THE ESSENTIALS

MAKE: OMEGA
MODEL: 14701SC
YEAR: 1961
BOX/PAPERS: NO/NO
CASE DIAMETER: 34.5mm
CASE MATERIAL: 18K ROSE GOLD
BRACELET MATERIAL: 18K ROSE GOLD
MOVEMENT: AUTOMATIC

The early Seamaster dress range is proof that tool watches don’t always have to look rugged. Introduced in the 1950s, it carried all the hallmarks of the early Seamaster line—reliable, water-resistant, and versatile enough for everyday wear—but dressed up in solid gold.

At 34.5 mm, the case sits in that sweet mid-century proportion: slim, refined, and perfectly wearable today. The screw-down caseback (a novelty at the time) ensured the watch lived up to the Seamaster’s reputation for durability, while inside ticked Omega’s calibre 501, a robust automatic movement with centre seconds. The “SC” in the reference literally stands for seconde centrale, highlighting that central-seconds feature.

The watch is in excellent condition. The case has seen minimal polishing, the dial has developed a wonderful and even patina, and the alpha hands still retain their radium plots.

The movement was serviced recently and is running at a commendable –2 s/d, 285 amps, with a beat error of 0.4.

As solid 18k gold watches go, these are near unbeatable for value.