Omega De Ville

Hi Desmond, I read your article on the "Omega Constellation Ultra-Thins of the Sixties and Seventies" and found it most informative. What's a little frustrating is that although a lot has been clarified I still haven't nailed down exactly what the watch I'm interested in is. Its definately an amalgam of a BA 151.0018 and a BC 151.8382. It has clear elements of both models (Case and Face). I browsed every Cal 711 and Cal 711/712 on the Omega vintage database and came up blank there too. I also did a search on the reference you suggested '162.5054' but this has come up with a blank.
Same thing when searching Antiquorum, Christies, Sothebys, Bonhams and Google images - not even a visual match on any historic sale?
I am going to try to track down early 70's Omega catalogues hoping to find a reference number.

Yes, it looks a bit like the style of case 151.0018, but in the 1972 pamphlet the number given for the British example is 162.5054. I dont believe you will find this one in the database, as while the database is an excellent and comprehensive resource it is not complete.

From a collecting perspective, but also just plain old good practice, it really is important to see inside the case, to confirm the movement and condition and to fully identify the case. There are marks inside the case that will tell you the gold content, the model number, where the case was assayed, and of course offer confirmation as to whether the watch is a British production, US case or Swiss. We are still speculating about origin and you would be well served if that can be clarified.

I always ask vendors to remove the caseback for either inspection or for the vendor to photograph the movement and inner caseback, and will generally not proceed with a purchase until I have been satisfied that the piece is kosher. Condition of movement is very important, and, for example, by inspectinig the inner case back one can check if there are abrasion marks on the caseback caused by a faulty or worn automatic rotor.

So, I believe your next course of action has to be to ask for pics of the inside of the case and also ask vendor to check lugs to see if gold marks are stamped there.

Cheers

desmond

Hi Desmond / Ashley - I can't get them to take the back off as they don't know how. The big worry for me would be that the watch is gold plated and not at least 9k. In your opinion as the case/bezel is distinctly patterned is this something that they would have done on a steel and plated watch? (I know its a bit far fetched thinking) or is it more likely to be a 9k or even 18k gold variation that has been detailed?

Have either of you seen the pattern on this watch on any other Omega? The closest I have seen is some Andrew Grima pieces from the early 70s.

Cheers

Paul

Thanks Ashley, that really was a lot of help. I did find the Rolex styling that mirrored the Omega, its almost identical and based on the information to hand, it seems logical that it has to be some form of gold case.
I don't think it would be very straightforward putting a pattern like the one on the Omega on a stainless steel watch. I've been doing my usual browsing on the net for research and haven't come across another Omega with the same patterned styling on the case so unless anyone else knows different it can't be a mass produced style - Occam's razor springs to mind!

Thanks 😀

I'll second Desmond's opinion on a caliber 71x. I've seen a few De Villes shaped like that from the early 70's with that series movement in it. Nice watch.

Unfortunately I didn't get the watch, It was going at auction and I was untill Friday the only really interested party. Over the weekend there was a flurry of activity and at the auction yesterday the bidding started at double the estimate and kept going - it eneded up more than 3 times estimate + 20% commission! The only reason I can think for this is that all the research I did publicly and the help everyone gave proved useful for whoever bought it. Prior to us looking into this there was no information anywhere on the net, now you look for the watch description of anything similar and up we pop at Omegaforums.net!
Lesson learnt - next time I'll keep quiet until after I have bought it haha!

Or send a couple of us messages instead of going public with the questions. I have a rule - if somebody asks me about a watch, it's their watch to bid on and I won't touch it.... unless I've already found it, and then I immediately let them know my plans.