Description
Omega, the official timekeeper of the 1968 Olympics, used the global stage to reinforce its technical prowess and aesthetic boldness. The use of orange, especially in seconds hands across multiple models, including certain Seamaster and Chronostop variants, wasn’t arbitrary: it improved legibility and injected a sense of motion and modernity into traditional watch layouts. In the case of the 166.041, the orange hand acts as a vivid focal point against the metallic blue sunburst dial, embodying a spirit of youthful exuberance and forward-looking design.
While not officially branded as an “Olympic edition,” the 166.041 is undeniably part of the same aesthetic lineage that Omega leveraged during this era of international visibility. The model’s clean 34.5mm steel case, powered by the caliber 565 automatic movement with quickset date, is both understated and technically sophisticated, a hallmark of the Genève line, which was Omega’s most widely distributed collection at the time.
For collectors, the blue-and-orange configuration captures a precise cultural and horological moment, when function, fashion, and global events intersected to reshape the image of Swiss watchmaking. The 166.041 is more than a simple dress watch; it’s a subtle relic of Omega’s late 1960s design renaissance, directly shaped by the bold visual language born during the Mexican Olympics.
What we love:
- Rare “olympic” orange hand
- Great blue dial, often these deteriorate due to the paint used, but this one is extremely well preserved
- Robust and well-finished caliber 565
What you should know:
- Unless otherwise stated, it is common for vintage watches to not come with box and papers. In the rare example that a watch does come with box and papers it will be mentioned in the description. All purchases come with a bespoke black wooden watch box and warranty card.
