THE ESSENTIALS
MAKE: OMEGA
MODEL: 165.024
YEAR: 1967
BOX/PAPERS: YES/NO
CASE DIAMETER: 41MM
CASE MATERIAL: STAINLESS STEEL
BRACELET MATERIAL: STAINLESS STEEL
MOVEMENT: AUTOMATIC
The Omega Seamaster 300 began its life in 1957 with reference CK2913, launched alongside the Speedmaster and Railmaster to form the famed “Master Trilogy.” While the Seamaster lineage dates back to the 1940s, the Seamaster 300 was Omega’s first true diver’s watch, featuring a guaranteed water resistance of 200 metres (tested to 300 metres—hence the name).
Early Seamaster 300s, such as the CK2913 and CK14755, featured straight-lug cases measuring 38–39 mm and relatively thin bezels. In 1963, Omega introduced a completely redesigned Seamaster 300 line, marking the beginning of the “lyre-lug” era. Produced between 1963 and 1971, the new Seamaster 300 featured a larger case to accommodate a wider, thicker, and significantly more legible bezel with crisp clicks during rotation. The dials were also updated with larger hour markers and hands. References ST 165.024 (no date) and ST 166.024 (date) are arguably the most successful Seamaster designs, representing the state of the art in professional dive watches of their time. They are also among the most enjoyable Omegas to collect, offering a remarkable number of variations within a relatively short production period.
The present example dates to 1967 and is, without exaggeration, the best-condition 165.024 we have ever encountered. The original sword hands, "small triangle" dial, and acrylic bezel insert are all flawless, with no visible marks or imperfections. The lume on the markers, hands, and insert has aged to a rich, even pumpkin hue, glowing brightly under UV and fading quickly thereafter. The case is equally impressive, with exceptionally sharp edges and bevels. The original full-link bracelet shows minimal stretch.
The movement arrived in excellent health and is currently running at +3 s/day, with an amplitude of 262° and a beat error of 0.1 ms. As far as vintage Omega Seamaster 300s go, it truly doesn’t get much better than this.