OP: Have you decided where you're taking this watch? Please keep us posted when you've found a place to sell it. I am sure there are a few of us here who would be interested, when the time comes.

 

I don't want to sound daft, but what is a BT dial?

 

I think I've just realised, does it mean Big Triangle?

 

Bingo, 2 types of Military SM300 dial, BT and non BT.

 

Well, it's off to Bonhams for the June 21st fine watches sale. Just hoping it reaches it's potential. Going to miss it, but too expensive to wear.

 

Thanks. I will follow with great interest.

 

I am sure there will be a lot of interest!! Wish you all the best with the auction..and the new Porsche which will follow

 

What the heck if you don't know what its worth strap it on wear it give it some stick and enjoy for what it was designed for☺☺☺

 

Yeah..strap it on... kill the evil enemies with your diver knife and SM300 & feel like a SAS soldier..

Or just sell it for 50k if you feel so.

Both options are possible scenarios

 

All the best!!

 

By the way what's the final verdict about the caseback engraving?

 

I'm not sure what Mr H meant by his comment re. "re-engraved", it looks ok to me although the photo is out of focus.
Maybe he meant the A was added, signifying the addition of the screw down crown?
Perhaps he could comment?

 

Good thing that you didn't sell it back it 2012.

 

Hi
Here's my observation re case-back changes - I think it would also apply to 1968/69 issued watches

First engraving 1967 after hipocampus case-back skim ... notice all text is centred

After the Niada crowns were found to be unsuitable, crowns were modified to screw-down & the MoD added the "A" (their code for modified) .. on this case-back you can see the A has just been added to the left of the serial/date

But more commonly seen the case-backs are fully re-skimmed & fully re-engraved so all the lines of text are centred again, watchmakers OCD? You can see the re-engraved font is different


Regards
Mr.H

 

This looks interesting! Almost looks like a radium dial (or rust but looks pretty even?) also no T on the dial, but engraved and welded lugs. I have a SM300BT (see avatar) but I'm no MoD expert, and curious about this one?

 

It is rust!
Great story behind it, maybe Mr H will tell it?

 

Great explanation, great pics, thanks for clearing it up.
I have noticed the additional "A" engraving is often slightly different to the existing, obviously made with a different engraving head.
You need good light and a very good loupe to see it.

 

1) What exactly do you mean with "watchmakers OCD"?

2) In the past 10 years I have very well documented almost every authentic Military SM300 that was somehow shown in the net, overall about 150. Here are my observations about the different caseback engravings of the W10 models, delivered to the British Army:

25% of these watches have a "narrow thin" font engraving without A or A/, still having the Naiad crown (like at your 1st picture)
8% have a "narrow thin" font plus additional off-centered A only, no / (like at your 2nd picture)
28% have the "narrow thin" font plus additional off-centered A/
39% have the "wide thin" font plus A/, all centered (like your 3rd picture)
There is absolutely no relation between issue numbers, serial numbers, dials with or w/o circled T and the engraving font type.

So more than a third of the W10 have the all centered "wide thin" font what you call "re-engraving". Strange wise that "wide thin" font had never been used for the 0552 Navy models. They also have two different fonts, "narrow thin" from 1967 to early 1970, and "narrow fat" from mid 1970 on. However, in 1969 the previously additional added off-centered A/ was integrated in an from now on overall centered engraving... like at the "wide thin" font W10, but still using the "narrow thin" font.

We know that the screw down crown was introduced in 1969, so about 2 years after the last issued W10, all delivered in 1967. What means all the W10 with centered engraving including the A/ must indeed had been re-engraved in or after 1969.
But who did it? Due to the high number of "wide thin" font W10 I am pretty sure the MoD itself did it.
But why? Well... maybe when badly worn cases need to get replaced?

Just my two cents. Who knows for sure...

 

Quite on the mark, they said £20-£30k, but have put £25k reserve. Roll on June 21st.

 

@kev_c I would have kept it but obviously the financials of a 25k watch to someone who doesn't collect them is much different than to a WIS. Good luck with the sale - as someone who won't be bidding, I hope it beats the high estimate!