1967 Omega Seamaster DeVille Linen Dial Automatic 165.020
Ref: 165.02

Specification

Points of Mention

This watch is sold as "Watch Only" and therefore comes with no original Omega box or paperwork. The watch comes paired with a nice-fitting leather strap. The watch is from Circa. 1967 and is sold in worn, vintage condition, but overall this is in fantastic condition as you can see. The watch comes with our 12-Months NON-Waterproof Warranty.

The Watch

Formerly known as the La Generale Watch Co. it was founded by Louis Brandt in La Chaux-de-Fonds in 1848. When he passed away in 1879, his sons quickly stepped in to carry on their father’s vision. In 1880 they moved to 96 Rue Jakob-Stampfli where they remain today. In 1885, the brothers released their first mass-produced calibre, the Labrador, Later in 1892, they developed the first minute-repeating timepiece. In 1903 they renamed the company Omega until 1982 when they officially changed their name to Omega SA. During WW1 Omega watches were used as official timekeepers for the Royal Flying Corps and the US Army. In 1930, Omega and Tissot merged together to form Société Suisse pour l'Industrie Horlogère (SSIH) In 1931, another group was formed - Allgemeine Schweizerische Uhrenindustrie AG (ASUAG). Where SSIH was primarily French-speaking, ASUAG was founded by the more German-speaking members of the Swiss watch industry. In 1948 they introduced the first edition of one of its most symbolic watches: the Seamaster. Omega first introduced the Constellation in 1952. At the time it was Omega's flagship timepiece. The first models had a Cal. 354 bumper movement in them. Later in 1955 Omega introduced the Automatic Cal. 50x, followed in 1959 by the Cal.55x (no date) and 56x (date) versions. Many of the Constellations came with pie-pan dials, diamond indexes, and fancy lug configurations. All the gold Constellations of that time have the Observatory of Geneva hand engraved on the back. The stainless steel and stainless steel/gold versions had a gold medallion on the back with the Observatory of Geneva. The eight stars above the Observatory stand for the many exploits of Omega in the world Chronometer competition. Celebrating the fact that all Constellations are Chronometer Certified. In 1962, Omega made history when astronaut Wally Schirra wore a Speedmaster on his Mercury Sigma 7 Mission, making it the first Omega watch to enter space. After stringent tests, NASA used Omega for all their Apollo missions including the 1969 Moon landing of Apollo 11. Today Omega is still an astronaut's first choice of timepiece. In 1969, President Nixon famously turned down the opportunity to be gifted the first-ever all-gold Speedmaster Professional Deluxe because he deemed it to be “too valuable.” In response to the ever-growing threat of electronic watches to the manufacturers of mechanical watches, Omega in collaboration with Swiss brands such as Rolex and Patek Philippe formed Centre Electronique Horloger (CEH). Prototypes began in 1967 with production starting in 1968. Then In 1972, Omega introduced the reference, 198.030, which included the Omega calibre 1250, a ‘tuning-fork electronic movement which was made under licence from Bulova. Later we saw a merger of SSIH and ASUAG into SMH, or Société de Microélectronique et d’Horlogerie. This merger took place in 1983. In 1992, the company acquired Blancpain, and in 1998 they officially rebranded themselves from SMH to the Swatch Group. Then, in 1999, they purchased and integrated Breguet into the group. The Seamaster was first introduced in 1948 to celebrate Omega’s 100th Anniversary. It was an immediate success and is Omega’s longest-running model. Based on the waterproof designs used during World War 2, it was improved upon with the addition of an “O” ring gasket which improved its water resistance. Omega’s first diving record came in 1955 when diver Gordon McLean reached a depth of 62.5 meters (205 ft) in Australia. The engineers were so confident of the durability that they strapped one to the outside of an aircraft that flew over the North Pole in 1956. 

Here we have a 1967 Omega Seamaster DeVille Linen Dial Automatic 165.020 with a 34mm round stainless steel monocoque case (coque in French means hull) case design, made from a solid piece of stainless steel, access to the movement is by removing the crystal with a special tool. A lug-to-lug length of 40.5mm with gently curved lugs ensures a comfortable fit on your wrist, on the right side, is a signed crown. A smooth polished bezel holds the domed crystal above linen textured dial with chamfered applied double and singular baton indexes marking the hours, steel sword hands complemented by a tapered centre seconds hand complete the attractive dial. At 12 o'clock an applied Omega motif, text is precisely printed at  6 o’clock with "Seamaster Deville". On the case back we have the embossed Hippocampus in the centre that represents Neptune the God of the sea, it was conceived by Pierre Borie after seeing a picture of Neptune riding a chariot pulled by seahorses, it is the reason why the seahorses are wearing a bridle, first seen on the Seamaster in 1958. Inside an Automatic Omega Cal. 552, 24 jewels, 19,800 beats per hour and the watch comes fitted on an 18mm leather strap.

Personal Note

You all know I am a huge fan of the vintage Seamaster, often referring to it as the perfect vintage watch to get started with, or add to the collection as a seasoned collector! This example is fantastic with its linen dial, so detailed and truly captures the light like very few vintage watches possibly can, snap this one up before someone else does.