An acquaintance of mine from a non-watch related forum found out that I collect watches and sent me a text yesterday asking about his grandfather's watch. His grandfather lived in Sweden and purchased it there, to the best of his knowledge. I'm pretty sure it's a 165.024, but it's not my cup of tea so I'll leave the comments to the more knowledgeable of you. I only have this photo. I told him to take it to a watchmaker so he could get movement and caseback photos for better analysis.

The color of the hands gives me the impression that they're newer than the rest of the watch. From photos I've seen, the variation with that bezel has different hands. Is that correct? Any other information that can be provided from the photo, is appreciated. I will add the caseback and movement photos as soon as I receive them.

 

Definitely replacement hands, but I'm not qualified to delve deeper on the model.

 

Is he looking to sell or just curious about it?

 

Badass, looks great. Hands could be tritium replacements, don't look like lumi.

Very nice example.

 

That is a $6k+ example in today's market if he is looking to sell.

 

He has no intention of selling, he just wants to know. I'm sure he would like to have the proper hands, assuming these are incorrect.

 

Looks like a lovely 165024 with a perfect bezel... serial should be 23-24m for that bezel.

Hands look like luminova replacements to me...here is one with lumi hands, they look pretty similar.

 

i'd happily swap the bezel if he wants a nice match with his hands

 

This should be helpful. Looks like a "C" bezel.

 

Thanks @gemini4, that's about what I figured. The example of the C (E in this photo) has baton/candlestick hands, this one has sword. Were the original sword or baton or did they come with either?

 

Regarding the hands
http://thatwatchandmore.blogspot.com/2013/03/buying-vintage-omega-seamaster-300.html

http://chronomaddox.com/seamaster_3oo_a_history.html

 

Thanks for the link from chronomaddox. That pretty well explains it.

 

I appreciate the feedback. Last question: Would having the lume colored to match the rest of the watch be worth the expense? Can any qualified watchmaker do it?

 

Personally I would. LA Watch Works will do a great job for $150-200.

Cannot recommend them highly enough.

 

Here is a 165024 of mine with the same bezel and better matching hands

 

Another onew for comparison

 

Another with original, but somewhat less attractive, hands. Incorrect crown has since been changed.
This was my first SM300 165 Love at first sight.

 

I would leave it as is. Its a beauty, and the hands tell a story. If he is not an anal collector like most of us, the hands shouldn't bother him in the least. He probably wasn't even aware it was an "issue". And for gods sake, DONT TOUCH THAT BEZEL...it needs to stay on that watch.

 

What's the difference in look between tritium and luminova?

 

Not perfect but a misaligned bezel. Interesting that that issue has been existing for more than 40 years.