Wristwatches · Wristwatch
Stainless steel Omega Seamaster 'Big Blue' chronograph wristwatch, 1974
- Maker / attribution
- OMEGA (maker)
- Date
- 1974
- Historical period
- Quartz Revolution (1969 – 1990)
- Country of origin
- Unrecorded in source
- Object type
- Wristwatch
- Materials / technique
- stainless steel
- Stock no.
- O.3390
- Credit line
- Dealer listing, Somlo Antiques (O.3390)
- Catalogue title (original)
- Stainless steel OMEGA Seamaster 'Big Blue' chronograph wristwatch. Made 1974 (English)
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Record summary
Catalogued by Somlo Antiques (dealer), London (stock number O.3390), this is a wristwatch by OMEGA, dated 1974. The Atlas places it in the Quartz Revolution period (1969 – 1990) of its Wristwatches collection. Materials and techniques recorded by the source: stainless steel. The record is illustrated with 4 photographs.
Assembled from the source record's structured fields. Dates and attributions are given as the source states them; where a field is missing the Atlas leaves it blank rather than estimating.
Catalogue description
Dealer description — Somlo Antiques
Launched in 1972, the Omega Seamaster Reference 176.004, nicknamed “Big Blue,” was the first automatic diver’s chronograph truly water-resistant to 120m (400ft). It featured a large steel case made by Ervin Piquerez SA, a renowned Swiss case manufacturer. The screw-down caseback, crown, and pushers ensured underwater functionality, while the unidirectional bezel minimized diving errors. The blue dial, luminous indexes, and orange chronograph hand provided excellent visibility underwater. Powered by Omega's first automatic chronograph movement, the caliber 1040, it was the ultimate tool watch for underwater functionality and style. The Seamaster is the longest running product line still produced by OMEGA today. It was introduced in 1948, and was loosely based upon designs made for the British Royal Navy towards the end of World War II. Brand: OMEGA Made: 1974 Model: Seamaster Reference: 176.004 Calibre: 1040 Movement: Automatic Material: Stainless steel Features/complications: Date aperture at 3 o'clock, chronograph, 24 hour indicator at 9 o'clock, rotating unidirectional bezel Dial: Blue dial with block hour markers (tritium) central yellow arrow shaped minute hand and seconds hand (two versions), a date window at 3 o’clock, a 12-hours sub dial at 6 o’ clock, and a 24-hours indicator placed at 9 in the constant second sub dial Case dimensions: -mm Bracelet/strap: Stainless steel bracelet Accessories: - SKU: 03390
Historical context
Quartz Revolution (1969 – 1990)
Seiko's Astron begins mass quartz timekeeping; traditional industries contract sharply.
Quartz and digital watches transformed the market after 1969. Swiss employment collapsed, Japanese and Hong Kong production soared, and the Swatch (1983) helped the Swiss industry recover; mechanical watches survived as luxury goods.
Read the period in the timelineMore wristwatches from this periodEarlier: Modern Mechanical Horology
Atlas type guide
Chronographs and split-seconds watches
A chronograph is a watch with an additional seconds hand that can be started, stopped and returned to zero independently of the timekeeping. Louis Moinet built an early example in 1816 and Nicolas Rieussec a recording 'chronographe' in 1821; Adolphe Nicole's heart-shaped reset cam (patented 1862) made the modern return-to-zero possible. Split-seconds (rattrapante) chronographs add a second hand that can be stopped for intermediate times; flyback chronographs restart instantly.
Chronographs were essential tools for doctors (pulsometer scales), artillery (telemeter), engineers and sport. In wristwatches, Valjoux, Venus, Lemania and later the automatic chronographs of 1969 (Zenith El Primero, the Chronomatic Calibre 11 group and Seiko 6139) are milestones.
What to look for
- Push-pieces on the case band or a single button in the crown (monopusher).
- Subsidiary registers for minutes and hours; tachymeter, telemeter or pulsometer scales.
- Column wheel versus cam control visible in the movement.
- Calibre markings of specialist makers (Valjoux, Lemania, Venus, Landeron).
Dating clues
- Pocket chronographs with heart cam reset: after 1862.
- Wrist chronographs: from c. 1910; two-button designs from the 1930s.
- Automatic chronographs: from 1969.
General guidance written by the Atlas editors about this kind of object. It is not a statement about this particular piece; for that, rely on the source record above and on physical examination.
Read next:Flyback chronographChronograph
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