Manufacturer: Omega Year: 1967 Reference No: ST 165.024 Movement No: 24’719’484 Case No: A204/67 Model Name: Seamaster 300 “Military” Material: Stainless steel Calibre: Automatic, cal. 552, 24 jewels Bracelet/Strap: NATO Clasp/Buckle: Stainless steel pin buckle Dimensions: 40mm diameter Signed: Case, dial and movement signed Accessories: Accompanied by Omega Certificate dated 19th January 2006 confirming its production date and its delivery on the 27th April 1967 to the UK and its military engravings and an Omega Extract from the Archives confirming its date of production on 3rd April 1967 and its delivery to the UK.
Catalogue Essay
Officially introduced to the public in 1957, these special military Seamaster 300 ref. ST 165.024 featured several tweaks, separating it from its regular counterparts. Its iconic case with thick and prominent lyra style lugs are fitted with fixed spring bars instead of removable spring bars. The dial features an encircled “T” designation consistent with military timepieces from the era indicating its luminous material as tritium. Furthermore, the hands have been enlarged and broaden to enhance the legibility of the watch. The crown also differs from its regular civilian counterpart as it features a screw down mechanism instead of the usual snap down. The casebacks were engraved with special military branch code, issue number and the year of issue.
Extremely rare, these military examples were often used in combat and deployed to the military, with only few examples survived. The present Omega Seamaster ref. ST 165.024 in its “mil-spec” configuration is stamped “W10” on the caseback indicating that it was delivered to the British Royal Army, a rare trait in its own respect as most examples known were delivered to the British Royal Navy stamped “0552”. Most significantly used by the SAS (Special Air Service) during the 1960s and 1970s, the military unit is an elite task force that was involved in numerous special operations in conjunction with the United States Delta Airforce. Operations at the time were located in Yemen during the height of the cold war.
The present example is certainly a rare gem, featured in John Goldberger’s Omega Sportswatches, the present example features caseback engravings that confirm the originality of the watch. On the first line the “broad arrow” insignia means that the watch was issued to the British military, on the second line “W10” signifies that the watch was issued to the British Royal Army, “6645” signifies the present object to be a time measuring instrument, “99” is the NATO code for the UK, “923-7697” on the third line is the NATO code to signify the present watch as a diver’s watch and lastly “A204” is the individual number issued and “67” confirms that the watch was deployed in 1967. With an extremely informative caseback, the present example is further accompanied by two Omega Extracts from the Archives confirming all the above. Preserved in excellent overall condition, this rare military timepiece is certainly one not to miss for collectors of vintage professional tool watches.
Omega'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.
Ref. ST 165.024 An extremely rare, attractive and important stainless steel military diver’s wristwatch with center seconds, fixed spring bar and special military markings, made for the British Royal Army