This Watch

A rather special and beautifully styled Omega De Ville Automatic from 1969, reference 162.045, featuring one of those wonderfully distinctive case designs that Omega produced during the transition from the 1960s into the 1970s. This is certainly not your conventional round Omega! Instead, we have a beautifully sculpted stainless steel cushion-shaped case, sometimes referred to as a TV case, with broad sweeping shoulders, gently curved sides and a lovely brushed finish. It is a design that looks every bit as interesting today as it did over 55 years ago.

The case measures 33mm across, with a compact 37mm lug-to-lug measurement, but don't let those figures fool you. The broad case shoulders and generously proportioned dial give this Omega considerably more presence on the wrist than its measurements might suggest. The satin-brushed steel case is particularly attractive, with its sweeping lines flowing into the recessed strap fittings, creating an almost seamless appearance. Notice also the side profile and the way the case curves around the wrist, together with its Omega-signed crown. A great piece of vintage industrial design!

Now, the dial is something we particularly like about this example. It has a wonderful slate blue/charcoal grey finish with a subtle sunburst effect that changes character depending on the lighting. In some photographs it appears almost graphite grey, while in others the blue tones really come through. It's a beautifully understated colour that complements the cool stainless steel case perfectly. The dial appears to have survived remarkably well, retaining its attractive finish, applied polished baton hour markers and original-style Omega lettering and emblem. The slender steel hands, with their contrasting light-coloured inserts, make reading the time straightforward, while the neatly framed calendar window at 3 o'clock adds a practical everyday feature.

Inside is Omega's automatic calibre 1002, a 20-jewel Swiss movement operating at 28,800 beats per hour. This was part of Omega's newer generation of automatic movements introduced around this period, offering a higher beat rate, central seconds and a convenient quick-set calendar. A proper mechanical Omega movement from an era when the company was producing some exceptionally interesting watches.

We've paired this example with a lovely soft grey/taupe leather strap with contrasting cream stitching. The combination works beautifully against the slate-coloured dial and brushed stainless steel case, giving the whole watch a slightly contemporary appearance without losing any of its vintage character. As the wrist photographs demonstrate, this is a watch that really comes into its own when worn.

Extra Points 

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 caliber, 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 best selling 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 are 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.

We absolutely love these late 1960s and early 1970s Omegas. They represent a period when the company was confident enough to move away from the traditional watch designs and create something a little more adventurous. This particular De Ville has that wonderful combination of a genuinely interesting case, an excellent automatic movement and a beautifully restrained dial.

For us, the real attraction is the case design and colour combination. The brushed stainless steel, smoky blue-grey dial and carefully chosen leather strap work incredibly well together. It is a watch that manages to look unmistakably vintage and surprisingly modern at the same time.

And here's an interesting thought. Put a Patek Philippe, Vacheron Constantin or Audemars Piguet name on a similarly styled late 1960s cushion-cased watch, particularly one in precious metal, and you could be looking at a very substantial price tag. We are not suggesting that the Omega has the same movement finishing or exclusivity, but from a purely aesthetic point of view it certainly captures much of that same period elegance and character.

At 33mm, it is also worth remembering that shaped watches tend to wear quite differently from conventional round watches. The broad shoulders and almost square dial opening give this example a surprisingly satisfying presence. Having tried it on, we feel it works particularly well as a gentleman's understated dress watch, although it would be equally attractive on a lady's wrist.

There is something very appealing about owning a watch that isn't immediately recognisable to everyone. We all know the classic round Omega Seamaster or Genève, but this De Ville offers something a little different. A proper vintage Omega, with an interesting in-house automatic movement, a distinctive design and just enough character to get people asking questions.

A lovely piece of late 1960s Omega design and, in our opinion, a very attractive alternative to the increasingly expensive shaped-case watches from the more exclusive Swiss manufacturers. One of those watches that really needs to be seen and tried on to appreciate its charm!