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Seamaster 300 Big Triangle 166024

zarc
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Hello everyone 🙂

This is my first post on the forum as I just got my hands on a vintage Seamaster Big Triangle 166024 which I bought from the original owner family.
The watch is running fine including the quick set date function.

I would be glad if you could help me identify what may be not original to the watch.
From what I read I would say :
  • the glass has been replaced
  • hours and minutes hands have probably been relumed long time ago

Do you see anything else?
The band model is 1153/138 with 575 end pieces. May it be original to the watch, or at least been bought at the same time?
The serial number is 28,29x,xxx which I understand dates the watch from 1968 or 1969?

Many thanks in advance for all the information you will be able to provide me with! 🙂

54233696014_4ecfc9dcad_k.webp 54233696004_a2f158ada8_k.webp 54232546702_d95132b99d_k.webp 54233690523_a121c7132d_k.webp 54232546657_36fccadd63_k.webp 54232546642_b4ac3519cd_k.webp 54233458926_2b38a41f94_k.webp 54233863355_86aa7ed8a9_k.webp 54233863340_c74a591dae_k.webp 54233690398_407a330bfe_k.webp 54233458851_c0482d27cc_k.webp 54233695734_7a42448e6a_k.webp 54233695764_4ebe8cbc4e_k.webp 54233690338_6834180b41_k.webp 54232546547_3afc0eb31a_k.webp 54233458836_ae4f0f4f7d_k.webp 54233690353_a3379787d9_k.webp 54233695769_81757ca6bd_k.webp 54232546522_a4f6a339e3_k.webp
 
vienna
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The bracelet looks a bit like a mash-up. I remember the 1153/138 being an oyster style integrated bracelet for the Dynamic series, so maybe period correct but as far as I know not for a 166.024. These came on 1039 or 1171 IIRC. The bracelet looks more like a 1116, the 575 end links are the vintage execution, never seen them on a 166.024 either.

Hope that helped a bit, kind regards,

Max
 
zarc
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Many thanks for your comment Max, I does help! 😀

Indeed, I had read the 1153/138 being an integrated band for the Dynamic looking nothing like mine
I understand the 1116/575 was provided with Speedmaster from 1968 to 1971/1972
So indeed period correct but the clasp may have been swapped?

54233813689_0ba6547d73_k.webp
 
vienna
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Yes, maybe a change of the clasp and yes, period correct but not „correct for the model“,

kind regards Max
 
zarc
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Very clear, thank you very much Max
The owner family told me they always knew the watch in this condition
So maybe be bought the bracelet at the same time he bought the Seamaster

I suppose the hands lume can not be original?

Kind regards
Vincent
 
Davidt
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I think it’s as you say and generally original bar the hands lume. I think the bracelet and Endlinks are likely original but the clasp has been swapped. Not terribly unusual as these did wear out or break.
 
Dan S
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zarc zarc
The owner family told me they always knew the watch in this condition
So maybe be bought the bracelet at the same time he bought the Seamaster
Family stories/memories are wrong more often than not, I take them with a grain of salt. Study the watch and use your own judgement.
 
vienna
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Regarding the hands, use a UV light source in a dark room and you might see that the hour/minute hands glow in a different colour and keep glowing for a much longer time than the markers. That would be a hint that they are Superlumuniva or similar,

kind regards Max
 
zarc
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Davidt Davidt
I think it’s as you say and generally original bar the hands lume. I think the bracelet and Endlinks are likely original but the clasp has been swapped. Not terribly unusual as these did wear out or break.
Thank you David for your comment 🙂
 
zarc
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Dan S Dan S
Family stories/memories are wrong more often than not, I take them with a grain of salt. Study the watch and use your own judgement.
Thank you Dan, you are right about the family memories which could be wrong, particularly as they are not expert and may not have the knowledge of how and when the watch has been serviced.

As you said, I indeed I tried to make my own judgment in my first message with my comments regarding the hands lume, the glass and my doubts about the bracelet
Apart from that I do not identify any issue but I humbly admit I am not an expert either 😉
 
zarc
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vienna vienna
Regarding the hands, use a UV light source in a dark room and you might see that the hour/minute hands glow in a different colour and keep glowing for a much longer time than the markers. That would be a hint that they are Superlumuniva or similar,

kind regards Max
Here is what happens when I expose the watch to a spotlight and then switch if off
The 3 photos have been taken over about 30 sec in total
Hands indeed glow brighter and longer but still fade away quite quickly
But I notice the seconds hand do not glow

54234211354_44955f9f05_k.webp 54233063987_1f001f9862_k.webp 54233063962_9961e59ee7_k.webp
 
vienna
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I see, could be painted with no lume grey colour,

kind regards Max

IMG_8910.webp
 
SOG53
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was this UV light? I would say hands are tritium so probably relumed a while back.
 
zarc
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vienna vienna
I see, could be painted with no lume grey colour,

kind regards Max

IMG_8910.webp

Do you think the lume of the seconds hand could be original?
It looks like the one on this Speedmaster (photo taken from the thread "Speedmaster Hand Lume Color Variation Picture Database" on this forum )

54235298147_05ec819fcd_k.webp
 
zarc
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SOG53 SOG53
was this UV light? I would say hands are tritium so probably relumed a while back.

No, it used a standard desk light as I do not have UV light
I thought too they were tritium
And it may be quite old as you can even see some light cracks on the minutes hand lume
 
Knudsen1971
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2829 is the last batch of 166024, late 1969/early 1970.
The second hand is indeed the only original thing in my oppinion. Minute and hour hands were relumed and the dial is an old service piece.
 
zarc
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Thank you for your comment
May I ask what makes you think the dial is a service piece?
 
Fallout Boy
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I doubt dial and bezel (both original but later) and hands (lume). Tritium is 95% dead after 55 years.
Ste abb.webp
What is the asking price?
 
Knudsen1971
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zarc zarc
Thank you for your comment
May I ask what makes you think the dial is a service piece?
Experience. The dial was replaced, hands were relumed,as the watch had some moisture in side and the tritium was deteriorated. The bezel is genuine, as should be for this case/year. This type doesn`t age much.
 
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