Omega - De Ville - No reserve price - 166.0161 - Men - 1973

Now available at auction from Second Vintage

A quintessential vintage Omega dress watch, this 1973 De Ville delivers classic 1970s styling and the mechanical capability of the high-beat caliber 1012. Housed in a front-loading unishell case, the watch presents an attractive champagne dial characterized by its honest, age-related patina, offering a distinct and recognizable character for the vintage enthusiast.

Brand: Omega
Model: De Ville
Reference Number: 166.0161
Serial Number: 37661627
Movement: Automatic Omega caliber 1012
Dial: Champagne/gold-tone finish with applied indices and honest patina
Case Size: 35mm (excluding the crown)
Case Material: Gold-tone, stainless steel caseback
Production Year: 1973
Condition: Good vintage condition. Timegrapher: -12-15s/day, performing remarkably well.

Dial and Hands
The champagne and gold-tone dial displays honest age-related patina, most notably characterized by visible spotting around the outer edge between the 8 and 11 o'clock positions. Applied indices feature black inserts that provide clear contrast against the warm dial surface. All factory typography, including the Omega logo and the lower text reading "- T SWISS MADE T -", remains crisp and highly legible. The coordinating stick hands also feature black inserts and present as lightly aged, with minor surface oxidation and dust visible under magnification.

Case and Crystal
The 35mm gold-tone case utilizes a front-loading unishell design. The watch exhibits heavily worn plating, with significant gold-plating loss on the lugs that reveals the base metal beneath. Scratches and handling marks are visible throughout the case flanks. The integrated, very thin bezel profile shows corresponding plating wear and scratches along its edge. The watch is fitted with a signed crown bearing the Omega logo, with knurled edges showing moderate wear. A domed acrylic crystal protects the dial, displaying minor surface scratches consistent with age and use, but remaining free of major cracks or chips.

Movement
Powering this De Ville is the automatic Omega caliber 1012, featuring 23 jewels, a 42-hour power reserve, a high beat rate of 28,800 bph, and a quickset date function. The movement displays the copper-colored finishing typical of Omega during this period. While the plates and bridges appear generally clean, the winding rotor exhibits significant spotting and patina. The movement is engraved with the Omega name, Swiss origin, caliber 1012, and the serial number 37661627. Recording -12-15s/day on the timegrapher. Exhibiting remarkable accuracy and consistency, performing brilliantly for a vintage timepiece.

Strap
The watch is fitted with a black leather strap featuring an alligator grain pattern. The strap shows light wear and creasing from use and secures with an unsigned clasp.

Condition
Good vintage condition. The watch presents with honest cosmetic wear reflecting its 1973 production. The dial shows distinct spotting and patina along the outer edge, while the hands display minor oxidation. The gold-tone case exhibits significant plating loss, particularly on the lugs where the base metal is exposed, alongside scratches across the flanks and bezel. The acrylic crystal has minor surface scratches. Inside, the movement rotor shows noticeable spotting and patina, though the plates remain generally clean. Supported by the recorded timegrapher result of -12-15s/day, the movement is performing very strongly.

Dimensions
The case measures 35mm in diameter, excluding the crown.

Remarks
This De Ville offers an excellent opportunity to acquire a classic 1970s Omega dress watch with a highly capable movement. The combination of the unishell case design and the high-beat caliber 1012 makes it a mechanically interesting and historically representative example of Omega's mid-century production.

History
The reference 166.0161 was introduced to Omega's international collection in 1973. The model features a Unishell, or one-piece, case construction that opens exclusively from the dial side. It is powered by the Omega Caliber 1012, an automatic movement featuring 23 jewels, a 42-hour power reserve, and a high beat rate of 28,800 bph. This caliber also provided the modern convenience of a quickset date function, representing Omega's continuous refinement of their mechanical movements during the 1970s.

Payment and Shipping
Payment must be completed within 1–3 days after purchase.
Your watch will be professionally and securely packaged, then shipped with tracking and insurance for your peace of mind.
We use fast express shipping, with typical delivery within 1–4 business days, depending on the destination.
Please note that vintage watches may show minor signs of wear, aging, or imperfections, which are considered normal for watches of this age.
We kindly ask you to review all photos carefully before bidding. We photograph each watch from multiple angles to provide the most accurate representation possible, and the photos form an important part of the description.
The timegrapher assessment if provided is seen as an indication of the movement’s condition under fully wound testing conditions. As with all vintage watches, results may vary in daily use.
If you have any concerns regarding functionality or defects after delivery, please contact us within 3 days of receiving the watch so we can assist you.
As with all used watches, water resistance is not guaranteed.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact us after the auction ends.

/ Second Vintage

SKU: OMR1NJXI6C000