Thin magnetic films of Sm-Co nanocrystallites on SiO(2) substrate were fabricated using spin coating deposition. In a typical synthesis, precursor of Sm-Co oleate complex was spin coated onto a Sio(2) substrate in the form of precursor films and subsequently they were subjected to reductive annealing at 773 K for 2 h, so as to crystallize Sm-Co phase in the films. It has been found that the reductive annealing temperature (573-773 K) played a critical role on the nucleation and formation of Sm-Co crystalline phases; while the spinning speed (3000-5000 rpm) has a significant effect in controlling the film thickness, which in turn affects the particle diameter, inter-particle distance and packing density of the Sm-Co nanocrystallites. Coercivity values of 27.9, 23.9 and 18.7 kA.m(-1) and magnetization values of 2.89, 2.51 and 2.21 x 10(-6) A.m(2) were achieved for the Sm-Co films with thicknesses of 345 (3000 rpm), 264 (4000 rpm) and 162 nm (5000 rpm), respectively. Further, these hard magnetic properties could be significantly improved by subjecting the Sm-Co films to post-annealing at 873 K. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.