Dad’s 1969 Seamaster 168.024/166.010 Cal. 564

yafayu · Feb 1, 2023

Hello everyone!

So I visited my dad and found this vintage Seamaster in his drawer, he told me he inherited from an older relative years ago. It’s been in the drawer with keychain and coins for at least 10+ years. He doesn’t wear watch nor he care about mechanical watch, so he gave it to me. Anyways, here are pictures.

I moved it and it started to work, amazing after 54 years isn’t it? I tested for hours and it moves find. However, the crown felt resistant in some spot, and the date adjustment don’t work. So I stop turning the crown to avoid damaging more than I need. Cosmetically, looks dirty and rusted, and it seems like water went in.

I brought it to a watch shop locally and have them inspect if this is a real Omega. Without opening the back the tech told me most likely it’s real because there wasn’t too much fakes in that generation. And here are some pictures of the back cover opened.

The Good news is, the watch is a real Omega Seamaster. According to the serial number 29xxxxxx. It’s dated 1969, with Cal 564 movement.

The tech inspected the watch and found rotor centre shaft/rod it’s rusted and caused rotor is touching the back cover. Date adjustment has issue too. And water also went in for god knows how long. The crown is rusted and all water seal needs to be replaced. He is willing to do all repair and lube/maintenance for about $300 USD($NT 8000). I figured it cost me $300 for a working vintage Omega, why not right? You can’t even buy an automatic Seiko for this price. So I sent it in for repair and will share more pictures when it’s refinished!!

My question to you all is,
1. Can you guys tell me about more history of this Seamaster?
2. Can you share pictures of yours and the reliability/experience with this watch?
3. Is there anything I should do to keep vintage watch safe?
4. Is it worth it bring it to Omega/Swatch OEM for future maintenance?
5. Is there still parts availability from Omega?
6. Anything else you can recommend

Thank you all in advance! And have a nice day

tamura · Feb 1, 2023

impalla62ss · Feb 1, 2023

1. Can you guys tell me about more history of this Seamaster? The Seamaster was marketed as a water resistant watch when most others were not. It has a chronometer rated Cal.564 movement, meaning that it once serviced it will be very accurate. The mechanism of this watch is one of the best that can be had and is very robust. The dial (face) is dirty, but it that does not bother you, by all means get it serviced and wear it. Do not have the dial (face) cleaned. The original owner spent extra money to get the very desirable beads of rice bracelet. Make sure it fits. There is some adjustment but it cannot be enlarged beyond that without great expense. It dates from the sixties.
2. Can you share pictures of yours and the reliability/experience with this watch? This is a very reliable watch once serviced.
3. Is there anything I should do to keep vintage watch safe? Wear it often and enjoy. Don't drop it from a great distance. Beware of door knobs. It may be water resistant, but don't submerge or swim with it.
4. Is it worth it bring it to Omega/Swatch OEM for future maintenance? Do not send this to Omega/Swatch. Have it serviced locally by a qualified watch maker.
5. Is there still parts availability from Omega? There are plenty of parts for this watch out there.
6. Anything else you can recommend. Have the watch maker sonic clean the case and bracelet when service. It is a personal choice, but I would avoid polishing it.

wagudc · Feb 1, 2023

@impalla62ss has pretty well covered it, but I can add that yours is a ref 166.010 from around 1970.

See: https://dannysvintagewatches.com/editorial/a-love-letter-to-the-omega-seamaster-166010

Many parts are indeed still available from Omega, but only to a watchmaker with an Omega parts account.

yafayu
He is willing to do all repair and lube/maintenance for about $300 USD($NT 8000). I figured it cost me $300 for a working vintage Omega, why not right?

$300 would be a good price to get all this work done, but the this is not a person you want working on your watch. As @tamura indicates, he should not have his bare thumb sitting on the movement. You can find recommendations for a good watchmaker here. If there are significant rust issues I would expect to pay a bit more that $300 for quality work. This is a nice watch and worth the cost of repair. It will clean up nicely, but there is no way to get rid of the spots on the dial without a high probability of complete disaster.

yafayu · Feb 1, 2023

On its back cover, it’s has two number
166010SP
168024
I’ve seen people use both number for this watch, what do they mean? Which one is ref. Number?

wagudc
@impalla62ss has pretty well covered it, but I can add that yours is a ref 166.010 from around 1970.

See: https://dannysvintagewatches.com/editorial/a-love-letter-to-the-omega-seamaster-166010

Many parts are indeed still available from Omega, but only to a watchmaker with an Omega parts account.

$300 would be a good price to get all this work done, but the this is not a person you want working on your watch. As @tamura indicates, he should not have his bare thumb sitting on the movement. You can find recommendations for a good watchmaker here. If there are significant rust issues I would expect to pay a bit more that $300 for quality work. This is a nice watch and worth the cost of repair. It will clean up nicely, but there is no way to get rid of the spots on the dial without a high probability of complete disaster.

impalla62ss · Feb 1, 2023

166010SP is the standard grade, while Ref 168.024 is the chronometer version of the same watch. You have a Ref. 168.024.

Dan S · Feb 1, 2023

impalla62ss
166010SP is the standard grade, while Ref 168.024 is the chronometer version of the same watch. You have a Ref. 168.024.

I wonder if this is universally true. I understand that this is a dual reference caseback. But I have seen many chronometer grade watches with cal 564 and chronometer on the dial with only 166.010 on the caseback. So either there is also a chronometer grade 166.010 or all of those watches have swapped casebacks.

impalla62ss · Feb 1, 2023

Dan S
I wonder if this is universally true. I understand that this is a dual reference caseback. But I have seen many chronometer grade watches with cal 564 and chronometer on the dial with only 166.010 on the caseback. So either there is also a chronometer grade 166.010 or all of those watches have swapped casebacks.

I did not know that. No arguments here.

Dan S · Feb 1, 2023

impalla62ss
I did not know that. No arguments here.

I don’t know the answer. The OVD does not mention a 166.010 with cal 564. This could end up like the other swapped caseback thread. No clear answer.

JimInOz · Feb 1, 2023

yafayu
.......Without opening the back the tech told me most likely it’s real because there wasn’t too much fakes in that generation...................

Your watchmaker is obviously unfamiliar with Omega watches.
The 1940s to the 1970s was a very busy time for Omega counterfeiters, there a many thousands of fake vintage Omegas still floating around.

Your watch should come up nicely with a clean and a service and even though the dial isn't perfect, don't attempt to clean it.

aprax · Feb 2, 2023

Dan S
So either there is also a chronometer grade 166.010 or all of those watches have swapped casebacks.

If I'm not mistaken the third digit of the case reference has the following meaning:
6 = water resistant with calendar
8 = water resistant, chronometer with calendar
So it wouldn't make sense for a 166.010 to be chronometer graded.

river9 · Feb 2, 2023

Dan S
I wonder if this is universally true. I understand that this is a dual reference caseback. But I have seen many chronometer grade watches with cal 564 and chronometer on the dial with only 166.010 on the caseback. So either there is also a chronometer grade 166.010 or all of those watches have swapped casebacks.

Agree with @Dan S
My ex 168.024 caseback photo below.

To OP congrats on your watch! Pretty unique one since beside sentimental value it is a Seamaster equipped with chronometer grade 564 caliber, bead of rice (BoR) bracelet, original piece... etc.

PS: I began this watch hobby for a pretty same reason (nostalgic of a Seamaster De Ville I parted with in the 80s)

kaplan · Feb 2, 2023

I think it's unjust rendering judgement based on a single photo, though I probabilistically will agree

However probably the thumb is leaning on the case

Most of us probably open our cases too and I don't wear finger condoms while doing so, I doubt any of you do

I'll only say that the price is really high, here in this part of the world a similar service is $10-$20 - if I have to generalise too, these watchmakers are pretty robust, sometimes too robust, however for your watch, you really don't have to worry, as your watch looks pretty robust too, it's just that the cost is super high, $150 would be more appropriate and you could better enjoy your watch too

janice&fred · Feb 2, 2023

kaplan
I think it's unjust rendering judgement based on a single photo, though I probabilistically will agree

However probably the thumb is leaning on the case

This I agree with. Obviously the watch in unserviced condition would not require sterile handling of that nasty movement. Maybe a tetanus shot would be more appropriate 😁

kaplan
I'll only say that the price is really high, here in this part of the world a similar service is $10-$20

And here I thought it was economical to get a watch serviced in the south pacific. I don't know where in the world you are, but those prices you posted wouldn't even get a bracelet adjustment in the Philippines.

kaplan · Feb 2, 2023

Turkey, the service includes a balance spring correction as well, I only prefer this method when the spring has issues and remove hands/dial myself and just bring the movement in. I quoted $15-20 - but the actual cost was $5-10, however I assume it's $15~ ish now with some fx corrections. They also can replicate watch crystals with resin for $5 and the result is just incredible. My brother last brought a Seiko in, a gift from me, highly patinated, he was complaining that the watch no longer had a patina and looked like new when he got it 😁

He's a generational watchmaker, learned the trade from his father but his kids didn't continue. If the current fifth column government didn't prevent postal service to suffocate small trades, it would make some sense to post rough watches to Turkey to get serviced

bardamu · Feb 2, 2023

kaplan
I'll only say that the price is really high, here in this part of the world a similar service is $10-$20 -

😲

river9 · Feb 2, 2023

Where I live (Saigon Ho Chi Minh City - Vietnam) prices for servicing vintage watches depends on
1- brand names the more they are worthy the more watchmaker asks for his work but generally speaking average price is, let say 10-20 USD equivalent (It is not uptown price, in those wards big brands have their AD. Over there pricing seems similar to elsewhere in the world, fletching easily 500 USD/each intervention).
2- Reputation of watchmaker. I know a retired watchmaker from big brand ADs who asks 80 USD for servicing (disassemble - cleaning by ultra sound device - oiling - regulating on timegrapher)

Note that all these prices mentioned above are not parts included.

SkunkPrince · Feb 2, 2023

These price arguments alwwys come up and the answer is, it depends on where you are. If I were to get that watch serviced, it would be $300 mininum and more like $550 with my usual guy, parts extra.

So please don't tell people that they're paying too much, because it's not your watch and you don't live there.

janice&fred · Feb 2, 2023

SkunkPrince
These price arguments alwwys come up and the answer is, it depends on where you are.

Discussion, not argument. And obviously it depends on locale. However still interesting to read of various places in the world watch-wise.

SkunkPrince
it's not your watch and you don't live there.

You seem to have a solid grasp of the obvious today 😁

yafayu · Feb 2, 2023

Thank you all for your help, I’m really appreciate! I live in Canada and came visit my dad in Taiwan, so I figure I’ll get the watch repair here since it will be cheaper than in Canada.

One more question, for date adjustment, is it the same for all mechanical watch that, you can’t adjust date during 9pm to 3am range? Does it apply to all vintage Omega?

And what was the MSRP for a 1969 Omega Seamaster at the time?

Thank you @wagudc for the 168.024 story and history

Dad’s 1969 Seamaster 168.024/166.010 Cal. 564

yafayu

tamura

impalla62ss

wagudc

yafayu

impalla62ss

Dan S

impalla62ss

Dan S

JimInOz

aprax

river9

kaplan

janice&fred

kaplan

bardamu

river9

SkunkPrince

janice&fred

yafayu

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