Omega

1964 Omega SM 300
Jul 01 2008,11:47 AM

I was always fascinated by Diving watches, and began 8 years ago a nice thematic collection, with this observation:

I own watches from 11 different brands, and no Omega!

There were some few Omega watches which really and deeply have interest for me, and among them, beside the Omega Central Tourbillon, or the Pilot watch from 1938, the SM 300.

So I began to hunt, and each time I fell on a Sea Master 300, there was something wrong...Stubbies, wrong A, repainted dial, closed 6 and 9 instead of open ones ( funny, exactly like the Pre Vendome Panerai watches...) etc...

When I found one authentic one, and not re painted, the condition was awful.

Till 2 weeks ago, and there, the luck crossed my way...

I found an authentic one, in great condition, a gorgeous patina, and made the year I was made too! LOLOL

Why do I love it so much?

First of all, this is a real Tool watch, made for Diving, and it's obvious...



The Legibility is great, with these big tritium indexes on the dial, and even on the bezel, nice straight hour hand, and minute hand, tritium made, too, black matt dial, thick domed plexy, all is thought to be used in tough situations.

What I understood is that the straight hour hand was available, hence correct, for the SM 300 till 1967 or 1968...After, this model got spade hour hand.







Legibility doesnt' make all...There are Legible watches, but ugly watches, too...

This one is simply gorgeous!

The domed plexy glass achieves to give a strong, very strong and sexy look to the SM 300.

Spectacular, isn't it?



And what to say about the special shape of the case and lugs?

These are just sublime!

Look at the way the case and lugs are worked...Much more refined than another holy beat, the Blancpain FF Mil Spec!

In fact, the case is quite thin, and what makes the thickness is the addition of the case, the bezel, and the plexy...All in different levels.







Just one little thing, maybe: As it is a tool watch, the crown should have been a bit bigger..It looses in functionnality what it gains in esthetics...

But, at the end, this SM 300 is indeed a nice competitor to the Vintage JLC Diving watches, Blancpain FF, Longines Diver, IWC Ref 812, and some Rolex Subs...

Just happy to have added one in my collection!

Hope you'll enjoy this quick review,

Best.
Nicolas

This message has been edited by amanico on 2008-07-01 11:48:29 This message has been edited by amanico on 2008-07-09 08:35:50

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NICE photos Nicolas
Jul 01 2008,22:30 PM

Hi Nicolas

Nice photos... and I guess you are still in love with the watch !!!

Here is a non Omega dive I picked up....









Good Hunting

Bill Sohne

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Interesting one, Bill
Jul 02 2008,00:21 AM

A bezel and a case ala Panerai : Cf la Bomba Paml64.

And an Hour Hand ala Longines Diver!

A nice Patina...

This is a nice beast you got there!

Thanks for the nice words, Bill.

best.
Nicolas

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Very nice example
Jul 03 2008,00:26 AM

And a judicious catch for your diving team.

Best

Nicolas

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Agree, Nicolas
Jul 03 2008,13:22 PM

A great catch, indeed...And Year 64 is so special for me...
The 1st watch I get with the same birth year than me!
LOL
As for my diving team, I' m on to end it...A few others, and the diving thema is over!
Best.
Nicolas

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A very nice watch
Jul 03 2008,04:30 AM

in awesome condition and with a nice patina.

I love the bezel and hands display.

Many congrats for the addition !

                       Cheers

                         Jeff

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Thanks, Jeff
Jul 03 2008,13:23 PM

I felt a bit like when I discovered Panerai, a bit more than 10 years ago...Proud, and excited!
LOL
Best.
Nicolas

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The Seamaster 300 is my favorite of the great original divers . . .
Jul 03 2008,08:57 AM

. . . alongside the FF, with it's subtle functionalism and sinuous lines . . . it's perhaps the only dive watch I've ever tried on that didn't make me feel like I should be wearing scuba gear ;-) . . . congrats, Nicolas, and I'll see if I can get Kurt to post a few photos of his Watchco Seamaster 300 for us to see how a new bracelet-equipped model looked back then . . . cordially, Art

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It would be great if Kurt could post pics, Art
Jul 03 2008,13:27 PM

You're aboslutely right, Art.
The case of this Sm 300 is much more refined than the vharming but rough Blancpain FF!
The awesome condition of this one is just fascinating!
Best, and thanks for the nice words, my friend.
Nicolas

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Happy to oblige
Jul 03 2008,19:48 PM

Really happy with my Watchco SM300. Bought it late last year. It's all new correct (new manufacture) Omega case, dial, bezel, hands, bracelet, etc. Movement is reconditioned original.
Mine keeps close to COSC specs. Given all the fakes and frankens, and the cost to get an original back to pristine shape, I opted this route.

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This is indeed another clever option, Kurt
Jul 04 2008,00:19 AM

As more secure, because, as you said, there are so many frankenwatches, and fakes, that it is not impossible, but very
difficult to get an authentic one from this era, and when you find one, it is most of the time in quite bad condition.
Some of my friends did the same than you, and are really happy with.
This is a fantastic watch to wear, indeed!
Thanks for sharing with us this/our passion for this treu Diving watch!
Best.
Nicolas

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I think it really depends what you're looking for
Jul 04 2008,15:00 PM

Another advantage of a new watch is this!

For many, it's important to have an older watch as original as possible. The only way you'll get this is by careful research to snag one at a bargain and/or to pay top dollar from a trusted seller. In any event these as killer watches and certainly one of the all time classic dive watches.

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Whoops
Jul 04 2008,15:03 PM

Posted before I could add photo! (is there edit feature on this forum?)

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Yep, this SM 300 has an amazing allure in the dark
Jul 05 2008,05:12 AM

As the Blancpain FF, it gives to the watch a bigger look, due to the fact that the bezel is shining.
You really have the feeling that the watch is much bigger than it is.
Stunning!
Best.
Nicolas

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Guys ..... But What is TRULY remarkable is ...
Jul 05 2008,05:47 AM

Hi Guys

What is really the common ground here is the movement Omega used in this model over the years.  The Omega 55x and 56x 552 ( 24j no date)  550 ( 17j US market) or the 562 ( 24j date ) or 563 ( 17j US market date ) and the 565 ( 24j and quick set date) .  This caliber family from Omega was the TOP of the game from any manufacture from that time period.

What makes the watchco watches possible ... Omega used this caliber is just about all the automatic watches they produced in the 1960s ... From the chronometre grade Connies and Seamasters in 551 and 561 564... To the gold filled DeVille with a 552...  The movements are out there ready to be SAVED and restored ....

Like the Connie Date on the left with 564 and the 751 Day date on the right ( 751 is based on the 564 with an added day feature).

Here is an uncommon Day Date Seamasdter 751...

 

a 564 18k Gold Seamaster Date chronometer...

 

I think you get the idea and the above are uncommon examples.  The common examples can be found at the usual places on the net... so finding the "heart"  of the watch is actually quite simple...

 

Good Hunting

 

Bill Sohne

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Right, Bill, and thanks a lot for this lesson!
Jul 05 2008,06:07 AM

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Great post, Bill
Jul 05 2008,17:01 PM

One of the reasons I love the older Omegas. These movements are bulletproof.
Never had the budget for the "grails", so started with these:





Finally got one of these:

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thanks.... and i think you have some Grails already !
Jul 08 2008,20:26 PM

Hi mrsnak

You have some grails already in my book.

Looking forward to seeing more of them in the future...

Good Hunting

Bill Sohne

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Thanks Bill, if only my Seamaster were the white gold...
Jul 09 2008,09:07 AM

with the 751. Kind of looks like it, anyway
Do you still have that yellow gold one that you wrote about in the blog?

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Here are some 751 Steel and White Gold side by Side!
Jul 09 2008,16:47 PM

Hey You asked for it !!!

The Steel 751 is mine and the 18k white gold one is a friend of mines...















How is that for an eye full ?

Good Hunting

Bill Sohne

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Rub it in :-)
Jul 09 2008,17:23 PM

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New old stock seamaster
Jul 09 2008,07:51 AM

i was offered a seamaster by a dealer who claimed it was New Old Stock; sorry to be stupid but can you explain to me what yours is:are you saying omega has extra cases lying around and they throw in old movements and dials or something else? thks much

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NOS SM300 parts, not a correct term
Jul 09 2008,08:54 AM

NOS is an incorrect term for my parts, since they are not new original old parts, but the current replacement parts that Omega uses.

My SM300 dial, for instance was recently manufactured, and not one left over from the original production. For that reason, there are slight differences between an original and a new.

If you were to send your original SM300 to Bienne to have the case or dial replaced, these are what they would use.

The movement is the only thing original to the era, having been reconditioned.

A watch made of genuine truly NOS parts (ones stockpiled for all these years) would be quite expensive. Don't think I've ever heard of one.

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NOS SM 300
Jul 09 2008,11:09 AM

thank u

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Nice watch & pics!
Jul 05 2008,08:46 AM

Thks for sharing

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Thanks for the nice words, Peter!
Jul 05 2008,22:35 PM

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Yours is a very nice original!
Jul 09 2008,09:03 AM

Hard to find an original in as nice condition as yours.
Your pictures really show the detail.
Some parts look replaced (like the bezel insert), and dial looks relumed (I've seen some bad relumes, too - yours looks good).
Did the seller provide you with any details.

Thanks for sharing this watch. It's always an education to see one and talk about it!

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Mr Snak didn't you recognize the white gold SM?
Jul 11 2008,15:33 PM

I'm everywhere you turn . . .  Bill and I got together for a visit last December

 

 

 

Hewybaby aka Sam

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Yes, I certainly did. Knew exactly whose watch it was :-)
Jul 11 2008,20:01 PM

I'd never seen one before yours.

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Here's my offering. steel case but same dial as the WG
Jul 12 2008,14:14 PM

another i let slip through my fingers and now regret it going. ho hum, life is like that i suppose.

i sold it as i was concentrating on newer watches and not vintage. lo and behold a few months later i have 7 vintage Grand Seiko's. how did that happen

Graham

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