Caseback engraving differences Omega Deville 166.020

Posts

2,176

Likes

4,349

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

 

Posts

2,176

Likes

4,349

SOG53

·Oct 20, 2022

Oops typo- I meant 166.020

 

Posts

13,441

Likes

31,613

X350 XJR

·Oct 20, 2022·Vintage Omega Aficionado

Possibly different case makers.

 

Posts

1,512

Likes

2,589

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.

 

Posts

13,441

Likes

31,613

X350 XJR

·Oct 20, 2022·Vintage Omega Aficionado

SOG53

Oops typo- I meant 166.020

 

Posts

2,176

Likes

4,349

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.

 

Posts

2,176

Likes

4,349

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

 

Posts

376

Likes

1,203

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.

 

Posts

861

Likes

1,604

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.

 

Posts

629

Likes

888

Dsplash

·Oct 22, 2022

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