Omega Seamaster 200m Pre-Bond
Omega Seamaster 200m Pre-Bond
The forerunner of the current SM300 models, this model was retrospectively named by collectors the Pre-Bond. It came in a variety of model forms including quartz, steel and two-tone gold, auto, midsize and fullsize, black and champagne dial, and mercedes or sword hands. The full-size auto in steel with black face and sword-hands is the most prized and hardest to find. The SM200s only came on integrated bracelet and there is no strap option available for them. It was made from 1987 to 1995 but essentially superceded by the SM300 on release in 1993.
Model Versions
Stainless steel
- Full size Quartz Ref ST 396.104
- Mid size Quartz Ref ST 396.1042
- Full size Auto Ref ST 398.1041
- Mid size Auto Ref ST 398.1042
Stainless / 18K gold with gold inlaid bracelet and black face
- Full size Quartz Ref DB 396.1041
- Mid size Quartz Ref DB 396.1042
- Full size Auto Ref DB 398.1041
- Mid size Auto Ref DB 398.1042
Stainless / 18K gold with champagne face
Ref # same as with black face but added ref Black .300, Champagne .200
- Full size Quartz Ref DB 396.1041
- Mid size Quartz Ref DB 396.1042
- Full size Auto Ref DB 398.1041
- Mid size Auto Ref DB 398.1042
Stainless / 18K with Steel Bracelet
- Full size Quartz Ref DR 396.1041
- Mid size Quartz Ref DR 396.1042
- Full size Auto Ref DR 398.1041
- Mid size Auto Ref DR 398.1042
Movements
Automatic
Cal 1111 - ETA 2892 movement marked “AUTOMATIC Chronometer” on the dial
- 21 jewel movement with quickset date
- sweep second
- 44 hour power reserve
- hack function.
Quartz
The quartz versions had date and were marked “PROFESSIONAL”
- Omega 1441 (ETA 255.561) to end 1988
- Omega 1438 movement - 1989-1995
Dials and Hands
Two dial colour options
- black in the steel
- champagne with the gold bezel
Dial lettering
- Quartz models showed PROFESSIONAL on the dial at 6.
- Auto models showed AUTOMATIC CHRONOMETER on the dial at 6.
The position of the date window for quartz and auto models is also different and a quick tell sign.
Two hand versions
- 1987-89 Mercedes style hands on some but not all versions
- 1987-95 Sword-style hands
- lollipop second hand on all versions
All dials and hands are tritium-lumed and will yellow and age. They are prone to disintegration and degradation at differing rates and matching hands and dials are not easy to find. Mercedes-style hands are not as popular with Omega collectors given they have a Rolex Submariner connection and many watches will have had them replaced with sword ones when being serviced at Omega over the last 30 years.
Case, Crown and Bracelet
Case sizes
- Full size version (40 mm w/o crown) official size 8.85 x 38.5 x 43.5
- Midsize version (38mm w/o crown) official size 8.7 x 36 x 41.
Bezel
Steel or solid 18k gold, fully rotating 60-click uni-directional. Note neither the bezel nor insert is replaceable and if damaged then an entire case must be sourced.
Caseback variations
All casebacks are a two-piece construction with outer holding ring. The earliest models from the first year of production have fairly plain centre backs with no engraving of hippocampus and name only. The quartz models are concave. The later models have the hippocampus Seamonster logo and are flat (auto) or concave (quartz).
Crowns
Correct early models up to circa 1989 have a 6-eared lobed screw-down crown with Omega logo. Later models have a conventional ribbed screw-down crown, again with Omega logo.
Bracelets
Either all steel or with gold centre sections, they are unique to this model and there is no strap option. All bracelets came with a deployment with locking function and wetsuit extension.Gold bezel models also had a gold Omega logo on the deployment buckle. The early models have a single locking clasp. Later models have a double clasp at either end of the deployment.
Boxes and paperwork
Normally would come in standard Omega grey box of the period with outer white card box and warranty cards.
