Part One: An Omega Seamaster DeVille? What's the next step?
I can hear what a lot of people are thinking right now. "Why would you re-dial such a beautiful watch?" And you're right, I have no idea why someone would do that.
But damn if it isn't a beautifully-executed re-dial.
I received this watch as a generous gift from an extended family member, before I was even a watch enthusiast. And to be honest, I'm not entirely sure if I'm even ready for this watch right now. Being a watch enthusiast for a little under two years, the rabbit hole of vintage watches still petrifies me. So, what documentation was in the box?
Seems straightforward enough, a card telling you about the company and some details on the watch. However, the only serial number listed is the one on the case back---so not the caliber nor the reference number. After digging up some more information about this company, I found their facebook page and defunct Shopify link: https://www.facebook.com/ZHVintageCo/
To my surprise, I found loads of re-dialed vintage Omega Seamaster DeVilles, from racing-stripe-inspired pieces to aviation-inspired pieces. So it seems this shop was selling only re-dialed watches. This still begs the question... what was my watch originally? What's its reference number, what caliber is inside it? The most that I can find is a dead Amazon listing, claiming they restored an Omega Caliber 565, which also alludes to the fact it might have been a Ref 166.020: shorturl.at/beo01
This watch will inevitably land on the desk of a watchmaker to open it up. But where else should I look? Should I try to reach out to the original watchmaker and pick their brain on their business model? What are your thoughts on this watch and re-dials in general?
I thought I should undertake this endeavor in the new year, and I'll feel like I'll have earned this watch if I can uncover its history.
I'm an engineer by day and photographer by night who's just started collecting watches.
I think that the Seamaster DeVille was discontinued in 1966, so I wonder what part is from 1969?
I think that the Seamaster DeVille was discontinued in 1966, so I wonder what part is from 1969?
It's all interesting to see this unfold, I punched the serial number into an Omega serial number lookup from the card, and it said the watch was made in 1971. It might be time to track down the owner of this business and see if they can answer some questions.
Once you know it's been modified from the original, then just enjoy the cool looking watch.
One person's frankenwatch is another person's modded watch. It really depends on what the watch is trying to appear to be. If it is trying to con you into thinking it's an original, then that equals very bad. If it is intentionally modded to create a unique cool looking watch than that is OK.
Look George Bamford built a significant business model by modding first Rolex, then other brands until certain brands got smart and authorized him to make the modifications.
Sure, purists will decry that Bamford "destroyed" these watches, while others will pay a premium over the value of the original watch to have a "Bamford".
I think your watch is really cool and has a great racing vibe to it. Great watch to have in your collection regardless of its origins.
I personally have nothing against watch mods provided that's what they are intended to be.
Here are a few in my collection...some from recent times and some mods that go back to the 1930s/40s when the watches were modded for practical military reasons.
Here are a couple of Seiko mods to transform a Seiko 5 into a Seiko FiftyFive Fathoms Barakuda and Seiko FiftyFive Fathoms (obviously deliberately impersonating the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms)...
Here is a modern "marriage" watch that takes a vintage pocket watch from the turn of the century and places it in a modern wristwatch case...very cool but you have to be super careful with these as they have no shock absorption...
Here is a vintage pocket watch pressed into military service by re-casing it for purposes of use by the Luftwaffe...
There is a whole field of watch modding out there with many collectors...now you are a part of it.
Once you know it's been modified from the original, then just enjoy the cool looking watch.
One person's frankenwatch is another person's modded watch. It really depends on what the watch is trying to appear to be. If it is trying to con you into thinking it's an original, then that equals very bad. If it is intentionally modded to create a unique cool looking watch than that is OK.
Look George Bamford built a significant business model by modding first Rolex, then other brands until certain brands got smart and authorized him to make the modifications.
Sure, purists will decry that Bamford "destroyed" these watches, while others will pay a premium over the value of the original watch to have a "Bamford".
I think your watch is really cool and has a great racing vibe to it. Great watch to have in your collection regardless of its origins.
I personally have nothing against watch mods provided that's what they are intended to be.
Here are a few in my collection...some from recent times and some mods that go back to the 1930s/40s when the watches were modded for practical military reasons.
Here are a couple of Seiko mods to transform a Seiko 5 into a Seiko FiftyFive Fathoms Barakuda and Seiko FiftyFive Fathoms (obviously deliberately impersonating the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms)...
Here is a modern "marriage" watch that takes a vintage pocket watch from the turn of the century and places it in a modern wristwatch case...very cool but you have to be super careful with these as they have no shock absorption...
Here is a vintage pocket watch pressed into military service by re-casing it for purposes of use by the Luftwaffe...
There is a whole field of watch modding out there with many collectors...now you are a part of it.
You bring up a really interesting point I didn't consider originally with Bamford Watches. I'm a fan of modded watches and I haven't seen anyone make any Seiko 5's into a Blancpain Fifty Fathoms-esque watch, super cool stuff!
Some of the words in their product descriptions were vague, saying these watches were restored "non-customized", or super rare---some of their oldest products descriptions said these dials were their own design. Regardless of the designer's intentions, I think the dial has a lot of care taken to print (most likely re-print) the dial text and the design. And in the future, once I feel like I've earned this watch, I can definitely see this watch being worn on the underside of my wrist while I drive.
Could be! I have faith the movement and watch are genuine Omega parts. I guess I'm curious where they came from, or where this project watch started originally. In my mind, this is a story I'm trying to piece together so I can properly tell the story of the watch from where it came before it landed on my wrist.
Honestly the coolness factor alone of having a vintage racing-style modification of a watch overturns everything else. It seems exactly like what an amateur race car driver would do before strapping themselves into a 1970's death machine and driving at ludicrous speeds around a dirt track without an airbag or seatbelt in sight.
Honestly the coolness factor alone of having a vintage racing-style modification of a watch overturns everything else. It seems exactly like what an amateur race car driver would do before strapping themselves into a 1970's death machine and driving at ludicrous speeds around a dirt track without an airbag or seatbelt in sight.
I would love to be wearing this watch as I rip it around on a track day or even a nice scenic cruise. It's definitely a keeper! Might send it in to Omega to have them give me the history of the watch, when and who bought it, it's service history and all that if they can find it.