Some advice please guys?

[R.J.B]

Hi all,

I have just been given this watch by my cousin. It is an old Omega Seamaster 300 which he bought new from an AD around 1970-71.









There is a story that goes with it but I'll try and keep it as short as possible so as not to bore you but put you in the picture.

He used to do a lot of diving back then and used a cheap (Accurist I believe) divers watch which one day leaked. He went to the jewellers and explained the situation and asked their advice. They said that if he wanted a serious 'divers' watch, he should get an Omega Seamaster 300. So, he took their advice and spent all his savings (he was a student back then) on this watch. Anyway, first time diving..... it leaked!

Not best pleased, he took it straight back to the AD who sent the watch for repair (there was possibly more to it than that but I'm trying to put you in the picture with as few words as possible).

So, when he got it back, he decided to take it for a try. To his amazement, sure enough, it leaked again! So he took it back once again (this time furious) and, the watch was repaired for a second time!

When he got it back this time, all was ok for around three years or so, when one day, after a dive, he noticed that the crystal was fogged up on the inside.

By this point, he was just sick of the watch and put it away and forgot about it and bought a cheap Seiko for diving (although I believe his father did use it for a while in later years but never for diving).

The end

Jump forward to present day....

Anyway he has now given this watch to me saying that it means absolutely nothing to him and I want to get the thing sorted and back into shape!

The advice I am looking for is, what exactly should I have done to it? I am going to send it back to Omega for a service but how far should I go?

Ok, at some point over the years the original bracelet has been changed (no idea why, or where the original went) and I'll replace that with a genuine Omega part. But what about the dial? It is looking a bit aged with a few marks here and there (possibly water marks?). Should I have that replaced?

Also, the bezel insert is looking a bit aged with a few marks etc. Would you have that replaced?

I know that I would never sell the watch, but also, I don't want to stupidly devalue it in any way!

Any thoughts or advice will be very much appreciated guys.

Thanks for listening, hope I didn’t bore you too much!

Russ

[Tools]

Changes and dials/hands are up to you.. Generally they are kept for the original nostalgic valules.

However, these do not command stratospheric numbers and so a functional, or correct Omega service can bring an older watch back to "like new" condition.

Personally I would keep the original dial and hands unless they are deteriorated to a point where they could degrade and cause damage.. You can always change them at some later date, but once changed it's hard to go back..

[asadtiger]

I'd not work much ont he aesthetic side much...my be a little crystal clearing fro readability, a bracelet (original) and service to movt and seals and other necessary repairs...it is such a classic and pretty piece, notwithstanding the value, I wouldlove it as it is...this is purely my perosnal opinion as to what I would do :)

[vukotab]

I would just do what is necessary, service of movement and cleaning of crystal. That watch looks beautiful, and I wouldn`t touch dial or hands.
Once it`s serviced, you`ll have a real watch to be proud of!