This Watch

Here we have a very cool and unusually attractive ladies Omega De Ville mechanical wristwatch from 1977, reference 711.2029, in stainless steel and fitted with its original Omega stainless steel integral bracelet.

This is a small watch by modern standards at 26mm x 23.5mm, with a very slim 6mm case profile, but it has a wonderful 1970s wrist presence. The rounded square case has a soft, jewellery-like shape, sitting neatly into the mesh-style integrated bracelet, with a sliding clasp construction that allows it to be adjusted neatly to the wrist. It is a piece that feels much more designed than a simple small dress watch.

The real focal point is the dial. Originally this would have been a much cleaner coloured finish, but over the decades it has aged into a very atmospheric satin blue-grey hue, with warm golden/brown patination around the hour markers and edge of the dial. This sort of colour change is something we often see on 1970s electroplated, painted or chemically finished dials, where sunlight, UV exposure and age can slowly alter the original colour and surface. In this case the result is not damage in the usual sense, but a very appealing vintage character that makes the watch completely individual.

The dial is signed Omega and De Ville, with slim applied baton hour markers and simple two-hand layout. There is no date, no seconds hand, and no unnecessary fuss — just a clean little dress watch with a very 1970s feel. It is powered by Omega’s calibre 625, a 17 jewel manual wind movement, which was one of Omega’s slim in-house mechanical movements used in elegant ladies and dress watches of the period.

The watch is also fitted with sapphire glass and comes with its original Omega box, which is a lovely extra and helps complete the period feel of the piece.

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. 

This watch comes fully serviced by our on-site workshop and with a 12 month, non-waterproof service cover.