First New-To-Me Vintage Omega in a While... Seamaster 166.003 Gold Cap

Hello OF!


The watch journey has been crazy, but it always comes back to Omega and OF for me. I got married last weekend and received this Seamaster as a gift from family members. I haven’t had a chance to get the caseback removed yet, but I am looking for some confirmation of my research and observations.



I believe this is a ref. 166.002(maybe 166.0003) packing a cal. 562(no quickset date) inside. The gold capped case looks to have seen a light polishing but has even wear. The dial looks good to me, serifs are present, the large ’S’ is appropriate, and “Swiss Made” spacing looks consistent with other similar examples.


The few things throwing me off are the handset, many similar examples I’ve found have dauphine hands, but none have the vertically brushed gold-tone dial, and what looks to be a gold date wheel. Additionally, I am unsure about the crown the case looks to have a larger area cut out for a more flush crown. I have not been able to find any images that exactly match the one I have so maybe there’s a little franken-work going on, if so it is at least done well.


If I’d like to get a bracelet I believe the 5 link beads of rice 1502 with #12 end links would be correct. Would the 7 link beads of rice bracelet look odd on this?


Appreciate the help and need to try to spend more time on here again, you guys are the OGs in my book.

-Jake



Here are a few reference links


https://www.omegawatches.com/watch-omega-seamaster-omega-je-166-0001

https://timerediscovered.com/products/omega-seamaster-166-003-1969-mens-vintage-watch

https://www.omegawatches.com/watch-omega-seamaster-calendar-ck-14760

Also I had some issues uploading pics, some higher res here:
https://imgur.com/a/B1p8wFO

first of all, all best for wedding!

it looks very nice, I also think crown is issue but everithing else looks ok.

Update!

166.003 cal 565. Definitely in need of a service soon.

And time for me to hunt down a 1502/12 YG gold cap bracelet

You certainly did, and I shouldn’t have waited so long! Thanks my man!

so it is a 565 movement .. thus quick set date ... no ?

You’d think, but it needs a service. Mainspring is slipping, gear train is stiff, and it seems the quickset is broken.

you amplitude is not catastrophic but not great and your lift angle should be set at 49°. You should gain a little amplitude by trying to adjust the time, -70 is a lot. Hard to tell if it need a new mainspring or just a full service (+ a new mainspring).

that photo was prior to any adjustment. A new service is definitely warranted. The main spring is slipping, rotor is rubbing and it’s generally a bit dirty.

The classic date failure on the 565 😉

Gold capped watches inherently look a bit soft on the edges due to the way the gold layer is applied, thus it can't follow sharp corners.
Happy to be corrected if I am wrong.

Your watch looks great.
Congrats

Shout out to @SkunkPrince for selling me his spare bracelet

Now yer talkin! Looks great and I wouldn't do anything else aside from a movement service. Crown? Who cares the watch was a gift so leave it somewhat as-got.