Omega Seamaster 300 165.024: A Dive Watch Icon

Introduced during the golden age of professional diving, the Omega Seamaster 300 reference 165.024 embodies the shift from military-grade instrument to everyday companion. Its 42 mm steel case, bi-directional bezel and sword-hand dial defined 1960s dive-watch design, yet the watch still looks purposeful on modern wrists.

Origins of the Seamaster Line

Omega’s first water-focused wristwatch, the Marine of 1932, set the technical foundation for future sealed cases; by 1948, the company launched the Seamaster family, pairing robust construction with civilian styling for Royal Air Force crews returning from the war . Those early models proved a point: water resistance need not come at the expense of comfort or elegance.

The Birth of the Seamaster 300

Diving demanded more than everyday water resistance, so in 1957 Omega unveiled the Seamaster 300 (ref. CK2913) alongside the Speedmaster and Railmaster, a trilogy aimed at professionals who ventured into the sea, space and magnetic fields  . The rotating bezel, luminous broad-arrow handset and reinforced crystal created a template other brands swiftly followed.

Reference 165.024 Design and Engineering

By the mid-1960s Omega refined the concept into reference 165.024. The watch adopted twisted “lyre” lugs and a marginally larger 42 mm case for improved wrist presence, yet remained slim enough to slide under a jacket cuff. Its bakelite timing bezel glows after dark, while a screw-down back and triple-sealed crown kept the movement safe during saturation dives  .

Calibre 552: The Beating Heart

Inside beats the 24-jewel calibre 552, a high-grade automatic movement running at 19,800 vph with a bi-directional winding rotor. Known for reliability and ease of regulation, the 552 powered scores of Omega references throughout the 1960s and 70s; in military evaluations it held time within chronometer tolerances despite pressure and temperature swings  .

Case and Bezel Innovation

Unlike many contemporaries that used fragile acrylic inserts, the Seamaster 300’s bakelite bezel bonded luminous numerals beneath a clear protective layer. Divers could read elapsed minutes even in turbid water, and the 60-click action offered precise calibration for decompression stops. The monocoque mid-case with screw-back architecture balanced structural strength with serviceability—a formula Omega still follows on modern Heritage pieces.

Dial and Hands: Legibility First

Matte black dials minimise glare, while broad batons at three-minute intervals aid quick orientation. Early civilian dials carried upright Arabic quarters; later “Big Triangle” variants introduced a prominent arrowhead at twelve for borderline-zero-visibility environments  . Sword-style hour and minute hands, generously filled with tritium, echo instrument-panel gauges and reinforce the watch’s tool-first mandate.

Seamaster 300 in Action: Military and Civilian Use

The Royal Navy selected the Seamaster 300 as standard issue for its clearance divers, specifying fixed-bar lugs, circled-T dials and uniquely engraved case-backs. Records show reference 165.024 units delivered in 1968, engraved with NATO-coded serials and an “arrow-broad” property mark, many remaining on strength for over a decade  . Civilian professionals—commercial divers, geologists and photo-journalists—favoured the same model for its mix of legibility, ruggedness and understated style when topside.

Legacy in Modern Omega Collections

Omega revisited the Seamaster 300 formula in 2014 and again in 2021, updating materials to bronze gold and ceramic while retaining the sandwich-dial numerals, symmetrical lugs and “lollipop” seconds hand that reference the 1960s design language  . Contemporary Seamasters now span everything from Heritage re-editions to Planet Ocean saturation-rated beasts, yet the lineage remains clear: every modern model owes a debt to the clarity and utility perfected by reference 165.024.

Why the Seamaster 300 Matters Today

Half a century later, the watch still captures the balance between precision engineering and day-to-day practicality. Its 42 mm proportions align with contemporary tastes, while vintage-correct details—lyre lugs, bezel font, sword hands—speak to an era of mechanical ingenuity. The calibre 552’s durability assures dependable performance long after many electronic gadgets fail, and the timeless dial design complements business attire as easily as weekend denim.

Beyond form and function, the Seamaster 300 symbolises Omega’s broader narrative: constant innovation grounded in real-world demands. Today’s Seamaster range continues to push depth ratings, antimagnetic capabilities and material science, yet the core idea—uncompromising utility you can wear anywhere—was crystallised in watches like the 165.024.

Final Thoughts

The Omega Seamaster 300 reference 165.024 stands at the crossroads of heritage and modernity, carrying forward ideas first tested in the open ocean and refining them into a wristwatch suitable for everyday use. Its combination of legibility, engineering ingenuity and understated style has influenced dive-watch aesthetics for six decades.

While watchmaking technologies advance, the 165.024 remains proof that purposeful design rarely goes out of fashion. Whether viewed as a milestone in professional diving equipment or simply as a versatile daily companion, this Seamaster embodies Omega’s enduring commitment to watches built for a life less ordinary.

Case in good vintage condition, scratches visible around case. Bakelite bezel cracked but intact.

Dial and hands are in very good condition with nice even patina.