Seamaster 300M and its aging

MPWATCH · Nov 30, 2016

Really love the patina those lames develop. Definitely makes the pice for me, and it's a killer contrast with the blue wave dial...

This has changed my mind on the newer models...

blubarb · Dec 14, 2016

Ecodelosandes
I have a 2254 SMP, with the very same seconds hand, and i can confirm that, under certain conditions, the red tip will fade to a creamy white. Nothing that a resourceful watchmaker or a simple replacement can't overcome[emoji6] .

Enviado desde mi SM-N910C mediante Tapatalk

Personally I wouldn't touch it. Looks great as it is, ageing like good wine.

blubarb · Dec 14, 2016

WatchVaultNYC
The 2531.80 and contemporaries are patinating really, really well. In less than 5 years, people will start considering these "vintage", with a new generation of fans. Can you imagine OF noobs looking for birth year SMPs? Collectors specializing in collecting Caliber 1109 Bonds?

I don't suppose this has the nick name of the "poached egg" dial yet - if not, then you heard it here first on OF folks...but somehow I doubt it.

blubarb · Dec 14, 2016

blubarb
I don't suppose this has the nick name of the "poached egg" lume yet - if not, then you heard it here first on OF folks...but somehow I doubt it.

ps. I am right to think that that the first 2531s, 1993 - '97 (?) had tritium plots?

padders · Dec 15, 2016

blubarb
ps. I am right to think that that the first 2531s, 1993 - '97 (?) had tritium plots?

Yep, see my post on p1. The early dials fade to beige but the hands not so much.

Knudsen1971 · Sep 19, 2019

Hi, I have purchased recently a 1997 SMP 2531.80 fullset in decent condition, with pink second hand tip and nicely aged dial dots. As stated above, the hands are not aging in the same way as the dial unfortunately.
My question goes towards the pearl in the bezel insert. On mine the glow in the pearl lasts quite long, much longer than on the hand or dial, in the night the pearl glows a bit even after several hours, but the dial&hand are dead in couple of minutes.
So, what I`m thinking is that the bezel was changed in the past, but as the insert is slightly faded, scratched and seems genuine in the watch, I want to ask here for experience from the other tritium SMP owners, which still have original bezel inserts.
Should the 20+ years old pearl glow and fade in the same way as dial& hands, or lasts significantly longer?
Thank you.

padders · Sep 19, 2019

It sounds very like your insert was changed. Pre ~1998, all the lume on the watch including the insert would have been tritium based and would now not have a very persistent glow, post change over, all would have been Superluminova. I suppose it is just possible some watches had a mix from the factory but its very unlikely IMO, much more likely is that your watch had a new bezel, they do get knocked about.

Barchettaman · Sep 19, 2019

‘95 SMP with very faded lume pips and a nicely dinged bezel.

Would the end of the second hand have been originally painted red?

Archer · Sep 19, 2019

Barchettaman
‘95 SMP with very faded lume pips and a nicely dinged bezel.

Would the end of the second hand have been originally painted red?

Yes.

saulgoodman · Sep 19, 2019

vadimo
I just wanted to know your view on how do you think watch will change over time? Will it form any type of patina on the hour markings and the hands?

I watched one review where a guy who owned previous generation version said that seconds hand, the end tip red colour fades into white over time, is that true? I would not like to loose that distinct red.

These watches will probably not age much in the way you are suggesting. I own the older version of the Seamaster 300. It is well over 20 years old. Only the red tip of the second hand has faded a wee bit. The rest of the dial looks pretty much like the day it was made.

Knudsen1971 · Sep 19, 2019

Barchettaman
‘95 SMP with very faded lume pips and a nicely dinged bezel.

Would the end of the second hand have been originally painted red?

Thanx for the pic, it seems like the pip on the tritium versions is sunken in the bezel insert a bit, more than the later luminova insert.
So mine is very probably Luminova replacement. Thnx guys, hunt for correct pearl begins 😀

Archer · Sep 19, 2019

WatchVaultNYC
The 2531.80 and contemporaries are patinating really, really well. In less than 5 years, people will start considering these "vintage", with a new generation of fans. Can you imagine OF noobs looking for birth year SMPs? Collectors specializing in collecting Caliber 1109 Bonds?

It's happening...part of a collection I serviced earlier this year included several of the 25318000's, and yes a number of them were 1109 variants, and a couple had the slightly different original bracelet (bracelets not shown here). Also a couple of Speedy's thrown in the mix:

The top right one had a lovely faded bezel too...

Cheers, Al

avidmark · Sep 19, 2019

Archer
It's happening...part of a collection I serviced earlier this year included several of the 25318000's, and yes a number of them were 1109 variants, and a couple had the slightly different original bracelet (bracelets not shown here). Also a couple of Speedy's thrown in the mix:

The top right one had a lovely faded bezel too...

Cheers, Al

The top right looks great.

jason10mm · Sep 22, 2019

Who can really say how the modern materials will age? A lot of tritium patina, tropical dial fading, spiderwebbing, etc are more like defects/deterioration than anticipated and expected ageing IMHO. Aluminum bezel inserts will fade (or can be MADE to fade) while ceramic should stay pristine. Luminova should stay pristine or at least patina more slowly. But it may take another few decades to fully appreciate what the more modern watches will look like and whether they are desirable or not in that condition. Hard to predict.

Knudsen1971 · Oct 2, 2019

Probably a question that only Archer can answer. Was there a different code for the tritium and later luminova bezels? 082SU1361 is the only one known to me? Thnak you.

Archer · Oct 2, 2019

Knudsen1971
Probably a question that only Archer can answer. Was there a different code for the tritium and later luminova bezels? 082SU1361 is the only one known to me? Thnak you.

There were a few bezels used on the 25318000. The first was 082SU1075, and that was certainly tritium, and possibly may have been a different number of clicks (60 rather than 120 maybe, but I don't recall for sure).

Next was 082SU1267, again tritium. The last one was 082SU1361, and it is listed specifically as having a luminova capsule in C3 colour - 189STZ000564 | CASPULE ST SLN C3

Note that earlier this year, Omega made an announcement that if your bezel has faded severely, they will replace it free if charge. Not sure too many people would take them up on that, but possibly the non-collector types would.

Cheers, Al

Knudsen1971 · Oct 2, 2019

Probably most people does not know, I hear this first time. Thanx for detailed info, very nice of you!

DT1066 · Oct 2, 2019

Am I right in saying a 2006 circa 2531.80 has upgraded elements so the red doesnt fade nor do the markers etc turn yellow?

Knudsen1971 · Dec 4, 2019

Yes, latest made that I saw with tritium and fading tip was 1997 made, 1998 sold, 2531.80 cal 1120, with serial 6015xxxx.
I`m pretty sure, that all made after y2000 were upgraded with luminova.

Socks · Dec 16, 2019

My 300 has had a fair bit of exposure to sunlight and has quite a nice faded bezel. This photo does not do it justice.

Seamaster 300M and its aging

MPWATCH

blubarb

blubarb

blubarb

padders

Knudsen1971

padders

Barchettaman

Archer

saulgoodman

Knudsen1971

Archer

avidmark

jason10mm

Knudsen1971

Archer

Knudsen1971

DT1066

Knudsen1971

Socks

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