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60's Seamaster DeVille… How to tell the 500 series inside w/o opening?

halgedahl
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Good day experienced Omega collectors!

Here's an advertised 60's Seamaster Deville with beautifully patinated dial. Original plexi and crown.

OmegaTropicalDial.jpg OmegaTropicalDialSteel.jpg


Priced just over $1k., the watch was serviced before being put up for sale, but the seller didn't have photos taken and is now reluctant to reopen to confirm the exact series because the watch is a top-loader and he'd rather not put more wear & tear on the friction fit.

The ad says "500 series movement." But which? Is there any likelihood of this or that 500? Perhaps one of you owns such a lovely thing and can lend some advice. All wisdom greatly appreciated.

Have good weekends, all!

Fred Halgedahl
 
JwRosenthal
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552 most likely. Case is heavily polished and dial is matter of taste- but not something that should add a premium. I think it’s overpriced by about half.
 
halgedahl
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Wow… many thanks! Appreciate your candor! I did wonder about the blinding gleam of the back….. FH
 
JwRosenthal
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Not just the back, the lugs should have very sharp angles and these are rather soft. Not the worst I’ve seen, but for the price I would expect near perfection.
 
halgedahl
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OK. Got it. Are the aged brown dials very rare or unusual?
 
janice&fred
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halgedahl halgedahl
OK. Got it. Are the aged brown dials very rare or unusual?

Yes and it's definitely going to be worth a stout premium, whether some like them or not.
 
X350 XJR
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Minute hand appears to be pinched and second hand is an incorrect replacement.

Reflector ring inside crystal should be silver for a steel case, not gold.
 
JwRosenthal
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janice&fred janice&fred
Yes and it's definitely going to be worth a stout premium, whether some like them or not.
Fair enough. Some like the “tropical” dials and are indeed willing to pay more for it. I see them as damaged.
 
DaveK
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Get a good cardio workout and run away from this watch
 
halgedahl
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Good comments and assessments here. Great thanks for opening my eyes. There is so much to consider when investing in a vintage piece. These forums are invaluable. Any "all correct" examples out there anyone would care to share? FH
 
ConElPueblo
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I will add this thread to my databank of new enthusiasts who are infatuated by the Seamaster DeVille - it's uncanny!

A great watch, btw. Nothing negative meant 😀

The movement will be a 55X-series movement and since it is a no-date, non-chronometer it will be either a cal. 550 or 552, depending on it being a US imported watch or not.

I for one put no premium on degraded black dials in dress watches, but they definitely have their audience.
 
Dan S
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Part of the reason for having photos of the movement is to confirm that the correct movement is present, that it is complete, and that it has original parts and is in good condition. So it's fairly pointless to guess about which movement is inside, since we are simply speculating about which movement was original to the watch. Photos will tell us what movement is currently in the watch, and its condition, which is frankly more important than knowing which specific movement originally came in that watch, since that won't affect that desirability very much.

As noted, the case is over-polished and the minute hand is damaged. The color/condition of the dial is totally a matter of taste. Some people certainly like dials like that one.
 
TechFounder
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X350 XJR X350 XJR
Minute hand appears to be pinched and second hand is an incorrect replacement.

Reflector ring inside crystal should be silver for a steel case, not gold.

Probably because it was originally a gold plated watch which they completely polished into SS. Even the waterproof text has been polished off on the caseback.
 
KingCrouchy
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TechFounder TechFounder
Probably because it was originally a gold plated watch which they completely polished into SS. Even the waterproof text has been polished off on the caseback.
I don't think soo, most Seamaster DeVille are Gold Capped, good luck polishing that away.
 
janice&fred
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TechFounder TechFounder
Probably because it was originally a gold plated watch which they completely polished into SS. Even the waterproof text has been polished off on the caseback.

That I doubt.
 
X350 XJR
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TechFounder TechFounder
Probably because it was originally a gold plated watch which they completely polished into SS. Even the waterproof text has been polished off on the caseback.

Really? 😵‍💫
 
TechFounder
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KingCrouchy KingCrouchy
I don't think soo, most Seamaster DeVille are Gold Capped, good luck polishing that away.
Well, then it's a Franken watch because everything inside the dial looks like it's gold color or wants to be.
 
janice&fred
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TechFounder TechFounder
Well, then it's a Franken watch because everything inside the dial looks like it's gold color or wants to be.

It was quite common for Stainless watches to have gold markers and hands. You might want to quit while you're ahead.
 
TechFounder
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janice&fred janice&fred
It was quite common for Stainless watches to have gold markers and hands. You might want to quit while you're ahead.
Really? That's news to me...
 
janice&fred
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TechFounder TechFounder
Really? That's news to me...

And even more common with a black dial, or in this case one that started out as black.
 
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