This is undoubtedly a noob question, but I’ve just realised that I don’t understand what the actual difference is between a vintage Seamaster and a vintage Geneve. I have, and love, two 1970s Geneve watches (165.041/166.041), the first with a 552 movement and the second with a 565 movement. I understand that these movements are also in Seamaster watches of similar vintage. My query is, apart from the name on the dial, and the shape/metal of the case, what is the actual difference between a Geneve and a Seamaster from the 1970s?
Depends how old. Early Geneve’s (50s) were quite classy dress watches, and had nice applied markers. Later on, (70s ?) they were a slightly lower tier off/entry level offering - still nice, reliable watches though Here is my early one from 1958 with auto cal 491, with rose gold furntiture
Some time after about 1960 the early, smarter Geneve line seems to have disappeared, then been revived in the mid to late 60s as a lower end case and dial housing the same movements as the Seamaster series. Some "early late" Geneves crop up in identical cases to Seamasters but they are the exceptions. If you look at a 60s Seamaster and Geneve side by side the difference in quality is fairly obvious. There's no attempt at faceting the case and lugs and not much at shaping and decorating the dials. Personally I quite like those late Geneves which with the passing of time have taken on a retro style of their own, but in their day they were the cheaper, workmanlike alternative for those who wanted the same movement quality but at a lower price than the Seamasters.
...and the 135.041. This case is very similar but not quite identical to the 165.041, the lug terminals having a slightly larger end face and the side profile being differently curved. This case was also used for regular Geneves.
@Edward53 you may recognise this one? The seller relisted with a reduced BIN so I couldn’t resist. I don’t think the photos do it justice and hopefully it will look great in the flesh. Thanks for the tip off
I do!! I'm really glad someone here got it as I thought it looked a super example of a watch that's starting to become rare in this condition, and I was surprised no one seemed to be taking any notice of it. Great purchase IMO, I'd have bought it myself if I didn't have several 552s. Just ditch the fake BOR for a real one or a nice strap.