1969 Omega Seamaster 200m Flightmaster Automatic 166.091
Ref: 166.091
Specification
Lugs : 22mm
Condition : Pre-Owned
Box & Papers : None
Case Material : Stainless Steel
Warranty : 12-Months NON-Waterproof Warranty
Points of Mention
This watch is sold as "Watch Only" and, therefore, comes with no original Omega box or original Omega paperwork. The watch comes paired with its 22mm thick Omega Milanese bracelet with a signed folding clasp and will fit up to a 7.25-inch wrist. The watch is from Circa. 1969 and is in worn condition with some marks, as you would expect; overall, it is in fair condition with a service-replaced dial and handset, as you can see from the photographs. The watch comes with our 12-Months NON-Waterproof Warranty.
For more photos see here - https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1_3_UgGsnizmIuatkDPK1dZjanFn4DVUR?usp=drive_link
4K YouTube video, skip to 7:35 - https://youtu.be/NixJ5A0hrxQ
The Watch
Here we have a curvaceous 1969 Omega Seamaster 200m Flightmaster Automatic 166.091, introduced in 1969 and designed by Frédéric Robert, its design was created to appeal to adventurous aviators. With a barrel-shaped 40.5mm stainless steel oversized case, its distinctive curved profile has prominently covered lugs that sit on your wrist like a cushion for perfect wrist ergonomics, and a lug-to-lug length of 51.5mm and a case thickness of 11mm give the watch an impressive wrist presence. On the right side is a recessed signed screw-down crown with deep knurling for grip. The rotating steel bezel has stepped knurling for grip, and an original black Bakelite dive 60-minute insert, a flat crystal sits above a service replaced dial, an outer minute track has lume coated baton and inverted triangle indexes marking the hours at 3 o’clock, a colour-matched framed date window, sporting service replaced Plongeur hands filled with lume complemented by an arrow pointed second hand, At 12 o’clock we have the Omega motif “Automatic” and at 6 o’clock “Seamaster 200m/660ft” completes this sports dive watch. On the reverse, we have a screw-down case back with an engraved Hippocampus in its centre, a seahorse 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. Inside an automatic Omega Cal. 1001, 20 jewels, beat at 28,800 beats per hour, with quick-set date and hacking seconds, introduced in 1968, it had a short life of only four years until 1972. The watch comes paired with its 22mm thick Omega Milanese bracelet, which has a signed folding clasp and will fit up to a 7.25-inch wrist.
Personal Note
These Omega Seamaster 200m Flightmasters cover a few different references, the most famous being the iconic chronograph, but this reference 166.091, from 1969 is an incredible and affordable option with a wonderful bakelite bezel and Omega shark mesh bracelet. I would not hesitate if you are in the market for a large vintage dive watch that stands out from the crowd, add this one to your collection!
The Brand
Formerly known as the La Generale Watch Co. in 1848, it was founded by Louis Brandt in La Chaux-de-Fonds. When he died in 1879, his sons carried on his dream. In 1880, they moved to 96 Rue Jakob-Stampfli, where they remain today. The brothers produced their first mass-produced calibre, the Labrador In 1885. Just a few years later, in 1892, they produced the first minute-repeater. 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's 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, when astronaut Wally Schirra wore a Speedmaster on his Mercury Sigma 7 Mission, making it the first Omega watch to enter space. After rigorous tests, NASA used Omega for all their Apollo missions, including the 1969 Moon landing of Apollo 11. Today, Omega is still the first choice of astronauts. In 1969, President Nixon famously said it was “too valuable” and turned down the first-ever all-gold Speedmaster Professional Deluxe. As a response to the ever-growing threat of electronic watches to the manufacturers of mechanical watches, Omega and many Swiss brands such as Rolex and Patek Philippe formed Centre Electronique Horologer (CEH). Prototypes began to appear in 1967, and their production started 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, it officially branded itself from SMH to the Swatch Group. Then, in 1999, they purchased and integrated Breguet into the Swatch Group.