An Affordable Swiss Made Dress Watch Forgotten By The Market

To many watch lover, vintage Omega Seamaster is an affordable dress watch choice with its long production year and number of variances in dial and case. 

To me, Seamaster is even more special because this is the watch I inherit from my grandfather and this is the watch that started my passion for vintage watches. 

'My grandpa's Omega Seamaster' I think it worth another article for the story behind this watch.

The watch I want to cover today is the 1970 Omega Seamaster Chronometer Officially Certified reference 166.010. Over the past years, Omega made different dress/sport models that housing the chronometer rated movement. Most of the 1950s through 1970’s chronometers made by Omega was in the top end dress watch Constellation line, but they did deign to use these higher-end movements in the Seamaster line. The watch we will be looking at today is a Seamaster example with the 'Chronometer' rating movement. The case of the watch is in stainless steel with a more 'Oyster' style to it compare with its usual 'beefy lugs' used in most of the other seamasters. The case measures at 36mm wide with 18mm lugs make the perfect size for a dress watch. 

As a Seamaster, water-resistance is an essential function. Omega has used a screw in case back for this Seamaster model for better water-resistance. They also keep the classic seamaster logo embossed on the back of the case back.

The dial of the watch is pure, a classic understatement. Beautiful silver with a radial brushed finish, steel baton markers with black inlays, and a simple framed date window at three o’clock. It has the applied steel Omega logo with printed script: Omega, Automatic, Chronometer, Officially Certified. The long text not only makes the dial less empty compare with other non-chronometer seamasters, but also give the watch a recognition on identity as an 'Official Chronometer' from Omega. This makes the watch much more collectible than other seamasters.

Powering the watch is a 24 jewel automatic Omega caliber 564 movement. The chronometer grade movement is in-house build by Omega (before Omega switch to relying on ETA movements), they were finely adjusted to five positions and temperatures. The movement in the watch shows a rose-gold color because all Omega movements of this era had their famous copper plating, giving this unique colour to the movement. In my opinion, this is EPIC!

While the price of vintage Rolex 1601 has raised from its bottom, the market seems not yet aware of the Seamasters dress watches that are in the perfect size and in a better movement in my opinion. While you can still find vintage Seamasters in the market for under $1,000 it is surely a bargain when you consider the cost of other in-house made Swiss dress watches of the era.

Soon, Samurai Vintage will be extending our product from Japanese Vintage watches to vintage Omega as well. Stay tuned for our new product and get one before you miss the bargain of the centuries.