That's a good question.
So is it fully fake or a frankenwatch? Either way it should not have that certificate but I ask the question for my own knowledge.
Hi Kevin, that is a good question. My answer would be it is a fake.
I cannot see anything at all that was used in a Seamaster 300. The case, dial, bezel ( probably hands - I haven't checked them closely ) are definately fakes. The movement was never offered in that model. So, although it is a genuine Omega movement, it is wrong. There is absolutley nothing in this watch that is correct.
IF the movement had been say a 565, that Omega had supplied in a Seamaster 300 case, then the answer would not be so black & white. At what stage does a badly restored watch cross the line between a frankenwatch and a fake ? I'm afraid I don't have a definitive answer.
I think you have to look at each case & decide for yourself.
I'll give you a real life example. I know a German collector who had a 100% genuine Seamaster 300. It was old & battered. he sent it to Bienne, they said "we can't make this look like new without changing a LOT of parts". His reply was "give me a new case then". I saw what they swapped... case, bezel, crystal, crown, dial, hands, date wheel etc etc..... so what DID they use from the original watch.... the movement & movement ring... ( but they even overhauled the movement, so many of the parts where swapped out ).
For me, this is a very tough case. Is it now genuine ? You can buy most parts ( & genuine Omega parts - not copies ) for a Seamaster 300 & put one together in this way, is that genuine ? Where does one draw the line ?
This watch has been sold on, at least twice, to German collectors, they regard it as genuine & the price reflects that.
I'm not sure. I wouldn't buy it.
But back to the original watch. It is 100% fake, with a certificate stating that is it genuine. Someone is going to get burned on this one. The auction is a private auction, so you can't even warn the bidders. I KNOW the seller has been contacted by at least 2 Omega collectors, they have pointed out that it is 100% fake. The auction is still running :-(
Steve
