Cross referred to here: https://omegaforums.net/threads/bond-smp-review-on-watchgecko.91788/ My father's 1957 Seamaster...as featured in a Watchgecko blog recently. Thank you.
If you have the watch in your possession, why don't you have it opened up to find out what the reference number and movement is?
I don't have it with me as it's at my father's place. He has had the back off it before so I'll check to see if he made a note of the serial/movement ref.
7077 it is! What is the date if any inside the clasp and what condition is it and how many and what condition are the double stretch links in? How many stretch links? Obviously not number 6 ends unless cut down but probably correct numbered 18mm ends. Nice watch but nicer bracelet! How sad is that?
There are literally dozens of dial variants for the fat lug SMs like the 2846. How have you dated it at 1957?
Ah ok, wasn't trying to be picky, just pointing out that its production date could be slightly earlier. That model was released in 1956 so it could of course have been manufactured rather earlier than its date of sale. As I am sure you are now aware, the bracelet on yours is hugely valuable, worth maybe 3x the watch head. Don't be concerned by the dial, as I mentioned above there were plenty of variations. Arabic numerals were popular in the UK market and less so elsewhere so there was some variation across markets. There is variation seen in the S in Seamaster too. Here is my 2846, which does date to around 1957 based on the 15.6m serial:
Thank you for all your views and thoughts. This place is a haven of knowledge. Where would you recommend getting a valuation for insurance and a service please?
Well a rough idea of value is easy enough to provide (and a quick search on ebay sold listings can help) but something written for insurance? Tricky. For servicing you have plenty of options. You could use ChrisN, a contributor on here who is very reputable or Simon Freese or STS who are likewise. Unfortunately it wont be cheap, think ~£300. There are also cheaper options such as Watchguy or Mitka who have good reputations too and would come in about a ton less but parts may be an issue for them if anything serious needs replacing.
Oh and I should point out that we are working on the assumption yours is a 2846 based on its date of purchase and the look, but there were earlier fat lug Seamaster models using bumper movements which look nearly identical. Those were phased out in 1955. The definitive answer will be found when you get the caseback removed or find the model and serial from any paperwork.