Contacted my watchmaker who is kindly going to provide latest service ticket and take watch-back off so I can photo mechanism/casing for insurance/provenance

Meanwhile, could any ‘expert’ please advise or point me to source to fully ID/name the braclet strap? Has code 614/556 on lugs.

Assume it’s the original and as Initial research I used the forum link to old brochures, but couldn’t see my circa 1976 Seamaster recorded

TIA,
Tony

 

I'm an "expert"

The bracelet is an original Omega bracelet, but not one well suited for your watch; the end links are only 18mm wide where they should be 19mm. It is probably the same reference as this: https://omegaforums.net/threads/ome...racelet-with-620-end-links-gold-plated.64866/ (bar the end links, naturally).

Your Seamaster is a good 6-9 years earlier than 1976, btw.

 

Missmatched endlinks. One is 614, the other is 556, they should be the same.

The 556 is suppose to be on a 1068 bracelet. The 614 endlink is matched to a 1037 bracelet, which yours looks like it is, despite not being marked on the bracelet. As @ConElPueblo points out, both endlinks are incorrect on this reference. If you could give me a more exact reference I would be able to see if I have it logged on my table.

If I were to hazard a guess, the 19mm endlinks which match a 1037 bracelet could be 555 or 620. I would think 555 though based on the shape of the lugs.

 

Thank you and appreciate you responding, now slightly concerned as assumed it was all original from provenance I have.
1- Yes bracelet indeed appears much the same, as per similar markings in below photo.
2- Until I have serial no, been relying upon the Omega guarantee info (and the reversed carbon anti fraud backing) which states sold 3.1.1976 (see photo).
Can you advise why you think so much earlier?

Q. Doubt watch would have been stock for several years.
If sold 2nd hand, would it have a later date guarantee re-issued.

Wondering if sold a ‘pup’ with fabricated provenance ☹️

 

Thanks for replying and info, now you say, the 614 end link does seem to fit the lug profile more exactly, the 556 seems more sunken, though the bracelet is denoted 1086 (see poorly lit photo), is that the ‘exact reference’ you refer to (apologies, newbie!).
TIA

 

I think that says 1068, not 1086. Regardless of the profile, the end-link is too narrow for the lugs, so you will need 19mm end-links for your bracelet.

Case reference is 166.032 from the warranty papers.

Edit: Just looked at a bunch of photos of this reference, and I didn't see any with a 7-wide BoR.

 

Quite correct thanks, 1068 indeed!

Is there any link to the photos please, did go through 1975 and later brochures.

So the bracelet was either a (poor) replacement (if warranty papers genuine) or the watch has been cobbled together!

Presume need to get ser. no and inner case details to properly assess watch age!

 

It's an authentic Omega bracelet (with mismatched end-links), but not one that is correct or original to this particular watch or reference. It's not necessarily something to get too worried about, and not too surprising given that some of the bracelets that were originally sold with this watch are highly desirable and valuable. It's quite likely that someone separated the original bracelet and replaced it with the wrong one for re-sale.

I don't see any reason for concern about the watch itself, but either it sat in the store for a long time before being sold, or the warranty paper is incorrect in some way. It's a late 60s/early 70s reference as noted above.

You can use Google Images to search for other examples of your watch, by searching on Omega 166.032.

 

I don't think you have to be very concerned, it's just a watch that has taken a long time to shift which is unusual, but not unheard of. Everything bar the bracelet looks good, so I wouldn't worry.

The movement type (cal. 750) wasn't produced later than the early seventies where the entire family of movements were changed to another type.

 

Many thanks for that information/update.

 

Much appreciated, I wanted it to be a good and provenanced purchase.