It seems to be generally agreed that the 551 movement was the pinnacle of Omega's no-date achievement. The Constellation 551 range is highly prized and yet the 552 is the same movement, just not chronometer-rated. As we know, what determines accuracy 50 years on is less whether a movement was COSC spec in its day than how well it's been looked after. Omega produced some beautiful dress Seamasters with the 552 movement, yet that range still seems underrated. Perhaps it's because there's no Seamaster equivalent to Desmond's celebrated Constellation blog, or maybe because plenty of mediocre examples still show up on ebay and elsewhere. Finding really nice examples, though, is a different matter. I have a particular affection for the 552 dress Seamaster range and was a bit disappointed to read that the new Seamaster book ignores them. Here are two of my favourite watches, a 14725 from 1960 and a 165.003 from 1965. They are very different but I love the styling on both of them. The 165.003 embodies the finest elements of 60s watch design. The sleek, streamlined case has wonderful form, is of obvious high quality and the onyx inlay is the perfect finishing touch. The 14725 is less luxuriously finished, but still an eye-catcher with that stylish late 50s Omega mystique. Both of these are keeping time within 5 secs per day.
Both those Seamasters look good with 9 row beads of rice. Just bought for my 59 Calendar. Hope it looks as good. If not I will look for 7 row.
I was scrolling through my pictures and it turned out there's only one 552... remarkable... with a 1503 bracelet...
Me too. Looks awesome on a black dial watch. I would think it would look pretty good on this Deville will Satin Silver dial.
First time I saw an onyx dial. Beautiful. How common would you guys say those are? They are lovely with a black strap.
I absolutely agree with that. The design of the 165.003 case is - IMHO - sublime, and a black strap would contrast and enhance that whilst complementing the onyx inlay to the markers and hands. A steel BOR does neither of those things and if anything draws away some of the attention from the case. If my watch had been head-only then I'd have put on the nicest black strap I could find and used a suitable Omega buckle, but it came with this BOR that I think is original to it, so I'm reluctant to take that off.
