I inherited a Seamster watch and am trying to learn about it. I had a jeweler open the back and it had two numbers, 168.022 and 166.028. He said the important number was the 2nd. I looked it up on the Omega database and it appears to be a Darwin 1984-1999 model.

The two biggest questions I'm trying to answer are:
1) How do I tell the actual year?
2) the few pictures I find don't exactly match, mostly because mine has a red second hand, so how can I tell if it was replaced, or not?

 

It is not from the 1980's or 90's, it is from the late 60's early 70's. Mine is stainless with silver colored furniture where yours looks to be gold capped with gold colored furniture. I wish I had that "brother" to mine. Here is a pic of mine That has a 563 cal. Movement number 27,171,063 which I believe puts it in the 1968-70 area. You can get an approximate year using the serial number on the movement. And I believe the red seconds hand is original as mine was only owned by my father and I really doubt he ever put it in for any service, he just quit wearing it View attachment 185273

 

Thanks! So the number above the 563 is the serial number I need to help figure out the actual year?

It is Stainless and gold capped, the jeweler I had open it didn't give me those numbers so I'll have to get it open again. He also said it looked like it hadn't been serviced in decades, so I'll probably get it in to get cleaned up on the inside and make sure everything is in good working order so I can actually wear it on a regular basis.

 

Yes.

Again. Yes. Be sure to get it serviced before wearing.

 

Finally got the watch in for service, got the serial number 25336337 movement 563. Looks like around 1967 if the tables I've found are right. Can't wait to get it back and wear it!