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ffej4
·Out if curiosity, do both the date and non date versions use the same case set?
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So I decided to build a WatchCo Seamaster 300 Date
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robocaspar
·
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mattonthewater
·Out if curiosity, do both the date and non date versions use the same case set?
Not supposed to, from my understanding the no date came with a push down crown and the date had a screw down. I could be wrong on that, just going off what I read.
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ffej4
·Not supposed to, from my understanding the no date came with a push down crown and the date had a screw down. I could be wrong on that, just going off what I read.
Maybe the vintage models had different cases, but the 166.0324 case works for both the date/565 and the no-date/552 models. I'm 99% sure on this. To my knowledge, only a single case type exists for this model, but I could be wrong.
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Edward53
·I'm looking forward to seeing how this turns out and how much it ends up costing. As OP said, you can wear this, enjoy it and not have to worry about damaging a vintage piece. I have a 565 Watchco and I absolutely love it. I get why some people prefer the no-date version and most of my other watches are no-date, but I find having the date is useful as I'm always forgetting it. For me this is first and foremost a classic watch to be used, which also happens to look and feel great.
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ffej4
·I do have a quick question, presumably best answered by @Archer :
Say in 8 years, I would like to have Omega service my WatchCo SM300 with a 565 movement that came from a Geneve. It is assembled properly, but it needs a new crown and a new crystal due to wear. Will Omega send it back to me due to the Geneve movement serial number? If so, am I simply screwed? Because Omega parts will no longer be sourcable at that point in time unless you are an Omega watchmaker/service center.
Say in 8 years, I would like to have Omega service my WatchCo SM300 with a 565 movement that came from a Geneve. It is assembled properly, but it needs a new crown and a new crystal due to wear. Will Omega send it back to me due to the Geneve movement serial number? If so, am I simply screwed? Because Omega parts will no longer be sourcable at that point in time unless you are an Omega watchmaker/service center.
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mattonthewater
·I do have a quick question, presumably best answered by @Archer :
Say in 8 years, I would like to have Omega service my WatchCo SM300 with a 565 movement that came from a Geneve. It is assembled properly, but it needs a new crown and a new crystal due to wear. Will Omega send it back to me due to the Geneve movement serial number? If so, am I simply screwed? Because Omega parts will no longer be sourcable at that point in time unless you are an Omega watchmaker/service center.
From everything I have seen and read.... There really is no concrete answer, Omega is coy and won't come out and say either way. I wish someone would just send theirs just to see what happens.
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ffej4
·From everything I have seen and read.... There really is no concrete answer, Omega is coy and won't come out and say either way. I wish someone would just send theirs just to see what happens.
Same. I received a response from Omega last week regarding this and their answer was less than straightforward. I would send it in to check, but that'll be a few years from now!
In the end, I don't care who services it, I just don't want to be screwed if, say, I need a new crown or new movement parts and cannot source them on the free market AND I cannot get Omega to accept my $750 payment for them to service it for me. In that situation, I'd pretty much be screwed. I guess we will find out!
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Archer
·Maybe the vintage models had different cases, but the 166.0324 case works for both the date/565 and the no-date/552 models. I'm 99% sure on this. To my knowledge, only a single case type exists for this model, but I could be wrong.
The only replacement case available is the 1660324 case. In some instances, abouttime (what Watchco is called now) have ordered in a separate 165024 case back, which is still available, and put those on the 1660324 case to make them look more NOS, but they are still new cases. In fact the photo that Omega currently shows on the Extranet of the 165024 case back has the 1660324 case number stamped inside, which has been stamped over with a bunch of X's, and the 165024 number stamped below.
There's only one case for these now, and they all come with a screw down crown. It's possible someone could fit a non-screw down crown on this case, but the case tube is soldered in so it would take some work to do that properly by drilling out the old case tube, and installing a non-screw down case tube and crown.
Cheers, Al
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ffej4
·You know my answer already mate...
You're right. I had to re-read to make sure I understood your answer from another thread, and I think I'm clear on it. You're referring to this post, right?
However Omega does allow for watches to be modified, but only under specific circumstances. If you have watch A, and want watch B, and A and B use the same movement, then you can have A converted to B and it's all legitimate in Omegas eyes. However the conversion must be complete, and not have any tweaks for adding a different seconds hand, bezel, dial, etc. like many of the mods you see on forums. So if I had a vintage Geneve for example, and it had the same movement used in an SM300, it is perfectly legitimate to have that old watch converted to a different model. That was not what Watchco was doing clearly as they were just putting whatever movement they could find in the cases.
So part of what makes one legitimate or not, is the original intent behind the watch...
By the way, not sure why you would ever want to use Omega for these anyway, but that's another discussion I guess.
In regards to that post, what happens if the watchmaker cannot obtain the necessary parts? That's probably a dumb question, because I'm pretty sure that just means it would have to go to Omega.
Thanks, Al!
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mattonthewater
·I guess as a secondary question to that Al.... Is the black date wheel considered a "tweak", or is that Ok?
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ffej4
·I guess as a secondary question to that Al.... Is the black date wheel considered a "tweak", or is that Ok?
I hope not. I've got a black date wheel, and I'm pretty sure a non-convex white date wheel might be impossible to find. I did a search last night and had no luck.
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Archer
·I guess as a secondary question to that Al.... Is the black date wheel considered a "tweak", or is that Ok?
I don't speak for Omega...but IMO yes it's a tweak...
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mattonthewater
·I don't speak for Omega...but IMO yes it's a tweak...
noooooooooooooooooooooooooooo lol
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Walkerwek1958
·I built two of these a in 2014 when the parts prices/availability were far better. Both had movements rebuilt to a high standard by my good self, and both sold very easily. Only problem I had was the match/mismatch between hands and dial lume. The first one was fine but the second wasn`t; the hands were too green and I ended up reluming them to match the dial. Also had problems with the crown falling to pieces after fitting, so that had to be replaced at my own cost. I made a worthwhile profit but I should've predicted the future and kept the pair of them freshly built and unused!
Paul
Paul
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cvrle1
·2 of the case sets popped up on eBay for sale today from About Time (watchco) Asking price is $2300 + $31 for shipping. Since I had no idea what prices are like for these, figured I will re-read this thread. Saw someone mention Cousins UK, so I found the link, created the account and found same case set. Cousins is selling it for £1023 + £27 for shipping, Now my math is kinda weak, but About time is charging almost double for the set. What gives?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/132013751338?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649
Quite tempting to go for Cousins one, as I was playing around with the idea of building one of these. Seeing how prices are going up and up for these, and it is hard to find a sub $3K watch, temptation may make me do it lol
http://www.ebay.com/itm/132013751338?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649
Quite tempting to go for Cousins one, as I was playing around with the idea of building one of these. Seeing how prices are going up and up for these, and it is hard to find a sub $3K watch, temptation may make me do it lol
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JimInOz
··Melbourne AustraliaMaybe about time don't expect everyone to know about other sources.
My advice to you, if you are going to do it, do it ASAP, these will not last long at Cousins price.
My advice to you, if you are going to do it, do it ASAP, these will not last long at Cousins price.
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ffej4
·2 of the case sets popped up on eBay for sale today from About Time (watchco) Asking price is $2300 + $31 for shipping. Since I had no idea what prices are like for these, figured I will re-read this thread. Saw someone mention Cousins UK, so I found the link, created the account and found same case set. Cousins is selling it for £1023 + £27 for shipping, Now my math is kinda weak, but About time is charging almost double for the set. What gives?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/132013751338?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649
Quite tempting to go for Cousins one, as I was playing around with the idea of building one of these. Seeing how prices are going up and up for these, and it is hard to find a sub $3K watch, temptation may make me do it lol
I agree with the other poster. Do it before Cousin's stock is gone. After it's gone, you'll either have to cough up the price that sellers are asking or never build one.
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mattonthewater
·ahem.
