THE ESSENTIALS
MAKE: OMEGA
MODEL: 165.024
YEAR: 1965
BOX/PAPERS: NO/NO
CASE DIAMETER: 41MM
CASE MATERIAL: STAINLESS STEEL
BRACELET MATERIAL: LEATHER
MOVEMENT: AUTOMATIC
The Omega Seamaster 300 began its life in 1957 with Ref. CK2913, launched alongside the Speedmaster and Railmaster to form the “Master Trilogy.” Although the Seamaster name dates back to the 1940s, the SM300 was the first true diver’s watch Omega produced, with a guaranteed water resistance of 200m (tested to 300m, hence the name).
Early SM300s, such as the CK2913 and CK14755, feature a straight-lug case (38–39mm) and thin bezels. In 1963, Omega introduced an entirely redesigned SM300 line, marking the start of the “Lyre Lugs” era. Made between 1963 and 1971, the new SM300 features a larger case accommodating a wider, thicker, and far more legible bezel with distinct clicks during rotation. The dials also gained larger index markers and hands. Ref. ST 165.024 (no date) and ref. ST 166.024 (date) represent what many consider the most successful Seamaster design—state-of-the-art divers in their day and some of the most enjoyable Omegas to collect, thanks to numerous variations produced over a relatively short period.
At first glance, the watch we have for sale here is an early and very honest 165.024, with its original gilt-print dial, “Type B” straight hands, original small-logo crystal, and a superbly strong case. However, one immediately notices that the tritium acrylic insert has aged to a rich blue hue instead of the expected black. Once thought to be a manufacturing defect or even counterfeit, Omega collectors eventually reached a consensus that the blue insert is indeed original. All known examples share the same insert type, including the distinctive slanted 3 in “30.” As of 2020/2021, only nine “Blueberry” examples have been documented.
You can imagine our excitement when we carefully removed the mud and dirt from this watch after it arrived, having spent decades in a drawer. The dial is spotless, as is the insert. The tritium lume on both has aged to a rich, creamy patina, glowing brightly under UV and fading quickly afterwards.
The watch has been freshly serviced and is running perfectly at –3 s/d, 295 amps, with a beat error of 0.2 ms. This is one of the rarest Omega SM300s in existence, period—and we are extremely proud to present it.