Hello. I am trying to find information on a vintage Seamaster DeVille.
The watch in my possession is owned by a friend of who is the original owner. He says that it was bought from a jeweler in NY or NJ sometime in the 60's. He is adamant about the case being 18k gold and that it has never been serviced other than to have the leather band replaced.
I am hoping to narrow down the details of the watch so that we can accurately (to the best of our ability) describe the piece for the purpose of selling it.
Since it has not been opened, we do not have a serial number or movement information.
I visited a local Omega boutique to gain some knowledge, but only left with more questions.
The boutique manager said that the Watch was likely made sometime between 1961-1967 and that they were not making 18k versions until after this timeframe. He said that it was 14k. I humbly disagree with him, but then again, everything that I know about Omega watches has been learned in the past two weeks through reading this forum!
I have seen Watches for sale that look similar to this piece with phrases like gold plated, 14k filled, and 18k solid gold.
Any guidance as to what we have here would be greatly appreciated!

 

We're not going to tell you anything until you and your buddy promise to put it up for sale on this forum first.

OK?

Promise now...............

 

So you took it to a boutique and they did not open it for you ?

 

Ha! Fair enough.

 

As to 18k of 14k, the case needs to be opened so that the marks on the caseback and movement details can be seen.

Unless you have the correct tools and know how to do it, leave it to a competent watchmaker.

A little dribble of info to keep you interested, markers are likely to be solid gold too.

 

No. He just looked at it with his naked eye at the counter in the front of the store. He pulled out a really cool looking and thick Omega book to show me a few pictures. I remember one picture had a Seamaster, a Seamaster DeVille, and then a DeVille next to each other. Anyway, he said that vintage watches would be sent to Switzerland to be serviced. He also thought that he could see a little nick or something that indicated to him that someone had used a watchmakers tool to open it up. The owner claims that it was never opened though and I believe my friend.

 

Thanks Jim.

 

That would have been on page 405 of "A Journey Through Time", the Omega reference bible.

There were many Seamaster DeVille and De Ville variants during the 60s, some of them quite similar in external appearance.

Checking the internal markings is the only way to be certain of what you have.

Don't get all fire up and polish it or do any beautifying. That tarnish is evidence that the case hasn't been molested. As if the sharpness of the lugs isn't enough to tell us that

 

Try to look between the lugs to see if 14K GOLD was stamped there?

 

This is a front loading case. Opening requires a crystal remover, removal of the stem and movement + dial. I'm not surprised they didn't get into that. Don't try to pry the back off!

 

I have tried to look for a stamp, but do not think it's there. With the band still on the watch, it is difficult to know for sure, but I am not seeing it.

 

I promise to not try to open this thing or to polish it in any way. I am aware that way more harm than good could be done by someone who is unqualified to do such things. How should I go about finding a trustworthy watchmaker to open it up so that we can get answers? Or, do buyers of something like this want to buy it as-is under certain assumptions to then have their own trusted person do the servicing? It this has presumably never been opened since it left Switzerland 50 or so years ago. I can see this as a possibility

 

Do you see any hallmark at the lugs? Like the one in this pic?

 

Hoi - here is a new pic of the back of the case. I am not seeing a hallmark here. What is a hallmark and what would its presence imply? Thanks.

 

Yours could be a gold filled but must see inside for sure.
You will see something like this if it is a 18k gold

 

Hoi - So was your point about looking for a hallmark to see if it was a "filled" case since you would likely see the fill through the hallmark nick? Also, who do Omega enthusiasts trust with servicing their watches? I am in Michigan if that helps.

 

No. The hallmark would show that it was solid gold. The absence of a hallmark would indicate gold cap/filled/plate. A plated watch with a removable back would normally have a stainless steel back but with the mono-shell, the whole case is plated.

 

Look here to see if it is marked with the gold content.

If it was bought in the US it would likely not have a hallmark, it would simply be marked 14K GOLD, 18K GOLD or 14K GOLD FILLED.

 

Remove the strap at the 6 o'clock so you can see what it says there. Should be something like @X350 XJR said above.