Omega watch Seamaster De-Ville 136.010 Cal. 613 Vintage 1968

SPECIFICATION

Reference : Omega 166.033
Movement : Calibre 613
Age : 1968
Case Size : 33.5mm
Case Thickness : 9mm
Lug to Lug : 38mm
Lugs : 18mm
Condition : used Omega watch
Box & Papers : No
Case Material : Stainless Steel
Warranty : 12-Months Warranty

 POINTS TO MENTION

• In fantastic pre-owned condition, with light wear from use
• Case and bezel have some light scratches and marks
  
• Dial has some minor freckling and a tiny shadow at 9
• Fully serviced movement
  
• Signed Omega crown
  
• Signed Omega crystal has very light crazing to edge
  
• Paired on an unworn grey leather strap

THE WATCH

In 1962, Omega unveiled the stainless steel manually wound centre seconds watch Reference 136.010 – a vintage masterpiece that would cement its place in Omega’s illustrious history. This model from 1968 embodies the design finesse and artisanship that have become synonymous with Omega: a classic silvered dial with attached markers, powered by the Omega calibre 613 movement. By labelling this watch as a Seamaster de Ville, Omega accentuated its sporty essence, inherent to the Seamaster series, while also nodding to its refined, dressy aesthetic. Featuring luminous hands and numerals encased in a sturdy 33.5mm stainless steel frame, this watch garnered immediate acclaim.

This watch is powered by the ever-reliable, Omega manually wound calibre 613, which has 17 jewels, runs at 19.800bph, a quickset date and has a power reserve of 48 hours approx. We have paired this watch on a grey leather strap, but it can be dressed up or down with straps to suit ever occasion.

The Omega Seamaster de Ville was introduced in 1960, and the previous leap taken by Omega for the Seamaster series occurred three years earlier, in 1957, when Omega introduced its technical trilogy (Speedmaster - Railmaster - Seamaster 300), effectively turning the Seamaster series in a professional line. With the regular Seamaster in the middle, the line needed a new model to counterbalance these new tool watches and Omega's intention was to create a more dressy and urban watch to complete the spectrum of the Seamaster line. The introduction of the Seamaster de Ville in October 1960 aimed to fill that gap.

The De-Ville idea was introduced in 1960 but not as an independent line, It took until 1963 that the De-Ville signature for the first time appears on an Omega dial alone. And finally in 1967 the De-Ville becomes its own collection, its own page in the Omega catalogue.

This new Seamaster De-ville featured a more refined design aimed to attract the golden youth of the sixties, especially on the American market. Apart from its refined design, the main characteristic introduced by the Seamaster de Ville was the presence of a 'unishell' case design that opens from the front, with a case made of only three parts (the main case, the crystal and the bezel) to enforce water resistance. The Seamaster de Ville was advertised as waterproof to 200 feet. Pricewise, the Omega Seamaster de Ville was a bit more expensive than a regular Seamaster, sitting somewhere between the Seamaster and the Constellation in period catalogues.

A BIT OF TRIVIA

Founded by Louis Brandt in 1848, Omega started out as La Generale Watch Co., an unassuming, but international business. It wasn't until 1885, when the company had been taken over by Louis' sons, that the first mass-produced calibre, the Labrador, was released. By 1903, the company had renamed itself Omega and only two years later were they the official timekeepers at many sporting events across Switzerland. Omega stepped onto an international stage in 1932 as the official timekeepers at the Olympic Games in Los Angeles, the first of over 20 Olympic Games. Omega were one of the 12 companies, now known as the Dirty Dozen, commissioned to produce watches for the British Military during the Second World War. One of Omega's most iconic watches, the Seamaster, was introduced in 1948 to celebrate their 100th anniversary. Over 70 years later, it is still one of Omega's bestselling watches. Omega made headlines in 1962 when Wally Schirra wore the Speedmaster as part of NASA's first crewed spaceflight programme, making the Speedmaster the first watch to enter space. It was only a few years before the Speedmaster became the official chronograph for the American space missions and was worn by Buzz Aldrin as well as the Apollo 13 crew. Omega is still involved with NASA and have been instrumental in creating vital pieces of equipment for space exploration. Omega's reputation continued to soar in the 1990s with Omega Seamaster worn by Pierce Brosnan as James Bond. As well as post-1995 James Bonds, Omega has been worn by the likes of Elvis Presley, John F. Kennedy, Prince William, Rory McIlroy, Ringo Starr, Michael Phelps, Cindy Crawford and George Clooney.

OUR THOUGHTS

The rarely seen Omega Seamster De-ville at 33.5mm may sound on the small side but it wears great on the wrist, its perfect for any setting. Its fully serviced and will run and keep time beautifully for years to come, we have brought this Omega from the past to the present, ready for you to take on into the future.