Omega Seamaster 120 (Ref. 166.073) Black, 1971

Dealer description — Craft & Tailored

There is something about the early vintage Omega Seamaster that truly embodies the golden era of dive watches of the 1960-1970s. Omega has a long history and heritage in dive watches dating back to the 1930s. The seahorse-adorned case back of the Seamaster series pays tribute to Neptune, the Roman god of the sea. The seahorse logo was conceived by engraver Jean-Pierre Borle. He was inspired by an image of Neptune driving a chariot pulled by seahorses, which is why the Omega seahorses are depicted wearing bridles. The Omega Seamaster 120 ref. 166.073 is a stunning timepiece that is both functional and stylish. Its combination of beauty, history, and performance makes it a true collector's item, and a watch that you can be proud to wear for years to come. The defining difference between the Omega Seamaster 120 from other dive watches of the era is the execution, with an overall design that feels very familiar but with an aesthetic that outclasses its counterparts. As it was only produced for 4 years, from 1970 to 1974, the ref. 166.073 is certainly an uncommon timepiece. Though it was produced in two colorways, the best known being the "Deep Blue" variation, it is known within the collector community that the black dial variants, like the one presented here, are the rarer of the two. Stock # OMSM120BLK Brand Omega Style Seamaster 120 Model 166.073 Serial 33XXXXXX Size Men's Material Stainless Steel Dial Matte Black Millimeters 42.5 Strap Single-Pass Nylon Strap W/ Velcro Closure CASE & BRACELET The beautiful and robust case displays evidence of light previous polishing and features impressive dimensions throughout the extremely broad lugs. The original black bakelite bezel is in excellent overall condition and features two light cracks which is a very common feature for bakelite bezels in this era, the lume within the bezel has achieved a beautiful creamy patina that matches the dial patina nicely. The case retains its original Omega signed screw-down crown, which also operated the quick-set date function. The case back features the original Seamaster medallion in excellent overall condition. The watch comes supplied on a single-pass nylon strap with a velcro closure. DIAL & HANDS The matte black dial is in wonderful vintage condition with only gentle elements of age present that are invisible to the naked eye. The original tritium lume plots have achieved a stunning golden-yellow patina, under U.V. light inspection some of the lume plots feature subtle cracking though no actual degradation is present. The original sword hands have been professionally restrored with tritium and feature a sandy coloration. ACCESSORIES