Vintage Omega Seamaster 165.024 appraisal

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cesaralex24

·Dec 22, 2022

Hello all. I just got back a seamaster from 1966 I believe. Ref 165.024. I sent it to Omega in Switzerland and they completely restored it. Kept original case and bezel. They pretty much put in brand new parts internally. Curious to know why it is worth. Ballpark. Prices on Chrono24 are all over the place. Here’s some pics.

 

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X350 XJR

·Dec 22, 2022·Vintage Omega Aficionado

Unfortunately not desirable from a collectors standpoint. New dial, hands and case tart-up didn't add anything, actually hurt the value.

Another example of why you shouldn't send a collectable watch to Omega for a factory service.

 

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padders

·Dec 22, 2022·Oooo subtitles!

About half what it was when you sent it to Omega.

 

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cristos71

·Dec 22, 2022

Hello and welcome!

First of all great that you have decided to breath some life back into your 300, these are great watches for sure.

Looking through your pictures it looks as though Omega have dome a more than thorough job on the movement...your bag of parts looks well filled 👍

Secondly I must add with a collectable vintage watch such as this what a buyer/collector is looking for is a combination of both originality and character. Unfortunately Omega's restoration has replaced the dial and handset of your watch which has certainly diminished it's vintage character....and therefore also potentially it's value.
It looks as though the original dial was in not such great condition ( actually poor ) so I can understand why it was changed out, but you still have it so that's also a big plus point.

As to the value, that's difficult and I'll let someone else have a stab at that

 

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SkunkPrince

·Dec 22, 2022

I can sense your dismay from here. 😀

At this point, you might has well replace the bezel too, so it matches the dial and hands. My "WatchCo" Seamaster 300 looks like this:

I wouldn't be too concerned about the value, only that you like it and will get enjoyment from wearing it. Had you known, you might have made a different choice, but that was then and this is now.

 

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Shabbaz

·Dec 22, 2022

At the bright sight, you now have a watch which could function as a daily beater. Enjoy!

What's it worth? Hmmm. 4 to 5k? I'm a bit rusty. But a good 165.024 would fetch around 6-8k?

 

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cesaralex24

·Dec 22, 2022

X350 XJR

Unfortunately not desirable from a collectors standpoint. New dial, hands and case tart-up didn't add anything, actually hurt the value.

Another example of why you shouldn't send a collectable watch to Omega for a factory service.

Thanks for the feedback. In the case of this watch. It had to be sent. It was in poor condition with water damage etc.

 

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cesaralex24

·Dec 22, 2022

This is what it used to look like. I’m just glad it is authentic and fully functional now. Def keeping it. And just curious about it’s worth but thanks everyone.

 

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jaguar11

·Dec 22, 2022

Wear and enjoy and if you want to sell put it on ebay and let the market decide the value.

 

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Dan S

·Dec 22, 2022

Seems to me that it must be worth a little more than a Watchco version because of the original bezel and case. I haven't really followed those prices, but probably $4k? I might be low.

 

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cesaralex24

·Dec 22, 2022

Thanx for the reply.

 

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buddman

·Dec 23, 2022

On the more positive side, looks like you still have your old dial and hands? If so you should keep them safe and then just put them back on in future if you ever want to sell it. No real harm done. It is actually worth more with the original parts in place.

 

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Davidt

·Dec 23, 2022

I’d say about 3.5-4k is right. The original dial and hands have value as well (depending on condition).

 

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cristos71

·Dec 23, 2022

It might be a good idea to take a couple of pictures of the dial and hands in natural light ( a window ledge is normally good ) so that the damage and therefore value can be better assessed. To me the dial looks to have lost some minute markers too which pretty much makes it a write-off IMHO, but pictures will tell the story

 

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padders

·Dec 23, 2022·Oooo subtitles!

I was being a bit harsh in my summary assessment above. It never does a vintage watch favours to replace original parts with modern ones which are identifiable as modern, but it must be said, the original dial was pretty shot and the watch is now usable and attractive. I would value it now as a Watchco plus 25% maybe if the original parts are included. Previously it may have been about the same, maybe more, but the pool of people who would have taken it on as a project looking like that was very small so I withdraw some of my negativity. I would personally be tempted to try to improve the original dial somehow and refit it. The question is if you were just trying to maximise the value for sale, would you recoup the service cost outlay here, there I am not so positive. If that was the goal, selling as an all original barn find might have been more sensible, but if you want to keep it, its not a bad outcome.

Edited: Dec 23, 2022

 

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Kraal90

·Dec 23, 2022

The old dial seende pretty drone for. As others Alsace said the collectors want originality, most people on this platform fall into that category.
If you really want to sell the watch there is a group of buyers who would also appreciate that you’ve sent the watch to omega for service and restoration. Although this wouldn’t be the place to find them.

I would just wear and enjoy the watch if I were you. It’s not every collectors most desirable object but objectively it looks great!

 

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MCC

·Dec 23, 2022

Looking at the before and after pictures I can understand why a major update was necessary but this clearly places the watch in a different category than something that was sympathetically restored. I can’t argue with the valuations that have already been provided but there is a market for a watch like this but probably not for serious collectors.
What is the bracelet by the way ?

 

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JwRosenthal

·Dec 23, 2022

Kraal90

If you really want to sell the watch there is a group of buyers who would also appreciate that you’ve sent the watch to omega for service and restoration. Although this wouldn’t be the place to find them.

I don’t totally agree. Now that the watchco’s have become scarce, any authentic Omega 300 will have demand here…as long as the price is right. I wouldn’t be surprised if the OP hasn’t got a few PM’s already…particularly for the bag-o-crap.