I recently purchased a 1968 SMDV. Being the obsessive, impulsive git that I am, after buying it I began to do even MORE research instead of just relaxing happily and waiting the 18 months +/- (!) it’ll take customs to clear the watch. My further reading indicates the ‘SM and DV were split after 1967’ debate rages on. So, while these aren’t 166.002 like the one I bought, it seems to point to Omega continuing the marketing of SMDVs well after 1967 and into the 1970s.
SM De Ville production lasted well into the 1970s, past the end of the caliber 55x series movements. The chunkier caliber 1020 watches I believe were around until the coming of the quartz era.
Thank you for this, Norman. Great to know and more good information to add to my growing knowledge base. As mentioned above, notwithstanding all the fine support I received last weekend, I was spooked by OF threads about post-67 SMDVs. Michael
There is one just like that on my watch list on eBay right now. It has a lot of interest. There is an older Seamaster with a similar dial,but reversed. I wasn't sure if it was redone or not.
The references starting with "K" or "L" are for watches with US made cases for the US market. These were made for a number of years after the Swiss case references were discontinued in the rest of the world. Some of these were the one piece Seamaster DeVille cases like the ones in this thread. I think these continued to be sold here until quartz watches took over in the late 1970's. gatorcpa
That is simply outstanding. Just beautiful. While the dial and case are sublime, I can’t stop staring at the inside case back and movement. Stunning. (Like I said, I’m an impulsive git. My soon-to-arrive SMDV is nevertheless a nice watch so my noob tax is, I think, still owing .)