![]() 165.014: the hour markers of the example in image 1 are rectangular, with trapezoidal markings at the quarters. Also note the subtle dial differences between these two “thin bezel” Seamaster 300 Ref. As you can see from the first two pictures in the collage above, both models with baton hands (image 1) and models with the combination of a dauphine hour hand and arrow minute hand (image 2) were manufactured. There is a dizzying array of Seamaster 300 configurations, so here is a brief overview of the evolution of the Seamaster 300 before we break down the differences in depth by broadly classifying the references as having either “thick” or “thin” bezels, as seen in the below picture.Įvolution of Seamaster 300 variants: “thin bezel” variants in image 1 and image 2, “thick bezel” variants in image 3 and image 4ġ962: The early 1960’s Seamaster 300s had straight lugs, and 1962 could be considered a transitional year for the model. Seamaster 300 variants: “thick” versus “thin” bezel configurations This reference was put to the test by legendary ocean researcher Jacques-Yves Cousteau on his Precontinent II Expeditions in the Red Sea in 1963 that were designed to prove that divers could live and work in saturate gas environments for long periods of time without adverse effects. Two years later, in 1964, the bezel of the SM300 was slightly modified with a large luminous index at 12 and clearer numerals. The Naiad crown proved prone to leakage in shallow depths, so Omega switched to screw-down crowns in later production. 165.024, “thick bezel” Seamaster 300Īs Rolex still had patent protection on the screw-down crown, Omega developed the Naiad (Greek for water nymph) crown, which created an ever-tightening seal as the diver swam deeper (a technology similar to the one adopted by “supercompressor” cases found in JLC dive watches). By way of indication, each of us has dived more than 1,500 times.” ![]() Despite the shocks of often extreme brutality, the cold water, and the great depths at which we work, they remained of an astonishing robustness and precision. No other watch competing with Omega has ever resisted the hardships linked to such underwater work as seabed prospecting, pipe laying, repair of works such as piers and dams, and recovery work on wrecks. “The Seamasters are of extraordinary solidarity and precision. Frenchman Alain Julien, a commercial diver who wore his 300 on a daily basis in 1958-1959 wrote the following: The SM300 gained a reputation as being a true tool watch, able to withstand the harshest environments and still remain a highly reliable piece of equipment. In terms of aesthetics, it ushered in the era of modern dive watches at Omega, featuring a rotating dive bezel, an automatic movement, and in a bit of a misnomer, water resistance of up to 200 meters thanks to its double crown seals and extraordinarily thick crystal. Omega felt that measurement technology was insufficiently advanced at that time to measure the watch’s true capabilities and insisted that the watch’s true water resistance exceeded the “official” depth rating. The Seamaster 300 (SM300), CK 2913, was Omega’s first dedicated dive watch. 2913 Seamaster 300, with lollipop seconds hand and “thin bezel” Omega capitalized on this trend by releasing a set of three “Professional” watches in 1957, with each dedicated to a specific target group of individuals: Seamaster, Speedmaster, and Railmaster.Ĭlassic Ref. The ‘50s saw the creation of the dive watch, the racing watch, the engineer’s watch, and the pilot’s watch (e.g. This all changed in the age of exploration, which gave birth to watches built for specific purposes and professions. The “toolish” aesthetic that has now become one of the defining characteristics of dive watches remained absent. Other technological innovations for the time were the inclusion of a sapphire crystal, one of its first uses in a wristwatch. Far from the distinctly purpose-built design of the Marine, the first Seamasters of 1948 were created as durable everyday watches, hardy enough to withstand the shocks, bumps, and splashes of day-to-day wear. ![]() Additionally, the crown was placed on top of the movement, inside the outer case, to prevent damage from shearing. Omega’s history with manufacturing waterproof watches began in 1932 with the ref 679 Omega Marine, a watch that guaranteed hermeticity to a depth of 135m by way of an outer case that could be clipped onto the inner case, creating a seal that would become tighter as external pressure increased. Welcome to our series titled Vintage Masters, in which we will take a closer look at vintage watches that have stood the test of time and remain classics to this day. Written by Anthony Tyme on December 15, 2018 ![]()
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