1974 Omega Seamaster Cosmic 2000 Automatic 38mm 166.135
Ref: 166.135
Specification
Lugs : 23mm (Integrated)
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", meaning it comes with no original Omega box or original Omega paperwork. The watch comes paired with its original 23mm Omega integrated 3-link stainless steel bracelet with a signed folding clasp and will fit up to a 7.35-inch wrist. The watch is from Circa. 1974 and is sold in worn vintage condition; as you can see, the dial and hands are original, and the hands are showing some sign of age as photographed. The watch had a full service in 2024 and comes with our 12-Months NON-Waterproof warranty.
For more photos see here - https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1gBzCd4-XHo4FWrvREgi9zWZOyOCW8Q1K?usp=drive_link
4K YouTube video, skip to 16:49 - https://youtu.be/7CqNkBAnkEg
The Watch
Here we have a classic 1974 Omega Seamaster Cosmic 2000 Automatic 166.135. The Seamaster Cosmic was introduced in 1967, jumping on the hype for space travel and everything space-related. The continued relationship with NASA only strengthened Omega’s position as the preferred manufacturer. It generated new life in the Seamaster range. The production run was for less than a decade. In 1972, Omega introduced the Seamaster Cosmic 2000. A gently curved 38 mm cushion-shaped stainless steel case, the brushed case is monocoque (coque in French means hull) in design; its movement is housed in a container holding the mineral crystal, fitted in a synthetic sleeve that's joined to the upper case. To remove the movement, a special tool and high-pressure air is needed. A number of gaskets provided the watch with water resistance, which many of the non-diving Seamasters lacked. On the right side, a signed crown. The flat crystal sits above a sunburst silver dial, an outer minute track surrounds applied facet-edged baton indexes with lume pips marking the hours, at 3 o’clock, a framed day/date window. Slim steel sword hands are complemented with a tapered centre sweeping seconds hand. At noon, we have the Omega motif “Automatic” printed underneath and “Seamaster Cosmic 2000” printed at 6 o’clock”. On the reverse, an etched hippocampus, inside an automatic Omega Cal. 1012, 23 jewels, 28,800 beats per hour. The watch comes paired with its original 23mm Omega integrated 3-link stainless steel bracelet with a signed folding clasp and will fit up to a 7.35-inch wrist.
Personal Note
There is something undeniably charming about unapologetically 1970s Omega like this Cosmic 2000, reference 166.135, on its integrated bracelet. A super strong example for an incredibly fair price. If you are in the market for an integrated bracelet watch, I would look no further, you've found it!
The Brand
They were formerly known as the La Generale Watch Co., founded in 1848 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 rebranded itself from SMH to the Swatch Group. Then, in 1999, they purchased and integrated Breguet into the Swatch Group.