Originality check on Vintage Seamaster 300

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Solotov

·Apr 20, 2023

I just won an auction for a decent looking vintage Seamaster 300, but I'd kinda like a second opinion on it. This is one of those bought first, ask questions later kind of deals...

I found it called the "Big Triangle" and listed as the 165.024 elsewhere, but pictures I can find definitely have some small differences in detail, specifically with the gap behind the lume plots and the shape of the bezel edge.

What do ya'll think?

 

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flqt-9000

·Apr 20, 2023

This watch is fake!

 

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Dash1

·Apr 20, 2023

Yup, a horrible fake 🤮

 

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Scarecrow Boat

·Apr 20, 2023·Burt Macklin, FBI

Hopefully you are able to back out of the deal and get your money back.

 

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Solotov

·Apr 20, 2023

Are we saying fake dial and bezel? I noticed the crown was recessed too on this one, is the whole thing fake parts or just a franken mismatch?

Just for my reference for the future

 

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Dan S

·Apr 20, 2023

The movement appears to be legit.

 

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rcs914

·Apr 20, 2023

So there are a lot of recessed crown Big Triangle 300s on Chrono24 - are all of those bogus? I noticed on this one that the bezel edge was way too pronounced and there were no pinholes at 12 and 6

 

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masteroftime

·Apr 20, 2023

Fake. Fake crown, fake dial, fake hands, fake bezel. Possibly a real mid-case (hard to tell without more photos), but I wouldn't hold my breath considering everything else. Real movement.

rcs914

So there are a lot of recessed crown Big Triangle 300s on Chrono24 - are all of those bogus? I noticed on this one that the bezel edge was way too pronounced and there were no pinholes at 12 and 6

These came with both screw down and naiad crowns and they're both recessed. The naiad crowns are a little more seamlessly part of the design and the screw down crowns jut out. I don't see an issue in that aspect. However, the crown is totally wrong.

 

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Solotov

·Apr 20, 2023

Followup question then, assuming I can't return it. What do I do with it?

Would be hard I think to recoup value from a fake

 

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masteroftime

·Apr 20, 2023

Solotov

Followup question then, assuming I can't return it. What do I do with it?

Would be hard I think to recoup value from a fake

Wear it or sell just the movement for the $100-150 it might be worth. Selling a counterfeit would be illegal and unethical. It carries little to no value.

 

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X350 XJR

·Apr 20, 2023·Vintage Omega Aficionado

masteroftime

Wear it or sell just the movement for the $100-150 it might be worth. Selling a counterfeit would be illegal and unethical. It carries little to no value.

Few people outside this group are likely to have any idea the watch isn't correct.

 

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Dan S

·Apr 20, 2023

Solotov

I just won an auction for a decent looking vintage Seamaster 300...

What type of auction was this?

 

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Solotov

·Apr 20, 2023

Dan S

What type of auction was this?

Yahoo Japan / Buyee

I think im on the hook for it unfortunately. I sent out a request but I have doubts itll make any difference

 

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Dan S

·Apr 20, 2023

I usually agree, but there was a recent case where someone got a refund for a fake Tudor. I think he made a complaint through PayPal. I've never had any luck with Buyee directly.

Here is the thread. Looks like it was a Mercari purchase using Buyee, not YJ.
https://omegaforums.net/threads/tudor-7016-0-submariner-fake-or-real.157277/page-2

 

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Scarecrow Boat

·Apr 20, 2023·Burt Macklin, FBI

Solotov

Yahoo Japan / Buyee

I think im on the hook for it unfortunately. I sent out a request but I have doubts itll make any difference

Have a look through this thread

https://omegaforums.net/threads/tudor-7016-0-submariner-fake-or-real.157277/

It’s the thread @Dan S is referencing above. (He beat me to it)

The creator of that thread concludes with

S Saju_J

returned the item and I have recevied a full refund from Buyee.jp

It is worth pursuing and I wish you the best of luck!

 

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masteroftime

·Apr 20, 2023

95% of the 166.024/165.024's on Yahoo JP are fake. You have to do all your homework before buying one. Frankly, SM300's are often cheaper in eBay auctions. I've seen gen cases alone sell for 2k on the site, so anything less than that for a full watch is almost always a fake.

The angle of opening a dispute with PayPal may be worth pursuing. However, keep in mind that this may lead to your account getting suspended or restricted. It doesn't seem to be the case 100% of the time, but my account limits got reduced after accidentally disputing a charge (which I later reversed). Depending on how much you paid and how much you buy from Japan, it may not be worth it. Depends on your circumstances.

 

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Davidt

·Apr 20, 2023

To be clear, only the movement is real I’m afraid. Everything else, including the mid case is fake here.

 

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calalum

·Apr 20, 2023

A great example of why doing your homework in advance is critical.

 

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Solotov

·Apr 21, 2023

I reached out to paypal, we shall see how this goes. I'm mostly a vintage seiko guy and the learning curve was muuch cheaper.

Hopefully I'm not stuck with it.

 

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rcs914

·Apr 21, 2023

I realize that with the dial, hands, and bezel definitely fake it doesn't say a lot for the rest of the watch, but I can't pick out anything from that case back that looks fake to me - thoughts?