Last week, I bumped into a beautiful Rolex Sea-Dweller 16660 that I had never held in my hands before. Most “Triple Six” models I’ve come across had a glossy dial, but this one was an early 1982 model with a matte dial and a faded bezel. It simply looked stunning. So I looked up the watch and found one for sale. Another watch I came across is an Omega Seamaster De Ville. This a very different watch with a ditto price tag, but it’s definitely something of interest.

Omega Seamaster De Ville 14ct gold

Image: Paul Duggan

Omega Seamaster De Ville in gold

Here’s a 34mm full-gold Omega Seamaster De Ville that is for sale for US$1,400. Before Omega made the De Ville a separate collection in 1967, the name was often used in the Seamaster collection for dressier watches. You can find many Seamaster De Ville watches, starting under 1,000 US dollars/euros, but it’s often about the condition. Many of them have replacement crowns without a signature, badly restored dials, and so on. In this case, Paul Duggan is offering a very nice 14K gold Seamaster De Ville with an automatic copper-colored caliber 550. And that’s a great movement!

Omega Seamaster De Ville 14ct gold

Image: Paul Duggan

However, the thing you’ll be looking at all day is the beautiful vertically brushed dial. And isn’t that just a beauty with those fantastic hour markers at 12, 3, 6, and 9 o’clock? If only brands would offer such rich hour markers and dials in this day and age… The watch is delivered on a dark green leather strap.

Image courtesy of Paul Duggan

Also make sure to have a look at the case back, which has the medallion in the center featuring the Omega hippocampus. Stunning! With a case diameter of 34mm, it’s the perfect dress piece for those who are craving smaller-sized watches in 2023. Click here to have a closer look at the watch.

Rolex Sea-Dweller 16660 MkI

Image: Amsterdam Vintage Watches

Rolex Sea-Dweller 16660 “Triple Six” MkI

As I wrote in the introduction of this article, last week, I came across a beautiful “Triple Six” MkI from 1982, and I started searching for one. It didn’t take me long because our friends from Amsterdam Vintage Watches have this beautiful (also) 1982 Sea-Dweller 16660 for sale. According to them, the Sea-Dweller ref. 16660 “Triple Six,” which debuted in 1978, was an important transitional model in the Rolex collection.

Rolex Sea-Dweller 16660 MkI

Image: Amsterdam Vintage Watches

Basically, it was the archetype of everything modern Rolex. It featured a new movement (caliber 3035, introduced in 1977), a sapphire crystal, a thicker case, an improved automatic helium valve, and an increased depth rating of 1,220 meters. What stayed was the matte dial with painted hour markers. The Sea-Dweller 16600 used to be my favorite reference until I came across the 16660 with a matte dial. These don’t come cheap, though, as this one has a price tag of €23,000. You can find it here.

COD Landeron 51

Image: Brussels Vintage Watches

COD Landeron 51

I am sure most of you haven’t heard of this brand. I hadn’t, at least. However, my favorite place in Brussels has this two-register chronograph for sale. The Landeron 51 movement is housed in this slightly oversized 39mm gold-plated case. Normally, I am not a fan of gold-plated watches, but if you’re looking for a nice and affordable vintage chronograph with two funky Arabic numerals, this might be something for you.

COD Landeron 51

Image: Brussels Vintage Watches

This COD watch with a chronograph movement is fully serviced and comes with a one-year warranty, which is not a bad deal at €650. It’s a fun watch that could very well be your entry to vintage watches. Click here for Brussels Vintage Watches’ offer.

*Featured image: Amsterdam Vintage Watches