I do I tell a Mans watch band from a Ladies watch band I have come a cross several dozen Omega stamped watch bands. Many of them taper from 18mm to 16mm, 18mm to 14mm, 17mm to 14mm, 16mm to 14mm etc
for example No.5: 23mm X 16mm. No.11 16mm X 14mm

1. When did Omega Start using tapered band on Men's watches?
2. When where straight bands used?
3.Which buckles where used and in what decades?

If you care to take a guess as to which straps out men's and which our women's. Please feel free...

Most of the ads I seen that are from 30's & 40's have used Buckle A with straight straps. I assume buckle B was used later in the 50's to early 70's, where I start to see tapered straps.
Any comments, help or suggestions are greatly appreciated.

 

18mm and above at the lugs most likely men’s. 16mm and lower women’s for sure.

Taper is more a function of the watch and style. Divers and pure tool tend to have little or no taper. More dressy tends to have more taper. Big watches with big lugs like Navitimers and the oval dynamics tended to have more taper to balance them.

 

I have several 16mm. lugs Omega mens watches

 

A lot of the older watches had tapered straps which used 14mm buckles. Which are a lot cheaper than the 16mm buckles.... just an idea