My Seamaster De Ville is missing a lug. I have the lug, but no one is interested in soldering it except as a last resort and I am advised to find a case on the used/parts market. It's a Cal. 560 with a case # LL6066 which is seemingly impossible to locate. I have observed a Cal. 550 in an LL6066 case as well as several other case numbers.

The gold content of the bezel and lugs of my watch is unknown. Its back is plain stainless steel.

Does anyone know of other Calibers and/or case numbers which might be compatible with the 560? Any information proffered is most appreciated. Thank you very much.

 

I think you could use a ref. 166.020 case, guess it is the same case, LL6066 is just for US market.

 

I believe the cal 550 was made for the US Seamaster Devilles to keep down import duty, so the cases from the cal 552 powered Seamaster Devilles should also fit, as TDN-dk has told you above.

I think it is going to be quite tricky to find a case on its own, but they are definitely out there, here is one on Ebay at the moment, but it is gold filled (https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/OMEGA-SE...517996?hash=item1a746e08ec:g:vs0AAOSwxbFcXDzhPurchases made through these links may earn this site a commission from the eBay Partner Network).

Alternatively, when I was actively looking for a Seamaster Deville, there seemed to be a fair amount with badly worn dials and movements which were not working. It might be best to try and find one of these with a correct case, and recoup some of the cost by selling the dial/movement etc. here is an example of one I had a while back with a 9k gold case, but the top right lug was bent, and the movement was not in great condition. I ended up moving it on. I have also attached an interior shot of the case incase it might be of any help to you, from memory I sold it for about £350.




Best of luck!

[Edit: re-reading your post, you mention the back of your watch is Stainless Steel, which I would imagine meaning that your watch is gold filled. If this is the case, the eBay link above should be the right case (I think)?]

 

Can you just clarify this, you say your watch is a cal 560, and then you say you have observed a cal. 550 in the LL6066 cases. Is your watch a cal 560, or 550?

If it is a 560, it would be well worth your while reading this thread on them: https://omegaforums.net/threads/rar...deville-a-prototype-with-a-display-back.1097/

as well as this: http://omega-constellation-collectors.blogspot.com/2009/07/unearthed-more-omega-calibre-560.html

 

Well automatic and date = 560
automatic non date = 550
I concluded that the picture with the damaged case is with date so 166.020 but a 165.020 case should fit, dont think there are any difference besides the ref. nr.

 

If this is indeed a cal 560, it is worth consulting Desmonds article, which I linked above. I do think you are right that the watch ostensibly appears to be a 166.020, but I also think it is worth noting that the 166.020 was never produced for the American market, and as far as I know, the 166.020 was only powered by the 562 movement (as your screenshot shows above).

Instead of importing the 166.020 to the USA. 3,000 560 movements were shipped over, and assembled by Norman Morris in Seamaster Devilles. If this is a cal 560, as OP states, it is one of the rarer Seamaster Deville cal 560, which were cased in the US (and distinct from the 166.020)

If this is a 560 movement, unfortunatley this may be a franken watch according to Desmonds article. He states "If you have a KM or LL prefix case married to a calibre 560 movement, unfortunately you have a ‘franken’ or ‘wedding’ watch.". The only case references which are correct for this watch are: KL 6610 (14k gold), KL 6068 (14k gold bezel, steel caseback), and KL 6292(gold filled). However, It is also worth consulting the addendum to the article above; these watches have not been fully documented and if this watch is not a franken watch it may be an as of yet unidentified case produced for the cal 560.

I think therefore a question mark lies over this watch, but I also think that it is not a run of the mill 166.020.

 

I know is an US case he has, but if he cant find one of those i suggest he can use a 166.020 or 165.020, they should fit.

 

I do agree that either a 166.020 or 165.020 would fit. However, I would also say that this watch may be of some importance if indeed it can be shown that this is a new case reference for the US 560 Seamaster Devilles.

I would also suggest to the OP that although both the 166.020 or 165.020 cases would fit. The only correct cases for this movement are KL 6610, KL 6068, and KL 6292. Furthermore, as this is a somewhat rare watch, it is worth getting the 'right' case, especially as they do come up occasionally. Here is one from a recent auction: https://bit.ly/2J9h3iO

 

Finding someone to laser weld the lug back on would probably be easier and more cost effective, particularly since OPs case looks to be in good condition otherwise.

 

Lucassss, Thank you for your help. My apologies for the confusion. My watch is a Cal. 560.

 

Dear fellow Omega enthusiasts,

I am new to this forum and did not expect such an immediate warm welcome of quantity and quality to my post. Working late and being on the west coast I was blown away when I casually check this post to day. Thank You!

 

I contacted one of the best such laser welding operations in downtown Los Angeles, where I live, and the very nice man I talked to there discouraged me from pursuing that option. As I recall the process was more expensive than the watch.

 

I have been advised that the critical number is the Cal. 560 as opposed the the reference or case number. 560's worth parting out are few and far between; most are decent watches which, If I were to buy, would mean selling off the sentimental value which sort of defeats the purpose of saving this watch. Surely if I could find a case in decent condition with LL6066 stamped inside and not prohibitively expensive my search would be over. But none have presented themselves in many months of off-and-on searching.

The following to both Lucasss and tdn-dk:

The compatibility of the 165.020 offers hope.

Is it the considered opinion of both Lucassss and tdn-dk that the item advertised on Ebay at https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/OMEGA-SE...517996?hash=item1a746e08ec:g:vs0AAOSwxbFcXDzh would be appropriate to house my Cal 560 movement?

 

tdn-dk your input is much appreciated. Thank you so much for taking the time to provide in-depth information relative to my need. Both you and Lucassss have postulated about the 165.020 fit. As a result I am sending the following to both you and Lucasssss:

The compatibility of the 165.020 offers hope.

Is it the considered opinion of both Lucassss and tdn-dk that the item advertised on Ebay at https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/OMEGA-SE...517996?hash=item1a746e08ec:g:vs0AAOSwxbFcXDzh would be appropriate to house my Cal 560 movement?

 

https://omegaforums.net/threads/omega-18k-gold-case-ref-161-009.11556/

May be an option

 

It is good to know your watch is a cal 560. It appears there are 3 options which have been outlined above by various members:

1) Find a 165.020 or a 166.020 case, both will fit, neither will be correct. The eBay link you have provided does not work for me.
2) Find a KL6610, KL6068 or KL6292 case, all 3 will fit, all 3 are correct
3) Laser weld the existing case as @X350 XJR suggested, perhaps someone could suggest somewhere to do this in the US.

It depends what you want out of this, if you just want a wearable watch, you might be able to pick up a cheap 165.020 (or 166.020) case, but be left with a franken watch. If you go for the second option, the watch will be correct, but not original.

However, especially with so many questions still over the cal 560 (outlined by http://omega-constellation-collectors.blogspot.com/2009/07/unearthed-more-omega-calibre-560.html), I think it is worth considering that your case may be a new case reference for the cal 560, I should note that this is very unlikely but it may be reaching out to the relevant experts for their opinions on your watch.

 

that case is sharp as hell though maybe consider finding someone who can laser weld the lug back on. It's not that expensive
'

 

Shouldn’t be too much trouble to find a donor KL series case with a dial that is shot. A little patience.

 

Victory At Sea.

First and foremost many thanks for the advice shared. After having been told repeatedly by many watch repair sources, including Omega, that the case was a lost cause, a friend recommended yet another shop. And as I had Bulova and a Longines in need of some service, I packed up the Omega with the broken lug and took it in. We dealt with the other two watches first and then I sheepishly presented the Omega for yet another rejection. "Sure, we can fix that" was the immediate response to my surprise. Even more surprising was the reasonable price. I've been harboring the Omega for years with the lug in a little plastic bag. Now I'm wearing it. "Hey, 98.6 It's Good to Have You Back Again." In the final analysis, it was just a matter of finding the right man for the job and letting him do it.

 

Congrats!!!