brand new watches, which directly competes 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).

simonsays

Watchco were certainly not a manufacturer, they were a service agent in Australia, that claimed to be closing and selling old stock(which they did,some amazing stuff) but it was liberally sprinkled with new service parts to keep you on your toes.

Nobel Prize

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.

Archer

Spot on - they do not want direct competition selling watches.



I get where you are coming from, but to say it's not an Omega is false. You seem to ignore the fact that Omega allows a watch to be converted this way. The only part of Watchco's business that was contrary to Omega's rules, was the part where they sold completed watches. If they had simply offered a service where you sent in a watch, and had it converted in the process of being serviced, it would all be above board.

The very fact that Omega condones the conversion of watches in this way, means that the final product is very much an Omega, whether you agree or not. The only difference is the circumstances of how it got to that state, and if it was being sold as an already completed product, or a customer's converted watch. The watch is an Omega either way, it's just a matter if you get in trouble doing the conversion or not.

Sorry, but you are off the mark here...and just FYI I've had many conversations with Omega about these watches, so this isn't just me stating an opinion, this is based on those conversations with Omega.

maxbliss888

Informations on the dial

https://vintagewatchspecialist.com/...a-big-triangle-dial-date-aperture-part-98-562

simonsays

I think the question should be where was that produced? China, Thailand, India?

maxbliss888

To be fair to the shop and to clarify the matter to avoid misunderstanding, it has stated clearly that “the dial appears to have been refinished by hand”. The shop has no intention of creating a false impression.

Archer

The only reason I would use the word franken, is because the movements in these were mostly not from a SM300 initially. They are often from some less desirable model, and were converted to the SM300 by Watchco. If someone was trying to sell a vintage Speedmaster that had a Seamaster movement in it, most people would consider that a franken - I don't see these any differently in that regard.

BTW this type of conversion is allowed by Omega, but only as a part of a servicing job - Omega doesn't allow people to produce Omegas and sell them - that is how you end up losing a parts account.

Archer

The term "NOS" means "New Old Stock" and there's nothing old about these parts. These are brand new, recently manufacture service parts from Omega. The "NOS" crap all started with Watchco claiming they had all these "old" service cases, when all they were doing is buying brand new, recently manufactured, parts from Omega. These are not old, therefore are not NOS watches or parts.

With that out of the way, let's look at the case designs...here is a case that was manufactured in 2016 from what I recall on the package:



Note the shape of the cut out at the crown guards:



The "A" in waterproof is flat on top:



These are images I've just taken of a case I purchased right from Omega recently. This case was made in the 25th week of 2019, so just a few months ago. You can see the date code on the package:





Front shot:



Note the cut out is very different for the crown guards:



And the case back has a pointed "A" in waterproof:



Again, both of these cases were purchased directly from Omega, so there is no doubt regarding their authenticity. I do admit that last year when the photos of the different cut out for the crown guard were first posted, I was skeptical that it was an original Omega case, as there are fakes out there. But having ordered one right from Omega, I am satisfied this is now a change that the cases have gone through.

Cheers, Al

Archer

The term "NOS" means "New Old Stock" and there's nothing old about these parts. These are brand new, recently manufacture service parts from Omega. The "NOS" crap all started with Watchco claiming they had all these "old" service cases, when all they were doing is buying brand new, recently manufactured, parts from Omega. These are not old, therefore are not NOS watches or parts.

With that out of the way, let's look at the case designs...here is a case that was manufactured in 2016 from what I recall on the package:



Note the shape of the cut out at the crown guards:



The "A" in waterproof is flat on top:



These are images I've just taken of a case I purchased right from Omega recently. This case was made in the 25th week of 2019, so just a few months ago. You can see the date code on the package:





Front shot:



Note the cut out is very different for the crown guards:



And the case back has a pointed "A" in waterproof:



Again, both of these cases were purchased directly from Omega, so there is no doubt regarding their authenticity. I do admit that last year when the photos of the different cut out for the crown guard were first posted, I was skeptical that it was an original Omega case, as there are fakes out there. But having ordered one right from Omega, I am satisfied this is now a change that the cases have gone through.

Cheers, Al