Specifically, which was the first omega dive watch to have it? this one is for the experts i guess
dachi
Which was the first omega to have sapphire glass?
Specifically, which was the first omega dive watch to have it? this one is for the experts i guess
The Omega Marine from 1932 (CK 679) is described as having a sapphire glass by the Omega vintage watch database. The later Marine luxury model (CK 3637) was advertised as equipped with a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal, and water-resistant to 2 Atm (20 m)…:
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Also, this flyer, found on another forum, shows (No 6.) an Omega gents' square watch from the forties, along with the Marine model (No. 8.), both equipped with a sapphire glass:
![Image]()
The ladies' Sapphette was introduced during the 1954 Holiday season, with a facetted sapphire crystal. The ladies' Genève ST 511.0327 model from 1968 also had a facetted sapphire crystal. Also, the gold Constellation models BA 398.0008 from 1970, and BA 168.0057 from 1972 had a sapphire crystal. However, these are clearly not dive watches!
I guess the first Omega dive watch (…in the modern understanding of the word) to be equipped with a sapphire crystal was the Seamaster 120 from 1978, model ST 166.0250.
The Seamaster 120 (ST 166.0088) from 1969 had a mineral crystal, as had the Seamaster 1000m (ST 166.0093) from 1972, the Seamaster 200 (ST 166.0177) from 1974, the Seamaster Cosmic 2000 (ST 366.0827) from 1974.
Following is a list (not exhaustive) of Omega models with sapphire crystals in the '60s and '70s:
Saphette:
OT 10371 1952 Saphette ("Sapphette facet-edged crystal" =Sapphire?)
OT 16179 1955 Saphette
OT 10987 1959 Saphette
OT10953 1957 Saphette
OT 10948 1957 Saphette
OT 10914 1954 Saphette
BA 11037 1960-1965 Saphette
A 5697 1961 US Collection Saphette
BA 711.0057 1962 Saphette
BC 611.0051 1963 Saphette
BC 511.0180 1965 Saphette
BA 511.0236 1966 Saphette
BA 511.0227 1966 De Ville Saphette
BA 711.4634 1967 Swiss Collection Saphette
BA 511.0281 1968 De Ville
AA 5826 1968 US Collection Saphette
BA 511.0281 1968 De Ville Ladies Saphette
EE 7709 1969 US Collection Saphette
BC 711.1668 1972 Genève Saphette
HH 7808 1981 US Collection Saphette
Other:
ST 511.0327 1968 Ladies Genève (facet-edged sapphire crystal)
BA 398.4012 1970 (Swiss ref. for BA 398.0008) Constellation Electronic
BA 168.0055 1972 Constellation
BA 168.0057 1972 Constellation "C"
BA 196.0015 1973 Constellation (gold version of ST 396.0809)
BA 398.0819 1973 Constellation Electronic
BA 398.0827 1974 Constellation Megasonic
ST 396.0839 1976 Seamaster Chrono-Quartz
ST 396.0838 1976 Seamaster Quartz electronic analogic
ST 396.0841 1976 Seamaster Quartz electronic analogic
ST 396.0840 1976 Seamaster Quartz electronic analogic
ST 386.0803 1977 Seamaster Digital
ST 196.0088 1977 Seamaster Quartz electronic analogic
From this, it would appear that sapphire crystals, after being fitted to Omega's first dive watch, the Marine, were preferentially used later on in dress watches for both genders, and only after 1978 started again equipping sports models.
The first Rolex Submariner with a sapphire crystal was ref. 16800, circa 1983, and with serial number in the 7M.
Also, this flyer, found on another forum, shows (No 6.) an Omega gents' square watch from the forties, along with the Marine model (No. 8.), both equipped with a sapphire glass:
The ladies' Sapphette was introduced during the 1954 Holiday season, with a facetted sapphire crystal. The ladies' Genève ST 511.0327 model from 1968 also had a facetted sapphire crystal. Also, the gold Constellation models BA 398.0008 from 1970, and BA 168.0057 from 1972 had a sapphire crystal. However, these are clearly not dive watches!
I guess the first Omega dive watch (…in the modern understanding of the word) to be equipped with a sapphire crystal was the Seamaster 120 from 1978, model ST 166.0250.
The Seamaster 120 (ST 166.0088) from 1969 had a mineral crystal, as had the Seamaster 1000m (ST 166.0093) from 1972, the Seamaster 200 (ST 166.0177) from 1974, the Seamaster Cosmic 2000 (ST 366.0827) from 1974.
Following is a list (not exhaustive) of Omega models with sapphire crystals in the '60s and '70s:
Saphette:
OT 10371 1952 Saphette ("Sapphette facet-edged crystal" =Sapphire?)
OT 16179 1955 Saphette
OT 10987 1959 Saphette
OT10953 1957 Saphette
OT 10948 1957 Saphette
OT 10914 1954 Saphette
BA 11037 1960-1965 Saphette
A 5697 1961 US Collection Saphette
BA 711.0057 1962 Saphette
BC 611.0051 1963 Saphette
BC 511.0180 1965 Saphette
BA 511.0236 1966 Saphette
BA 511.0227 1966 De Ville Saphette
BA 711.4634 1967 Swiss Collection Saphette
BA 511.0281 1968 De Ville
AA 5826 1968 US Collection Saphette
BA 511.0281 1968 De Ville Ladies Saphette
EE 7709 1969 US Collection Saphette
BC 711.1668 1972 Genève Saphette
HH 7808 1981 US Collection Saphette
Other:
ST 511.0327 1968 Ladies Genève (facet-edged sapphire crystal)
BA 398.4012 1970 (Swiss ref. for BA 398.0008) Constellation Electronic
BA 168.0055 1972 Constellation
BA 168.0057 1972 Constellation "C"
BA 196.0015 1973 Constellation (gold version of ST 396.0809)
BA 398.0819 1973 Constellation Electronic
BA 398.0827 1974 Constellation Megasonic
ST 396.0839 1976 Seamaster Chrono-Quartz
ST 396.0838 1976 Seamaster Quartz electronic analogic
ST 396.0841 1976 Seamaster Quartz electronic analogic
ST 396.0840 1976 Seamaster Quartz electronic analogic
ST 386.0803 1977 Seamaster Digital
ST 196.0088 1977 Seamaster Quartz electronic analogic
From this, it would appear that sapphire crystals, after being fitted to Omega's first dive watch, the Marine, were preferentially used later on in dress watches for both genders, and only after 1978 started again equipping sports models.
The first Rolex Submariner with a sapphire crystal was ref. 16800, circa 1983, and with serial number in the 7M.
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