Omega's Seamaster line is one of the most diverse in the business, ranging from form-follows-function dive watches to svelte and elegant dress watches.

The name De Ville captured the air of refinement, style and meticulous designs that came to life with this line, and improved on the original Seamaster collection with the introduction of a monocoque - one-piece - case design.  With this unibody case, the De Ville sought to capitalize on the popular sport Seamaster movement with a case that was more water-resistant and could accommodate a number of case forms, movements and functions.

The De Ville went through a series of changes throughout its life.  When it was first introduced in 1960, 'De Ville' was not printed on the dial.  Instead the line marketed itself through the monocoque design and its sports heritage by keeping the 'Seamaster' name.  In 1963, Omega began printing dials with both 'Seamaster' and 'De Ville' at the request of Norman Morris, Omega's United States brand representative.  

While no direct correlation can be found, Cadillac's Coupe De Ville debuted around the same time and also featured stylish smooth and clean lines.  This lead to the De Ville to become known as the "wrist Cadillac" from Omega.

In 1967, the De Ville finally stood on its own, with 'Seamaster' disappearing from the dial completely.

This particular model comes from the line's cross-over period dating to approximately 1965.  The steel monocoque case is capped in 14k gold and topped off with a silver dial with both 'Seamaster' and 'De Ville' printed at 6 o'clock.  This model features an automatic Calibre 565 with date and rapid date corrector, a feature that allowed the wearer to quickly set the date by pulling the crown out to its final position repeatedly.

The De Ville recalls a time of elegance and svelte modern design that was heralded as being the zenith of fashion in its day, and while it is unassuming by today's excessive standards, it is a benchmark to which many brands - including Omega - are slowly returning.