Omega - De Ville - No reserve price - 166.0161 - Men - 1970-1979

Now available at auction from Second Vintage This elegant Omega De Ville from the 1970s perfectly encapsulates the golden era of mid-century dress watches. Characterized by its sharp lines, slim profile, and radiant textured dial, this timepiece was designed for the sophisticated urbanite. With its reliable automatic caliber and classic proportions, it offers an incredible mix of vintage charm and highly wearable everyday elegance. Brand: Omega Model: De Ville Reference Number: 166.0161 Serial Number: 36827399 Movement: Omega Caliber 1012 Automatic Dial: Vertically brushed champagne dial with applied black-inlaid indices, exceptionally clean with minimal age-consistent spotting Case Size: 35 mm (excluding the crown) Case Material: Gold-plated with stainless steel caseback Production Year: 1970s Condition: Excellent vintage condition with attractive, well-preserved features Dial and Hands The dial features a stunning vertically brushed champagne surface that interacts beautifully with the light, providing a rich and dynamic backdrop. Applied gold-tone baton hour markers are detailed with precise black central inlays, matched perfectly by the gold-tone baton hands which carry matching black stripes and original tritium luminous material. A stepped, beveled date window sits neatly at the three o'clock position. The dial typography features a crisp serif font for the applied Omega logo and printed brand name, paired with clean sans-serif text for the automatic and De Ville designations. Flanked by the T SWISS MADE T signature at the six o'clock position, the dial condition is beautifully preserved. It presents a remarkably clean surface, displaying only incredibly faint, age-consistent micro-spotting visible under intense magnification, and is completely free of any notable moisture damage, dial rot, or heavy staining. Case and Crystal The 35 mm round case is rendered in rich 20-micron gold plating, featuring a slim bezel and straight, gently angled lugs. The visual transitions between the case sides and the polished bezel remain distinct, maintaining the original factory profile. The case displays honest, age-appropriate handling marks and light surface scratches consistent with careful wear over the decades, retaining a strong overall appearance without severe plating loss. A domed acrylic crystal provides exceptional clarity and subtle vintage distortion at the edges, showing only very minor superficial wear. The stainless steel snap-on caseback is deeply engraved with the iconic De Ville cityscape-style insignia and the technical text 1. REMOVE BEZEL 2 TOOL 106, demonstrating clear, legible typography alongside normal surface scratches from previous wear and opening. Movement Inside this handsome timepiece beats the Omega Caliber 1012, a reliable automatic movement equipped with a practical date function. While the intricate mechanics remain safely secured behind the solid stainless steel caseback, the current performance speaks to its well-engineered design. Running and operational, offeringhealthy reliable vintage performance (timegrapher results of +18s to +22s/day). Strap This vintage Omega is paired with a period-appropriate brown crocodile-embossed leather strap that perfectly complements the golden tones of the dial and case. The inner lining is clearly stamped with the Omega signature, and the strap is secured by a gold-tone vintage Omega pin buckle featuring the brand's prominent applied logo. The strap shows normal signs of gentle use and creasing but remains highly presentable and fully functional. Condition Assessed directly from the visual inspection, this Omega De Ville remains in excellent vintage condition. The dial is exceptionally clean and well-preserved, standing out as a major highlight of the piece. The gold-plated case exhibits normal, honest wear with light surface scratches but no major structural damage. The caseback engravings remain sharp and historically intact. Overall, it is a handsomely preserved, highly attractive vintage piece. Dimensions Case Size: 35 mm (excluding the crown) Remarks This Omega De Ville seamlessly blends robust Swiss watchmaking with a truly refined aesthetic. The combination of a highly legible, beautifully textured champagne dial, warm gold plating, and a dependable automatic movement makes this watch an incredibly versatile addition to any vintage collection. History The Omega De Ville line began its life as a sub-collection of the Seamaster family in the 1960s before officially becoming a standalone collection in 1967. Conceived to represent Omega's more refined, urban, and elegant designs, the De Ville emphasized sophistication and slim proportions over the rugged, sporting utility of the Seamaster or Speedmaster lines. During the 1970s, the collection expanded to include a variety of distinctive case shapes and intricate dial finishes, cementing its status as a cornerstone of Omega's dress watch offerings and a beloved choice among executives and watch enthusiasts alike. / Second Vintage SKU: OME-ODV-0026