Up for sale is this handsome late 1950s reference 2975-1 Omega Seamaster "Special" in all steel 3-piece case and featuring a stunning original dial with beautifully patinated Radium luminous-filled white gold markers. This beautiful dial has aged to lovely light cream tone and is Near Mint. Overall this wonderful example of circa 1958 first generation Seamaster "Special" is in Excellent vintage condition with a fat case and great looking big logo Hippocampus back. Under the hood, it features the highly regarded Omega caliber 500 automatic movement in uncommon 2 positional adjustment iteration, which was last serviced by my watchmaker in 2015. In addition, this classic ‘50s Seamaster comes on its period correct beads-of-rice bracelet with rare ratcheting clasp, an early attempt at a non-pin based micro adjustment system. You definitely don’t see this bracelet very often and it is a cool extra. This model is somewhat mysteriously referred to as a "Special" in Omega's vintage database. It could be because of the enhanced luminous or the bracelet or extra tough case. This one was produced circa 1958 and is the first of its model line. It is also believed that this case and dial combo is likely one of Gerald Genta's early designs for the company. Looking at the beautiful proportions and ergonomics of this watch on the wrist one can easily see why that could well be. The asking price for this outstanding example of classic Omega Seamaster "Special" with beautiful Radium dial is $1,775 USD OBRO [SOLD], which includes fully insured FedEx shipping worldwide. Bank Wire always preferred but Paypal is also OK on this watch with split fees (+2% to the buyer). Other payment options upon application. Payment must be made in US DOLLARS. Watch will ship upon full clearance of the funds, as well as any necessary bank vetting. CASE & CASEBACK: Beautifully proportioned 3-piece steel case with pressure fit steel bezel and snap-in back measures a classic gent's 35mm wide not including crown x 43mm long. There are only minor marks from wear and a few minor scratches. The lugs show only light polish and are quite thick. There is a bit of corrosion beneath the lugs and on the case lip where the back snaps in and one or two marks on the non-crown side where the back is opened via case knife. Overall Very Good+ lightly polished vintage condition. The bezel has a few older scuffs/marks but is also nice and sharp and also shows only light polish — Excellent condition. The outer back has the desirable "big logo" Hippocampus, which is super crisp, as well as the original "WATERPROOF" writing along the edge — Excellent+ external cosmetic condition for the back. The correct reference 2975-1, indicating the first generation of this model, and all other period nomenclature are present inside the snap back, including multi-lingual watchmaker directions regarding the gasket and the Huguenin Freres "HF" signature made famous by their Speedmaster cases. DIAL & HANDS: Beautiful and Near Mint factory-printed eggshell dial featuring hand-riveted white gold bar markers filled with original Radium lume that has acquired a lovely biscuity patina and applied Omega logo. All original dial text in black is crisp and legible and the dial itself has aged to a wonderful creamy off-white at certain angles with only minor signs of aging. The luminous filled Dauphine hands match the dial perfectly and are Excellent with just a small loss of lume to the minute hand. Simply a beautiful, elegant layout on this remarkable original Seamaster dial and if you are a patina lover you will be in heaven when you see this lume. CROWN: Correct for the era, I believe, 4-notch signed Omega steel winding crown is Excellent. The crown winds and pulls out to set the time as designed. CRYSTAL: Non-signed low domed acrylic crystal is very clean and clear and only shows some residual scratches and marks from the years. It could be a later non-Omega replacement but then again the crystals were not yet signed at this point in the 1950s so hard to say. Excellent+ vintage condition either way. MOVEMENT: Powering this classic Seamaster is Omega's in-house caliber 500 full-rotor auto movement with swan-neck regulator, 17 jewels and 2 positional adjustments originally. Also stamped with the OXG import code indicating North American distribution. Arguably part of one the best mass-produced movement families in the history of horology, the movement serial # of 16,11x,xxx dates to circa 1958. All plating is intact, very clean and shiny and, as mentioned above, I last had the watch fully serviced in August 2015. Therefore this watch is running strong, keeping excellent time and is guaranteed to be working properly at the time of shipment. BRACELET: This great Seamaster comes on its very rare period correct 5-row beads-of-rice steel bracelet with unique ratcheting clasp system. For this uncommon bracelet you depress the little protruding lever to slide the clasp completely open, put the watch on your wrist and then push the blade back in with a click for each unit until you get a comfortable fit. Takes a bit of getting used to but a very cool and unusual method for making a micro-adjustment without a tool and really ahead of its time. At its smallest this bracelet will fit about a 7" wrist (there are a couple of removable links as well) and at maximum clasp extension about 7 3/4." The bracelet shows only light stretch, only minor marks and perhaps the buckle itself has been re-brushed at some point — easily Excellent+ condition. This watch has a lug width of 18mm. As a matter of policy, I make NO guarantees for the water resistance of this watch in any way, shape or form. This great Vintage Omega Seamaster is offered with a 3-day inspection period from the date of receipt and may be returned for a full refund less any shipping costs incurred by the buyer. This refund is unconditional and once I get the watch back in exactly the same condition as it was sent to you, your money will be refunded. Of course, once the 3 days are over the sale will be considered FINAL. Thanks for looking, T. [email protected]
It was mentioned in a recent thread that the "special" moniker has to do with higher than normalt water resistance. GLWS.
Maybe but I don't really see how the snap-in cases on these early ones is really that different than on the beefy lug versions aside form the shape. I thought this was interesting (swiped from an ad on Chrono24 -- not my watch): Not an explicit Olympic connection with the model, more straight-up marketing, but still interesting. And note also that it mentions the bracelet as "special" for all metals as if this watch was always meant to come on the BOR. Best regards, Tom