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Inherited a Omega Seamaster DeVille

oyvindbl
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I recently inherited from my father my grandfathers old gold watch. It is a Seamaster DeVille with a gold filled Omega bracelet. I know nothing about this watch, except being told he got it from his parentes. So I guess my grandfather got it from his parents for his 50th birthday in 1966. His brothers were ship officers sailing all over the globe, so it can have been purchased anywhere.
I am planning to take it to a watchmaker for servicing next year, and will ask him to get me the serial number. But I am curious about this watch, and would like to learn as much as possible about it before then.
So I hope someone here can teach me a bit about model, matrials, movement, production numbers, and any other information that can be interesting. I would reaĺly appreciate any information.
1730060713533-webp.3054865

1730060713533.webp 20241027_210523~2.webp 20241027_210549~2.webp 20241027_210610~2.webp
 
SOG53
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Looks like original Omega Deville, probably ref 166.020 in gold- is there hallmark on lug? Could be solid gold or maybe gold filled. Need to see inside caseback- it is front loader watch so needs to be opened by watchmaker. Probably cal 563 movement. Mid-late 60's movement SN will reveal year. Nice heirloom make sure watchmaker just services movement, replace or polish crystal- clean but not polish case, no work to dial or hands to maintain originality. Looks like original gold plated Beads of Rice bracelet can you see number inside clasp? Take some photos of that- endlinks are original 70 Omega endlinks.
Nice watch with family history enjoy and share further info as available at service.

(Ed: Crown is also original nice to keep if they can make it somewhat water resistant)
 
Dan S
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Nice heirloom to get fixed up and wear. I'm not sure what I'm seeing exactly, but it looks like the endlink isn't fitting well on the 12 o'clock side. Perhaps it has been modified, or the lugs might be bent?
 
Trev
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Dan S Dan S
Nice heirloom to get fixed up and wear. I'm not sure what I'm seeing exactly, but it looks like the endlink isn't fitting well on the 12 o'clock side. Perhaps it has been modified, or the lugs might be bent?
The images are edited with background removed too, likely automated. Makes it hard to tell what weirdness is happening around that lug.
 
oyvindbl
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No, Trev.You should take another look. The pics are not edited with removal of background. I took these pics myself and have just cropped them. Bakground is there (a piece of dark red velvet).
 
oyvindbl
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Dan S Dan S
Nice heirloom to get fixed up and wear. I'm not sure what I'm seeing exactly, but it looks like the endlink isn't fitting well on the 12 o'clock side. Perhaps it has been modified, or the lugs might be bent?
Good observation. I am leaving for a travel now, but will measure the gaps next weekend.
Will also take a picture of the inside of the clasp then.
 
oyvindbl
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Trev Trev
The images are edited with background removed too, likely automated. Makes it hard to tell what weirdness is happening around that lug.
I see now that my phone had done a strange thing with that picture. Didn't notice it. Sorry for saying you were wrong. My mistake.
 
oyvindbl
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I checked the lugs now, and they are exactly the same width on both sides of the case. So they are not bent. But it seems the endlink has a slight twist, so maybe it is an old damage to the bracelet.
I have taken a picture of the inside of the clasp and attached here. It is printed No12 and 14 KGR

20241102_223305.webp 20241102_223243.webp
 
rendo
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You have invisible spring bars! Did you process some of the photos to remove the background?
 
JimInOz
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rendo rendo
You have invisible spring bars! Did you process some of the photos to remove the background?
You didn't read the whole thread through did you.
:whipped:


😉
 
rendo
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JimInOz JimInOz
You didn't read the whole thread through did you.
:whipped:


😉
I deserve the punishment.
 
gatorcpa
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Based on the information on the clasp, this would likely be a U.S. market watch. My guess is gold filled U.S. made case with a 17 jewel cal. 560 movement. Solid 14K is possible, there should be a written hallmark on the outside of the case.

Hope this helps,
gatorcpa
 
JwRosenthal
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Welcome to the group @oyvindbl

Despite the scratched crystal and funk on the watch, it looks to be in excellent shape. If you notice, the crisp edges of the lugs and bezel indicate it hasn’t been polished before (or if it has it was done well)- which is not easy to find in this generation of watch. Usually these things have been polished to death and lose all that definition. Who you take it to for service matters. Sure any “watchmaker” can service them, but you should try to find an independent watchmaker with an Omega parts account (omega doesn’t sell parts to third party service providers or parts resellers anymore).
Most importantly you need to tell whomever is working on it that they should not polish the case with a buffing wheel. Crystal polishing is fine to remove scratches, and hand rubbing the case to clean it up is fine- but if they touch that case with a wheel it will knock down all those crisp edges.
Also keep in mind the gasket in the crown is probably hard as a rock, so try to avoid the impulse of scrubbing it up in the sink to clean it up (bracelet is fine to do that if removed from the watch). A watchmaker will probably advise replacing the crown which is good if you want it to be waterproof, but the replacement crown is a different style than the one currently on there. If you choose to retain the original crown, treat the watch like it has no water resistance and all.
Good luck and welcome to the sickness.
 
oyvindbl
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JwRosenthal JwRosenthal
Welcome to the group @oyvindbl

Despite the scratched crystal and funk on the watch, it looks to be in excellent shape. If you notice, the crisp edges of the lugs and bezel indicate it hasn’t been polished before (or if it has it was done well)- which is not easy to find in this generation of watch. Usually these things have been polished to death and lose all that definition. Who you take it to for service matters. Sure any “watchmaker” can service them, but you should try to find an independent watchmaker with an Omega parts account (omega doesn’t sell parts to third party service providers or parts resellers anymore).
Most importantly you need to tell whomever is working on it that they should not polish the case with a buffing wheel. Crystal polishing is fine to remove scratches, and hand rubbing the case to clean it up is fine- but if they touch that case with a wheel it will knock down all those crisp edges.
Also keep in mind the gasket in the crown is probably hard as a rock, so try to avoid the impulse of scrubbing it up in the sink to clean it up (bracelet is fine to do that if removed from the watch). A watchmaker will probably advise replacing the crown which is good if you want it to be waterproof, but the replacement crown is a different style than the one currently on there. If you choose to retain the original crown, treat the watch like it has no water resistance and all.
Good luck and welcome to the sickness.
Thank you for excellent advices.
My father inherited this watch from my grandfather in 1980, and I know he hasn't used i much. I guess he has used it 20 -30 times since then, and he surely has not had it serviced, cleaned or polished. He would never spend time, energy or money on that.
 
oyvindbl
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gatorcpa gatorcpa
Based on the information on the clasp, this would likely be a U.S. market watch. My guess is gold filled U.S. made case with a 17 jewel cal. 560 movement. Solid 14K is possible, there should be a written hallmark on the outside of the case.

Hope this helps,
gatorcpa
I will take a closer look when I get home in the weekend to see if I can find any hallmark.
 
JwRosenthal
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oyvindbl oyvindbl
Thank you for excellent advices.
My father inherited this watch from my grandfather in 1980, and I know he hasn't used i much. I guess he has used it 20 -30 times since then, and he surely has not had it serviced, cleaned or polished. He would never spend time, energy or money on that.
Even if it wasn’t worn much, the oils inside have totally dried out (like a car they like to be used and lubricants break down even if not driven much) so even if it is keeping time, moving parts are running on dry surfaces. Best to run it minimally until it gets a proper service.
 
oyvindbl
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oyvindbl oyvindbl
I will take a closer look when I get home in the weekend to see if I can find any hallmark.
Wouldn't the back of the case be steel of it was gold plated? When I asked my omega dealer about the price for a service, they asked about the color of the back of the case and said the seamaster deville was solid gold if the back of the case was gold.
 
Dan S
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I don't know specifically about vintage SMDVs, but many gold-filled watches have gold-filled case-backs. For example, they are often used for commemorative engravings. I wouldn't trust your Omega dealer to know much about vintage watches. If you really want to know, just open it and look. It has been three weeks, now. Why keep speculating?
 
gatorcpa
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oyvindbl oyvindbl
Wouldn't the back of the case be steel of it was gold plated? When I asked my omega dealer about the price for a service, they asked about the color of the back of the case and said the seamaster deville was solid gold if the back of the case was gold.
This is a one piece case. There is no case back. The movement is removed by pulling out the split stem, compressing the crystal with a special tool, then rotating the movement in the case so it falls out.

Some of these were gold filled and some were solid 14K gold. Since you have a #12 gold-filled bracelet, I would guess that the case is gold-filled. However, the bracelet could have been purchased separately from the watch, so anything is possible.

To avoid having to open up the case to determine composition, the U.S. based case makers put a hallmark on the outside. Sometimes this appears on the back, sometimes between the lugs.

Hope this helps,
gatorcpa
 
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