So I've been looking into setting aside some money to track down an Omega birth year watch. I was born in 1982 and after digging through Omega's heritage section of their site it's been a little difficult to find a nice watch that doesn't actually look super 80's. I'm not crazy about the 80's boxy look which will probably limit my options. The images of the seamasters that Omega has on their site probably make the watches look a lot worse then they truely are. A Speedmaster will be out of my price range for quite some time, and I expect that searching for one made in 1982 could take me years. I was hoping for some opinions for nice classic looking watches that would have been produced in 1982, something I can keep an eye out for. I've grabbed some reference numbers from Omega's site but I was hoping the forum could lend some opinions and photos of what my options are. Thanks!
I think the Speedmaster is one of very few watches Omega was making in 1982 that doesn't look very much "of its time". There were a few pieces in the collection in those days that are somewhat "classic looking" but they were typically small and frequently quartz-powered, and being produced during the peak of the crisis they often look less attractive than earlier or later Omegas in terms of design and finish. That's just my opinion, I'm sure others might disagree. Omega was making cal. 1045 Speedmasters in that era. They are frequently more affordable than Moonwatches of the era but might be too boxy for your needs.
There would be lots of choice in watches made earlier than 1982, and lots of choice in watches made since 1982. The only way to know for absolutely certain that an Omega was actually made in 1982 would be to order an extract on a particular watch. I am not certain which year the transition from Omega to Swatch Omega actually happened, but I think style choices at about that time might have been in a transition. Why limit yourself? In 1981, Omega was on the ropes, and in bad shape. They were bailed out by the banks. Apparently, Swatch acquired Omega in 1985. I wonder how much choice there is likely to be in Omegas from those years.
You can dig around here and see the watches/styles sold in 82 : https://www.omegawatches.com/planet-omega/heritage/vintage/ The options aren't great ecstatically. The problem is that the images they have aren't all inclusive.
I'm a fan of the Polaris though it isn't to everybody's tastes. The unique case is gold inlaid titanium. It first came out in 1982, too.
Speedy pro... also with hunting you can get one from 82 with serial number checks. https://www.ilovemyspeedmaster.com/productiondateprediction/ Best predictor of when a speedy was made is that website.
Thanks, I have a feeling that'll be the direction I have to go in. Maybe I'll get lucky and stumble across one somewhere for a fraction of what they're selling for right now
The Polaris is pretty cool, but wasn't Seamaster 120m "Calypso" also available at that time? They are pretty nice too! How about a "Jacques Mayol" Seamaster? Those would be my 4 go-to Omegas for a 1982 birth year watch
ohhh, the Seamaster 120m "Calypso" and the "Jacques Mayol" Seamaster are both nice looking. Thanks. @ConElPueblo another couple to research!
Just an idea if you're feeling boxed in: why not buy your mom or dad's birth year watch for yourself? I'm guessing that would be 50s to early 60s era and everything from Omega then was really lovely!