Hello! I bought this vintage Omega Seamaster quartz from a private seller in Switzerland that, unfortunately, had no information about it. What I know so far: - The strap is not original - The movement is original (1332) - According to Omega’s database seems to be Seamaster Classic model from 1981 and the first number in the back case matches (https://www.omegawatches.com/watch-omega-seamaster-classic-dl-196-0218) The problem is that, again according to Omega’s database, the watch should be stainless steel with a gold plated bezel. However, apart from not having a gold plated bezel, I have also seen that model plated in gold entirely. Another point that confuses me is that the caliber should be 1337 (according to the database again) and it’s a 1332 instead. I know that there are very similar Omega quartz models from the 80s that have the 1337 caliber (for example the one that corresponds to the second number engraved in the back case 396 0921) but I’m not sure what mine should have anymore. Does anyone know if the database is incomplete or if my watch has replaced parts? Does someone have more information about this model? I know that it’s not a very valuable watch but I’m trying to get to know a bit more the history behind it and, after checking everything I found online, I am more confused than when I started. Thank you very much for your help!!
Since there are two case numbers in the case back, your watch could be either of the two. The model number decoder indicates the first is a men's watch, the second is a men's bracelet watch. It's possible the bracelet may be the only difference between the two models. This decoder, like the Omega vintage database, is not infallible:. https://serial-number-decoder.com/omega-model/omega-model.htm Here's another watch, similar to yours, I found by searching "omega 396.0921": https://shop.connoisseuroftime.com/...-full-size-retro-quartz-watch-stainless-steel Looks like this one also has a 1332 movement.
I plugged the serial number from your movement into the serial decoder and I get 1982 https://serial-number-decoder.com/omega/omega.htm Then I found calibre 1337 referenced at chronomaddox. Your watch isn't a diver, but this timeline can give us a rough idea of when these two movements were being used: http://www.chronomaddox.com/omega/tables/seamaster/combined.html#Electronic_Divers Here we can see Omega was installing 1332 from 1979-1982, before switching over to the 1337. So yours appears to be a circa. 1982 cal 1332, one installed before or around the time that caliber was being replaced by 1337. Hope that helps!
Same serial can have very different variations and Omega's website is a bad source for information, most of the time it just specifies a singular version when there are multitude of variations within a single model number