Caseback engraving differences Omega Deville 166.020

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SOG53

·Oct 20, 2022

Ive noticed Deville 166.020 with different casebacks shown in photos
First example 1965- omega symbol below Hippocampus- Waterproof outside Hippocampus circle
2nd one 1968- Waterproof below seahorse inside Hippocampus circle
3rd one 1970- like the 1965 example

Was the 1968 example (of which I have seen several others the same) an aberration just that year?

Edited: Oct 20, 2022

 

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SOG53

·Oct 20, 2022

Oops typo- I meant 166.020

 

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X350 XJR

·Oct 20, 2022·Vintage Omega Aficionado

Possibly different case makers.

 

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Caliber561

·Oct 20, 2022

I've noticed that the cases with 'WATERPROOF' in relief inside of the medallion tend to be from later Seamaster De Villes, but I can't be sure if that's the only factor. Differing case makers could possibly be an explanation as well.

There's also a variation here (https://omegaforums.net/threads/omega-seamaster-deville-first-purchase.7680/), picture below, where the medallion is sunk into the case instead of having a raised perimeter.

 

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X350 XJR

·Oct 20, 2022·Vintage Omega Aficionado

SOG53

Oops typo- I meant 166.020

 

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SOG53

·Oct 20, 2022

Caliber561

I've noticed that the cases with 'WATERPROOF' in relief inside of the medallion tend to be from later Seamaster De Villes, but I can't be sure if that's the only factor. Differing case makers could possibly be an explanation as well.

There's also a variation here (https://omegaforums.net/threads/omega-seamaster-deville-first-purchase.7680/), picture below, where the medallion is sunk into the case instead of having a raised perimeter.

 

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SOG53

·Oct 20, 2022

I have one of those, which I will call an "innie"
It is 1968, and inside of caseback has SGA marker (I think) which must be the case maker

 

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BarbVl

·Oct 21, 2022

I also notice that difference, but i also assumed that depend of the technology of case making which changed over the years.

 

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PlainVanilla

·Oct 21, 2022

Just for clarification, this is not a De Ville. This is a Seamaster de Ville. The De Ville is under another case reference and has shorter lugs.

 

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Dsplash

·Oct 22, 2022

For reference, here is a macro of the one I just sold with a quite crisp medallion 😀