The ULTIMATE Seamaster de Ville thread

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PlainVanilla

·May 2, 2023

Swiss reference 14915



Introduced in 1962 to replace reference 14750, this model is powered by the 17 jewel manual wound Omega calibre 600.







Reference 14915 is the first no-date manual wound Seamaster de Ville to feature its full name on the dial. It also has a more sculpted case compared to its predecessors.









Reference 14915 likely came in a similar box as reference 14735 but with its interior updated to 1960's standards.









This reference also featured special dials, like this clamshell variation.



It was later replaced by reference ST 135.010.

Edited: May 2, 2023

 

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PlainVanilla

·May 2, 2023

I tried to warn you, my friends! I put 'ULTIMATE' right in the title! 😲 😁

I added links to the previous and next reference in each reference post so you can just click on the first one an navigate through the history of the Seamaster de Ville. I am now progressively creating individual posts for each reference, it's gonna take a while! Sorry for spamming. 😁

 

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YYTIN

·May 2, 2023

Super nice and instructive thread ! Thanks @PlainVanilla !

Regarding chrono, I’ve seen your answer on the 145.018 and I understand the same should apply to the 145.017 and 146.017 (love all those dressy chronos). But what about the 145.005 ? Should it be included in this SMDV thread ?😀

 

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PlainVanilla

·May 2, 2023

YYTIN

Super nice and instructive thread ! Thanks @PlainVanilla !

Regarding chrono, I’ve seen your answer on the 145.018 and I understand the same should apply to the 145.017 and 146.017 (love all those dressy chronos). But what about the 145.005 ? Should it be included in this SMDV thread ?😀

Excellent remark, I will include it to this thread!

 

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PlainVanilla

·May 2, 2023

Swiss reference 145.005





Introduced in 1967 to offer a dress-tyle chronograph watch that would differ from regular sports chronograph models, reference 145.005 alternatively features 'Seamaster' or 'Seamaster de Ville' on the dial, and is powered by the legendary column wheel chronograph mouvement Omega calibre 321.

Edited: May 2, 2023

 

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Comas

·May 2, 2023

Here is my ST 135.010 cal 601. I have the original vintage Strap in a drawer. Love it

 

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PlainVanilla

·May 2, 2023

Comas

Here is my ST 135.010 cal 601. I have the original vintage Strap in a drawer. Love it

Very nice! You are spot on, that's the next reference I'm going to integrate. 😀

 

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PlainVanilla

·May 2, 2023

Swiss reference 135.010





Introduced shortly after the calibre 600 powered reference 14915 to replace it, this model is powered by the calibre 601 which features an excenter regulator opposed to the Reed's regulator featured on the previous version. It was available from the end of 1962 to around 1965.



This new reference 135.010 follows the new nomenclature for reference numbers and displays 'Seamaster de Ville' on the dial.







This reference also features special dials, like this fish scale golf ball pattern.







This model was later replaced by reference 135.020 which was introduced in 1964.

Edited: May 4, 2023

 

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PlainVanilla

·May 2, 2023

Swiss reference 135.020



Introduced in 1964 as a replacement to reference 135.010, this model is powered by manual wound 17 jewel Omega calibres 600 and 601.

















Although reference 135.020 exists in gold cap as showed above, it also has another gold cap version with its own reference number, 135.020 SP.

Edited: May 4, 2023

 

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PlainVanilla

·May 2, 2023

Swiss reference 14740





Introduced in October 1960, reference 14740 is the first no-date manual wound Seamaster de Ville. It is powered by the 17 jewel Omega calibre 610. The very first serial numbers bear the indication 'Seamaster calendar' on the dial, and feature dauphine hands.














This reference was quickly replaced by reference 14775.

Edited: May 4, 2023

 

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PlainVanilla

·May 2, 2023

I relied on many English catalogues to write up the reference list and I realised by looking at pictures of casebacks that some references given in English catalogues actually correspond to English made cases. Some casebacks are hallmarked 'OWC' like this 135.5010 here:



What that means is that there were English cased Seamaster de Villes, manufactured by Dennison up until 1968 and then by Shackman. As a consequence, I gathered all the English references in a separate list in the main post for more clarity.

And, of course, that calls for new crystal references to add to the list, and probably new bracelet references to track down.

 

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PlainVanilla

·May 2, 2023

Swiss reference 14775





Introduced shortly after reference 14740 to replace it, this reference 14775 is also powered by the 17 jewel Omega calibre 610.















My first Omega watch was a reference 14775 featuring onyx inlays in hour markers.



It was replaced by reference 14920 in 1962.

Edited: May 4, 2023

 

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blubarb

·May 2, 2023·I might rise, but I refuse to shine.

Great overview of this lovely line. Thank you for taking the time to do this. It was this watch, my father's Seamaster De Ville, that hooked me on Omegas and this crazy hobby in the first place.

 

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PlainVanilla

·May 3, 2023

 

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PlainVanilla

·May 3, 2023

Swiss reference 7161



Introduced, I believe, in the mid-sixties, reference 7161 features a 18K solid gold case on an integrated 18K solid gold bracelet and a gold dial. It was available with regular crayon hands and with dauphine hands.



Featuring a self-winding and a date function, reference 7161 is powered by the 24 jewel Omega calibre 562.

 

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PlainVanilla

·May 3, 2023

Swiss reference 135.001



Introduced in 1962 and powered by the Omega calibre 630, reference 135.001 is the midsize version of the no-date manual wound Seamaster de Ville, with a diameter of 31.5 mm. It is still a gents watch though, as its serial number starting with a '1' indicates.









Please mind that this midsize Seamaster de Ville takes different crystal and crown references from regular size SMDV watches. These parts references are indicated in the main post on the first page of this thread.

Edited: May 3, 2023

 

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PlainVanilla

·May 3, 2023

I have come across a couple 135.020 references with date function but I don't believe them to be original. I think someone slapped a date dial+movement combo into a 135.020 case and that these two don't belong together.

Also, I didn't add a BA 135.020 reference because as of today I have never seen a '135.020' stamp inside a solid gold case. With that, I am pretty much done with Swiss manual wound no-date references. Next up are Swiss manual wound date references, and after that I'll carry on with automatic watches. There is still a lot of work to do and it will take weeks to compile everything I can find but when I'm done it's gonna turn into a very useful database with pictures of several examples for each serial number.

 

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Hijak

·May 3, 2023

WOW, just wow! Well done @PlainVanilla . 👍

Ref. 145.018 Cal. 861

These were branded with both the Seamaster or De Ville names as stated above.

Ref. 14905 Cal. 552

 

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PlainVanilla

·May 4, 2023

I realised there is a limit to how many characters I can write in a single post, so I will need to contract the reference list. I will only list case reference NUMBERS, and I added a little explanation to what the letters in serial numbers stand for.

Hijak

WOW, just wow! Well done @PlainVanilla . 👍

Ref. 145.018 Cal. 861

These were branded with both the Seamaster or De Ville names as stated above.

Ref. 14905 Cal. 552

VERY nice 14905 example!

 

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PlainVanilla

·May 4, 2023

I just added a little guide to indications at the bottom of dials in the main post.