Incoming: Vintage Omega SM300 Military Mod Spec

[SubKing]

Wanted to share some pictures of a mil spec piece Acquired recently.

The watch is in stunning original condition. Extract dates this watch to a 1968 delivery date to the royal navy.

It features a tippex style T on the dial, fixed bars and case back engravings fully intact.
This piece also has the very rare so called "B6TBL" blue tinted bezel inlay.
just a couple snaps below to share.

[ap1]

Wow, real kool

[inadeje]

That is a very cool piece

[AEC]

Solid. Nice pick.

[Ken B]

Nice. Needs a band that fits it though. That Nato is to narrow.

[SubKing]

Originally Posted by Ken B

Nice. Needs a band that fits it though. That Nato is to narrow.

thanks all for the kind words.

the whole point of a narrow nato is to show off the fixed military bars. it's 18mm but I also have normal 20mm natos as well. think of it as showing a bit of cleavage.

[SubKing]

Originally Posted by Ken B

Nice. Needs a band that fits it though. That Nato is to narrow.

one interesting fact about the narrow nato straps. They are considered correct because back in the day, When the MOD (Ministry of defense) would order a large batch of nato straps, they would use them until their stock was depleted. So prior military watches had more of a narrow 18mm lug width. When the SM300 came about which has a 20mm lug width, the MOD issued them all on 18mm straps. The MOD had a huge surplus of 18mm natos. Even by the time the Rolex Milsub replaced the SM300, the rolex pieces were still issued on 18mm nato straps. Wasn't until much later they finally used up their surplus and switched to the correct 20mm straps.

[karmatp]

Love it. That is my kind of purchase. Enjoy

[KBM]

Originally Posted by SubKing

one interesting fact about the narrow nato straps. They are considered correct because back in the day, When the MOD (Ministry of defense) would order a large batch of nato straps, they would use them until their stock was depleted. So prior military watches had more of a narrow 18mm lug width. When the SM300 came about which has a 20mm lug width, the MOD issued them all on 18mm straps. The MOD had a huge surplus of 18mm natos. Even by the time the Rolex Milsub replaced the SM300, the rolex pieces were still issued on 18mm nato straps. Wasn't until much later they finally used up their surplus and switched to the correct 20mm straps.

Very interesting, thanks!

[FTX I]

Unbelievable condition. Wear it in good health.

[SubKing]

Originally Posted by FTX I

Unbelievable condition. Wear it in good health.

thanks mate

[Soarer]

Nice. Wish Omega will do a re-issue for this model.

[SubKing]

Originally Posted by Soarer

Nice. Wish Omega will do a re-issue for this model.

me too. I think in time they just might. Omega has always been really good about producing reissue pieces for their vintage fans I feel.

[KBM]

That's just gorgeous. Cooler than a 5517, imho. I own the watchco build and love it. Nothing beats a pristine vintage piece, though.

[bronzeband00]

Bezel and strap are a beauty. Cheers

[SubKing]

Originally Posted by kauebm

That's just gorgeous. Cooler than a 5517, imho. I own the watchco build and love it. Nothing beats a pristine vintage piece, though.

true, this was the grand daddy that started it all with this look. It was shortly lived by the MOD because many failed during active duty. These watches were originally pressure tested by omega in lake Geneva, but lake Geneva is only 200m deep. Omega didn't have the capability then of pressure testing to 300m.

Early military SM300 had the naiad crown system's which failed time and time again on the deep dives, so omega made custom screw down crowns specifically for the MOD. The MOD just thought after a couple years it would be best to switch to the already proven rolex sub which had a long run. A milsub is Much more common of a piece than a milmaster. Then eventually due to costs, the milsub was replaced by the cwc watch which quickly phased into quartz and is still the watch of choice today for the MOD. The cwc watches design is based off of the sm300. Even traits of the rolex milsub were taken from the sm300, like the bezel insert hash marks and sword hands.

Originally Posted by bronzeband00

Bezel and strap are a beauty. Cheers

thank you. The bezel is actually a very rare "blue tint" variant. known as the "B6TBL" which looks black in the shade and in direct sun light looks blue. it is pretty spectacular.




here a cool bezel chart of all the different variation colors known

[mobster600]

Good find, great condition!

[SubKing]

Originally Posted by kauebm

Very interesting, thanks!

Originally Posted by mobster600

Good find, great condition!

many thanks

[superdog]

Wow. What an incredible watch you have.

That’s something really special.

Congrats.

[CoveWatch]

That's a cool piece!

[ILuvSubs]

Wow! Nice catch! Although I've always lusted after a MilSub, these MOD Seamaster 300 are much more reasonably priced and are fine looking watches too. Congrats and thanks for posting photos of a beautiful watch.

[SubKing]

Originally Posted by ILuvSubs

Wow! Nice catch! Although I've always lusted after a MilSub, these MOD Seamaster 300 are much more reasonably priced and are fine looking watches too. Congrats and thanks for posting photos of a beautiful watch.

thanks for the kind words all. I agree they are much more reasonably priced when compared to the milsubs. These are much more scarce as well which makes them all the more special.

The designs that followed with watches for the MOD after the seamasters short run, all had DNA in terms of design that stemmed from the SM300's.

With auction prices being where they are at and keep climbing, it will be interesting to see if the mil spec sm300's catch up to the milsubs.

They have already trippled in price over the last few years. Time will tell.