Finally picked the grail of a watch I have wanted for decades the vintage Seamaster 300 no date the more military version with a balanced face. There were some of these battered and kicking around when I joined the military nearly 40 years ago. I wished I had known then what they would have been worth later, but the fixed spring bars seemed a pain for other watch straps and made no sense other that in the Mil.
I know it is likely a watchco version but I am cool with that it will see me out. i wanted a newer one I can build a history with, if I bought a true vintage watch I would have had it brought up to date anyway at a fair cost. I just love it on my issue NATO. Crazy thing is it’s the one vintage watch Omega has never reissued yet it’s the most popular amongst collectors.
This is the watch Commander Bond should have been wearing in NTTD in my humble opinion at least you can clearly see the time in the dark (those who own the NTTD SM 300 will know what I mean comparing these hands to the skeleton ones on that). This is a real dive watch!
Cheers😎
My name is Bond, Basildon Bond - I have letters after my name!
I will thanks - but of course anyone who knows me will know I just need a good condition ‘Big Triangle face to complete the project, but this will do for now!
Cheers 😎
My name is Bond, Basildon Bond - I have letters after my name!
I take it you have the XL Planet Ocean ? I think , Seamaster 300 aside, that it's as near perfect for the Bond watch and outside on Bond it's just a beauty. I wore my PO in the Mil and gave it a beasting and its still looking good. I'm lucky enough to have a Sub 114060 and a number of CWC divers and they are all great bed fellows. Enjoy the watch, a beauty.
Omega bought the watch at auction the same year for 86,000 CHF, and it's now in their museum in Switzerland. They made 18 replicas in 2018, on sale for £110,000 each.
It has been known for me to have a PO or two in my collection (current count is 4!). I did buy the 45mm PO but it was just toooo big on my wrist so I downsized to the 42mm version.
I do love the PO's (earlier versions than latter and latest), but once the Vintage SM 300 hit my collection it was love at first sight. It was the original I'm my eyes and set the standard for all those that followed Rolex and CWC Diver (the latter looking a tad bloated to me and the G10 well that's just the standard issue watch of the time).
Originally back in the 90's I nearly bought a Rolex sub 11460 or a vintage 5513 (I would love a 5517 for my collection one day but prices for these are through the roof - I saw one in Burlington Arcade for a tab more than I expected i.e £270K!). I had suddenly found myself with some spare sheckles in my pockets so hoofed it down to the Jewellers. I tried on a Sub but instantly did not like its sharp lines and crown guards that dug into my wrist. seeing I looked slightly deflated the guy then asked if I had considered the new 42mm 'Bond SMP' so I gave it a go and within a few mins the deal was done what a watch with such sleek lines (I have since gifted that watch to my son on his 21st as I have the 2500 version). It did seem like everyone was wearing either these or a Sub in those days (some units commissioning SP editions which I have been fortunate to see thanks to their owners).
I have even seen 42mm PO with SMP Broad hands which looked OK (I even had a SMP 2264 with PO bezel and insert for a while) but still the Vintage SM300 takes the medal - maybe I am just getting sentimental in my old age. However, putting it on a Grey NATO or Steel Mesh always gets a comment (normally due to the Lum standing out so much even in daylight).
Still each to his own.
Cheers
My name is Bond, Basildon Bond - I have letters after my name!
A pretty cool story I loved the fact that the owner got it cheap paid a tenner to get it fixed, was speechless at who had owned it and walked away with a handsome sum - a pretty good investment I would say! 😎
My name is Bond, Basildon Bond - I have letters after my name!
Can't say fairer than that, it is a beauty, indeed, it'll have to get in the queue though😀 I popped my old Blue GE Seamaster 300 Diver on an issue grey NATO when i was serving many moons ago which always got a head swivel. I always find myself going back to that look, diver on a NATO strap. Can't go wrong. I wish DC had put the new NTTD Seamaster 300 on a grey NATO, that would have been class. Thanks for your reply
So, apparently, Omega have sent out an email advertising an exhibition somewhere (I haven’t seen the email, I picked up on this via a Facebook post.) This picture appears in the email and looks to be a close-up of the NTTD prop-watch with the EMP Unit fitted.
Gave in and got the more modern steel milanese strap - now we can see what 007 got from Omega and what I would have issued him with from Q branch 😀
I still prefer the vintage SM 300 if nothing more than for its practical legibility and given they stuck a crows foot on it - it should have at least been to MOD spec!
Cheers 😎
My name is Bond, Basildon Bond - I have letters after my name!
Just seen this interesting article on Craig's personal Omega collection, as expected with many Bond watches. Apologies in advance if this has already been posted, but worth a look in any case.
Smith’s did make some nice watches like the Imperial, Astral and Everest. I also think that it was more likely a smith’s watch as well. John Steed wore a smith’s Empire watch in one of the Avengers Episodes. Being from the Uk I haven’t heard much about Gruen as a watch brand but would be interested in hearing others opinions.
Comments
Finally picked the grail of a watch I have wanted for decades the vintage Seamaster 300 no date the more military version with a balanced face. There were some of these battered and kicking around when I joined the military nearly 40 years ago. I wished I had known then what they would have been worth later, but the fixed spring bars seemed a pain for other watch straps and made no sense other that in the Mil.
I know it is likely a watchco version but I am cool with that it will see me out. i wanted a newer one I can build a history with, if I bought a true vintage watch I would have had it brought up to date anyway at a fair cost. I just love it on my issue NATO. Crazy thing is it’s the one vintage watch Omega has never reissued yet it’s the most popular amongst collectors.
This is the watch Commander Bond should have been wearing in NTTD in my humble opinion at least you can clearly see the time in the dark (those who own the NTTD SM 300 will know what I mean comparing these hands to the skeleton ones on that). This is a real dive watch!
Cheers😎
Beautiful. Enjoy.
I will thanks - but of course anyone who knows me will know I just need a good condition ‘Big Triangle face to complete the project, but this will do for now!
Cheers 😎
If only they had put broad hands on the NTTD SMP it would have been near perfect immo MOD watch (plus a serrated bezel).
I give you the old and the new.
Cheers 😎
I take it you have the XL Planet Ocean ? I think , Seamaster 300 aside, that it's as near perfect for the Bond watch and outside on Bond it's just a beauty. I wore my PO in the Mil and gave it a beasting and its still looking good. I'm lucky enough to have a Sub 114060 and a number of CWC divers and they are all great bed fellows. Enjoy the watch, a beauty.
I think the best homage to this they have done is the CR PO XL. A beautiful watch and a favourite of mine. A beast.
This is a fun video:
Omega bought the watch at auction the same year for 86,000 CHF, and it's now in their museum in Switzerland. They made 18 replicas in 2018, on sale for £110,000 each.
It has been known for me to have a PO or two in my collection (current count is 4!). I did buy the 45mm PO but it was just toooo big on my wrist so I downsized to the 42mm version.
I do love the PO's (earlier versions than latter and latest), but once the Vintage SM 300 hit my collection it was love at first sight. It was the original I'm my eyes and set the standard for all those that followed Rolex and CWC Diver (the latter looking a tad bloated to me and the G10 well that's just the standard issue watch of the time).
Originally back in the 90's I nearly bought a Rolex sub 11460 or a vintage 5513 (I would love a 5517 for my collection one day but prices for these are through the roof - I saw one in Burlington Arcade for a tab more than I expected i.e £270K!). I had suddenly found myself with some spare sheckles in my pockets so hoofed it down to the Jewellers. I tried on a Sub but instantly did not like its sharp lines and crown guards that dug into my wrist. seeing I looked slightly deflated the guy then asked if I had considered the new 42mm 'Bond SMP' so I gave it a go and within a few mins the deal was done what a watch with such sleek lines (I have since gifted that watch to my son on his 21st as I have the 2500 version). It did seem like everyone was wearing either these or a Sub in those days (some units commissioning SP editions which I have been fortunate to see thanks to their owners).
I have even seen 42mm PO with SMP Broad hands which looked OK (I even had a SMP 2264 with PO bezel and insert for a while) but still the Vintage SM300 takes the medal - maybe I am just getting sentimental in my old age. However, putting it on a Grey NATO or Steel Mesh always gets a comment (normally due to the Lum standing out so much even in daylight).
Still each to his own.
Cheers
A pretty cool story I loved the fact that the owner got it cheap paid a tenner to get it fixed, was speechless at who had owned it and walked away with a handsome sum - a pretty good investment I would say! 😎
Can't say fairer than that, it is a beauty, indeed, it'll have to get in the queue though😀 I popped my old Blue GE Seamaster 300 Diver on an issue grey NATO when i was serving many moons ago which always got a head swivel. I always find myself going back to that look, diver on a NATO strap. Can't go wrong. I wish DC had put the new NTTD Seamaster 300 on a grey NATO, that would have been class. Thanks for your reply
This popped into my head today whilst watching Ocotpussy - the Acrostar jet also has Smiths dials on its instrument panel! 😊
So, apparently, Omega have sent out an email advertising an exhibition somewhere (I haven’t seen the email, I picked up on this via a Facebook post.) This picture appears in the email and looks to be a close-up of the NTTD prop-watch with the EMP Unit fitted.
Gave in and got the more modern steel milanese strap - now we can see what 007 got from Omega and what I would have issued him with from Q branch 😀
I still prefer the vintage SM 300 if nothing more than for its practical legibility and given they stuck a crows foot on it - it should have at least been to MOD spec!
Cheers 😎
That’s definitely a much nicer strap. That’s a great looking watch now. 👍
Just seen this interesting article on Craig's personal Omega collection, as expected with many Bond watches. Apologies in advance if this has already been posted, but worth a look in any case.
https://www.esquire.com/style/mens-accessories/a45868844/daniel-craig-omega-watch-collection/
Quite a fun quick video of Daniel Craig going through his collection (all from one brand for some reason..? 😄)
Not a watch video per sé, but interesting nevertheless.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FoPf8tJZqXc
-Mr Arlington Beech
Had no intention of buying this until I saw in the window of a South American Omega boutique.
Not keen on the caseback but obviously not visible!
Congrats on the new watch, @welshboy78.
Instagram: Classy Tourist
Cheers!!
Smith’s did make some nice watches like the Imperial, Astral and Everest. I also think that it was more likely a smith’s watch as well. John Steed wore a smith’s Empire watch in one of the Avengers Episodes. Being from the Uk I haven’t heard much about Gruen as a watch brand but would be interested in hearing others opinions.
Congrats on the new watch @welshboy78 She's a beauty. Looks almost black in those pics. I would certainly pull the trigger on one if I had the funds.
Nice backdrop too btw.