Seamaster DeVille with Black Crosshair Dial Anyone?

Posts

13,211

Likes

22,975

Davidt

·Dec 2, 2021

There’s been debate for a while as to whether the ‘Don Draper’ Seamaster ever actually existed or whether it was simply from the imagination of an enthusiastic re-dialler.

For those who aren’t aware, the watch in question is a 60’s Seamaster DeVille, unishell case and most importantly, black dial with crosshair. The one worn in the actual show is believed to have been a redial, but did the combination ever actually exist from Omega?

Well according to Omega Enthusiast on Instagram, yes.

Edited: Dec 2, 2021

 

Posts

625

Likes

999

Lucasssssss

·Dec 2, 2021

I know a member here has one, I am sure he will be along in a moment. If this is a redial it is very convincing.

Edited: Dec 2, 2021

 

Posts

1,163

Likes

6,034

impalla62ss

·Dec 2, 2021

I have a '59 pre-Deville Seamaster with an original black dial and cross hairs.

 

Posts

2,774

Likes

6,886

seekingseaquest

·Dec 2, 2021

See mine here: https://omegaforums.net/threads/a-“don-draper”-seamaster-deville-but-not-a-redial.132126/

 

Posts

190

Likes

102

Dan321

·Dec 2, 2021

The crosshairs makes the Omega text look off centre because the vertical line doesn’t intersect centrally through the E, I know it is central it just throws it out to the naked eye

 

Posts

13,211

Likes

22,975

Davidt

·Dec 3, 2021

Thanks for sharing. Now I’ve posted this I do recall @seekingseaquest posting the thread about his watch. Personally I’d like to see one in hand to be sure but there are certainly consistencies between these and they possibly are original

 

Posts

2,774

Likes

6,886

seekingseaquest

·Dec 3, 2021

The dial on mine, Omega Enthusiasts, and @impalla62ss’s are VERY similar. The latter has lume and no “DeVille”. Otherwise, they’re the same dial variant, and this marker variant isn’t common so I think a redial/later applied crosshair is unlikely. The slight patina tells me they’re probably not fakes, or at least recent ones…

Lastly, purely subjectively, I’ve held mine in hand and I have no concerns 😀. I think the Omega Enthusiast’s macro shots are helpful too.

 

Y

Posts

74

Likes

296

yorkzilla

·Dec 3, 2021

Here’s my DeVille, non-black version.

 

Posts

467

Likes

390

nkhandekar

·Dec 4, 2021

The cross-dial on Omega Enthusiast's Seamaster is very convincing and looks original to me. If its a redial, then the philosophical question would be: What is the difference between an original and its exact copy?

The hands are unusual in that they don't have black paint in their centres which is very much the norm in Seamaster deVilles of this period. I am not saying impossible, just unusual.

 

Posts

2,774

Likes

6,886

seekingseaquest

·Dec 4, 2021

nkhandekar

The hands are unusual in that they don't have black paint in their centres which is very much the norm in Seamaster deVilles of this period. I am not saying impossible, just unusual.

That may be true for a non-black-dial DeVille, but you won’t find black inserts on black dial Omegas of the period - only non-luminous like these or luminous (dial and hands).

 

Posts

2,643

Likes

3,095

kaplan

·Dec 4, 2021

I wish there were people who experienced the 60-70's Omega scene that were still around, or we had definite accounts of what happened during those times

I currently assume a lot was possible if you just asked and insisted, and watches like the "Don Draper Omega" are special because it represents someone just asking for something special, a black dial Omega to be custom ordered, and also a crosshair because they were probably used to having one on another watch

Even today a lot is possible with current watch manufacturers (or any other manufacturer really), but people rarely ask

 

Posts

467

Likes

390

nkhandekar

·Dec 5, 2021

seekingseaquest

That may be true for a non-black-dial DeVille, but you won’t find black inserts on black dial Omegas of the period - only non-luminous like these or luminous (dial and hands).

Thanks for the clarification. This is a great detail to store away in my deVille mental file. Much appreciated.