24 Omega Beautiful and Historically Important Seamaster 300 Big Triangle in Steel, Reference 166 024, With Bakelite Bezel

Estimate: €5,000 –⁠ 10,000

Model: Seamaster 300 Big Triangle
Reference: 166 024
Case Material: Stainless steel
Bracelet Material: Stainless steel
Year: 1960s
Movement: Automatic
Caliber: 565
Case N°: 67
Movement N°: 27209157
Dimensions: 41 mm
Signed: Case, dial, movement

While developing watches for the British Royal Air Force during WWII, Omega engineered a model with an unbreakable crystal that was pressurized in place; a waterproof case back that was, in Omega’s words, ’hydro-sealed’; and an “ingenious hermetic crown”. In the summer of 1963 Jacques-Yves Cousteau and his team during the “Precontinent II” experiments in the Red Sea used this special watch realized by Omega in 1957 which took name the Seamaster 300. Nine years later, Omega launched three new purpose-built, professional-grade, heavier steel watches with straight lugs, broad arrow hands, and black dials: the Speedmaster, Railmaster, and Seamaster 300, reference 166 024, the glamour of the 1960s deep-sea exploration. Debuting in 1966, it is the fifth iteration of the 300, with notable changes: kept the familiar Bakelite bezel and thick, domed, shatterproof Hesalite crystal from its forebears, but by then Omega had replaced the broad arrows with a fat sword hour hand and pencil minute hand; the lugs were also twisted, the case was widened to 42 mm, and the crown became a screw-down. Tritium replaced radium as the luminescence. Thanks to its caliber 565, it was also the first Seamaster 300 with a date function and the second Seamaster 300 to receive Omega’s ’Professional’ designation (the first one was reference 165 024 in 1962), although it was never noted on the dial. The present lot is a really special specimen of the reference 166 024. The stainless steel case still maintains the same proportions as when it has been realized and so is the bracelet. The engravings on the case back are near and deep showing the horse and the designation “Seamaster – Certified High-Pressure Waterproof”. The bezel is still in great condition with its typical delicate but still evident knurling and absolutely no fractures on the Bakelite. The black matte dial has a real charm thanks to the aged tritium indexes the date window at 3 o’clock and the sword hands. In addition to outfitting professional civilians, Omega outfitted British naval and terrestrial forces through its official agent, Omega Watch Co. England. But take note: 166.024s, like this one, were the only civilian Seamaster 300s available with the “Big Triangle” dial (featuring a large triangle marker at 12 o’clock). These are not to be confused with the British military “Big Triangles”, which were specially designed to meet British Ministry of Defence specifications. Unlike civilian “Big Triangles”, these watches were a non-date caliber with special engravings on the case back and fixed bars at the lugs.