Omega
Reference ST 165.024 Seamaster 300 'Military' | A stainless steel automatic wristwatch, Issued to the Royal British Army, Made in 1967
Estimate
30,000 - 60,000 USD
Lot Details
Description
Dial: black
Caliber: cal. 552 automatic, 24 jewels
Movement number: 26'302'129
Case: stainless steel, engraved screw down case back
Case number: 165.024, W10/6645, 99-923-7697, A/218/67
Size: 42 mm diameter
Signed: case, dial and movement signed Omega, case back engraved by the British Ministry of Defense
Box: no
Papers: no
Accessories: Omega Extract from the Archives confirming the date of production on 2 May 1967 and its delivery to the British Army
A rare tool watch of the late 1960s, the present Omega Seamaster 300 reference 165.024 was manufactured in 1967 for issue to the British Royal Army under strict Ministry of Defence specifications. Originally introduced in 1957 as part of Omega’s “Professional” trilogy, the Seamaster 300 quickly established itself as a robust and capable diver’s instrument. A small number of examples were subsequently adapted for military use between 1967 and approximately 1970, making these “mil-spec” variants among the most desirable and historically significant executions of the Seamaster 300.
Distinguished from civilian production by a series of modifications, military Seamaster 300 watches were engineered for durability and legibility in demanding conditions. These include fixed strap bars for security, a screw-down crown for enhanced water resistance, and highly legible “sword” hands paired with luminous tritium markings. The case back of the present example bears the full suite of British military engravings (“W10/6645 99-923-7697 A/218/67”) each element of which denotes its service history. The “W10” prefix identifies issue to the British Army, while the remaining numbers correspond to the Ministry of Defence specification code, NATO stock number, individual issue number, and year of issue, respectively.
Beyond their technical attributes, these watches represent a tangible connection to a defining era of military history. Issued to servicemen during the late 1960s, such watches were not luxury objects but essential instruments, relied upon in the course of active duty. Many were used extensively in harsh environments, and relatively few have survived in well-preserved condition. As a result, military Seamaster 300 examples, particularly those bearing the less common “W10” Army designation as seen here, remain exceptionally rare and keenly sought after by collectors. We are pleased to offer the present example accompanied by an Extract from the Omega Archives confirming the date of production on 2 May 1967 and its delivery to the British Army.