17
Omega
Ref. 165.024
Seamaster 300
A very rare and attractive stainless steel diver’s wristwatch with center seconds, fixed spring bars and special military markings, made for the British Army, with Extract from the Archives
- Estimate
- $24,000 - 48,000
$38,100
Lot Details
- Manufacturer
- Omega
- Year
- 1967
- Reference No
- 165.024
- Movement No
- 24’733’349
- Case No
- Caseback engraved W10/6645-99-923-7697- A/282/67
- Model Name
- Seamaster 300
- Material
- Stainless steel
- Calibre
- Automatic, cal. 552, 24 jewels
- Bracelet/Strap
- Nylon NATO
- Clasp/Buckle
- Stainless steel
- Dimensions
- 42mm Diameter
- Signed
- Case, dial, and movement signed
- Accessories
- Accompanied by Omega Extract from the Archives confirming production of the present watch with military engraving “W10” on May 11, 1967 and its subsequent delivery to the United Kingdom
Specialist
Full-Cataloguing
Catalogue Essay
Omega introduced the Seamaster 300 in 1957 as part of its “Professional” line of watches. While the vast majority were produced for professional and recreational divers alike, a very small batch was made for military use from 1967 until approximately 1970, and custom designed by Omega to meet the needs of members of the British Royal Army and Navy.
A number of special features set these military-issued watches apart from Omega’s regular production watches. Their cases, with distinctive curved and bevelled lugs, were delivered with fixed spring bars. Dials featured an encircled “T” designation, signifying the use of tritium for the luminous hour markers and hands. The broad, sword-shaped hour and minute hands, as well as the angular sweep seconds hand, were also specially designed. The crown was screw down as opposed to the snap down design used for production versions. Their case backs were engraved by the British Ministry of Defence with the military branch code, issue number, and year of issue.
We are thrilled to present this exceptional, full “mil-spec” Seamaster 300 issued to the British Army. Consigned by the family of its last owner, it is fresh-to-the-market and is preserved in wonderful, original condition. The original dial features what is known as a “thin” encircled ‘T’ at 6 o’clock. Many Seamaster 300 dials were replaced during use by the British military, and are found with “fat” encircled ‘T’s that were reprinted by the Military of Defence. The luminous hour markers have faded to a pale yellow, matching the original luminous hands and luminous acrylic bezel. The case is engraved with the NATO Stock Number used to classify this interesting group of timepieces. The “W10” indicates the British Army, followed by the Federal Supply Group, and Federal Supply Class combined numbers 6645 a notation for “Time Measuring Instruments”, followed by the country code 99 for the United Kingdom. The numbers remain crisp indicative of the originality of the watch.
This military Omega Seamaster 300 wristwatch is a rare opportunity for collectors of issued sports or military watches to own a rare and original example of one of Omega’s most sought after divers’ watches.
A number of special features set these military-issued watches apart from Omega’s regular production watches. Their cases, with distinctive curved and bevelled lugs, were delivered with fixed spring bars. Dials featured an encircled “T” designation, signifying the use of tritium for the luminous hour markers and hands. The broad, sword-shaped hour and minute hands, as well as the angular sweep seconds hand, were also specially designed. The crown was screw down as opposed to the snap down design used for production versions. Their case backs were engraved by the British Ministry of Defence with the military branch code, issue number, and year of issue.
We are thrilled to present this exceptional, full “mil-spec” Seamaster 300 issued to the British Army. Consigned by the family of its last owner, it is fresh-to-the-market and is preserved in wonderful, original condition. The original dial features what is known as a “thin” encircled ‘T’ at 6 o’clock. Many Seamaster 300 dials were replaced during use by the British military, and are found with “fat” encircled ‘T’s that were reprinted by the Military of Defence. The luminous hour markers have faded to a pale yellow, matching the original luminous hands and luminous acrylic bezel. The case is engraved with the NATO Stock Number used to classify this interesting group of timepieces. The “W10” indicates the British Army, followed by the Federal Supply Group, and Federal Supply Class combined numbers 6645 a notation for “Time Measuring Instruments”, followed by the country code 99 for the United Kingdom. The numbers remain crisp indicative of the originality of the watch.
This military Omega Seamaster 300 wristwatch is a rare opportunity for collectors of issued sports or military watches to own a rare and original example of one of Omega’s most sought after divers’ watches.
Omega
Swiss | 1848Omega's rich history begins with its founder, Louis Brandt, who established the firm in 1848 in La Chaux de Fonds. In 1903, the company changed its name to Omega, becoming the only watch brand in history to have been named after one its own movements. A full-fledged manufacturer of highly accurate, affordable and reliable watches, its sterling reputation enabled them to be chosen as the first watch company to time the Olympic Games beginning in 1932. Its continued focus on precision and reliability ultimately led their Speedmaster chronograph wristwatch to be chosen by NASA in 1965 — the first watch worn on the moon.Key models sought-after by collectors include their first, oversized water-resistant chronograph — the reference 2077, early Speedmaster models such as the CK 2915 and 2998, military-issued versions of the Seamaster and oversized chronometer models such as those fitted with their prestigious caliber 30T2Rg.
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