Complete Omega Serial Numbers Guide – The Watch Standard

The various numbering systems used by luxury watch manufacturers to identify their models can get fairly confusing. Renowned Swiss brand Omega is no exception, and you can easily find yourself getting lost trying to figure out the difference between serial numbers, reference numbers, and in Omega’s case, PIC numbers.

So, we have put together this guide to help explain how serial numbers differ from the other systems, why having your serial number is important, how they have changed over time and where you can find it on your watch.

Serial Numbers, Reference Numbers And PIC Numbers: What’s the Difference?

The quick version is that PIC (or Product Identification Code) numbers are simply what Omega now calls their reference numbers. These are used to categorize the model, materials, functions and features of each individual watch, and the manufacture has used four different systems over the years.

Before 1962 it was a simple alphanumeric code of two letters followed by four digits.

PIC (XXXX.YY.ZZ)

• XXXX: Product Line, Material Type and Product Variation
  • First X: Product line
    • 1: Constellation
    • 2: Seamaster
    • 3: Speedmaster
    • 4: Deville (Prestige and Symbol)
    • 5: Louis Brandt
    • 7: DeVille (Vasarelli)
  • Second X: Material Type
    • 1: Gold case on gold bracelet
    • 2: Steel/gold case on steel/gold bracelet
    • 3: Steel/gold case on partial steel/gold bracelet
    • 4: Steel/gold case on steel bracelet
    • 5: Steel case on steel bracelet
    • 6: Gold case on leather strap
    • 7: Steel/gold case on leather strap
    • 8: Steel case on leather strap
  • Third and Fourth Xs: Product Variation
    • Varies by product line
• YY: Dial Color and Hour Markers
  • First Y: Dial color
    • 1: Champagne
    • 2: White
    • 3: Silver
    • 4: Gray
    • 5: Black
    • 6: Ivory
    • 8: Blue
  • Second Y: Hour markers
    • 0: Mixed
    • 1: Index
    • 2: Arabic
    • 3: Roman
    • 5: Diamonds
• ZZ: Strap
  • 01: Black
  • 02: Brown
  • 03: Blue
  • 04: Green

Between 1962 and 2007 they used the Mapics system, consisting of two letters followed by either six or seven numbers.

Mapics (XXXXXX-YY ZZ)

• First X: Bracelet Material Type
  • 1: Leather strap (men’s)
  • 2: Leather strap and diamond bezel (men’s)
  • 3: Bracelet (men’s)
  • 4: Bracelet and diamond bezel (men’s)
  • 5: Leather strap (ladies’)
  • 6: Leather strap and diamond bezel (ladies’)
• Second X
  • 0: Manual winding chronograph
  • 4: Manual winding chronograph
  • 6: Non-chronograph
  • 7: Self-winding chronograph
  • 8: Quartz or tuning fork chronograph
• Third X: Additional Features
  • 5: No date
  • 6: Date
  • 8: Chronometer
• Last three Xs: Differentiation of Various Models
• YY: Year of Manufacture
• ZZ: Case Material (could come before or after the numbers)
  • BA: Yellow gold
  • BC: White gold
  • BG: Pink Gold
  • BT: Platinum
  • DA: Yellow gold combination
  • DD: Gold combination
  • DG: Pink gold combination
  • DL: Gold combination
  • MD: Gold plated
  • SP: Strap
  • ST: Stainless steel
  • TA: Titanium and yellow gold combination
  • TI: Titanium
  • TL Titanium and pink gold combination

The PIC system started in 1988, running concurrently with Mapics, and featured an arrangement of eight numbers in three groups (XXXX.XX.XX).

Finally, today we have the PIC14 structure, with 14 digits in six groups.

PIC14 (AAA.BB.CC.DD.EE.FFF)

• AAA: Collection
  • 123: Constellation
  • 212: Seamaster Diver
  • 215/232: Seamaster Planet Ocean
  • 231: Seamaster Aqua Terra
  • 233: Seamaster 300
  • 311: Speedmaster
  • 331: Speedmaster ’57
  • 327: Speedmaster Mark II
  • 425: Ladymatic
  • 432: De Ville Trésor
• BB: Housing Material and Strap Type
  • 10-13: Stainless steel
  • 15-18: Stainless steel and paved
  • 20-23: Stainless steel and gold
  • 25-28: Stainless steel and gold paved
  • 30-33: Stainless steel and other material
  • 35-38: Stainless steel and other material paved
  • 50-53: Gold
  • 55-58: Gold paved
  • 60-63: Gold and other material
  • 65-68: Gold and other material paved
  • 90-93: Other material
  • 95-98: Other material paved
• CC: Watch diameter size in millimeters
• DD: Type of Movement and Number of Complications
  • First D: Movement type
    • 0: Mechanical
    • 1: Mechanical chronometer
    • 2: Mechanical with Co-Axial
    • 3: Mechanical with Chronograph
    • 4: Mechanical Chrono Chronometre
    • 5: Mechanical Chrono with Co-Axial
    • 6: Quartz
    • 7: Quartz Chronograph
  • Second D: Number of complications (0-9)
• EE: Dial Color
  • 01: Black
  • 02: Silver
  • 03: Blue
  • 04: White
  • 05: White MOP
  • 06: Grey
  • 07: Colored MOP
  • 08: Champagne
  • 09: Ivory
  • 10: Other Color
  • 11: Red
  • 12: Yellow
  • 13: Brown
  • 14-99: Dial color with other combinations such as precious stones
• FFF: Model Number Sequence

So, like I said, it can get a little perplexing. Fortunately, the serial numbers are a bit more straightforward.

What Is a Serial Number?

Every watch in the Omega collection gets a unique serial number. Unlike the PIC numbers, which classify a certain group of watches, the serial number IDs the exact individual watch.

Because these serial numbers are issued more or less chronologically, they can be used to ball park the approximate date the watch was made by checking it against a production chart, such as the ones below. As well as that, they can be used to check if the watch has been stolen, or to authenticate whether it is genuine or counterfeit. For example, if a particular model was first released in the 1990s but has a serial number dating it to the 1970s, it is very likely a fake. Similarly, if there is no number at all, it would be a major red flag.

Omega Serial Numbers

Omega began using serial numbers from roughly 1894 onwards, starting with 1,000,000.

Every watch produced since then has been given a seven or eight digit number, following on sequentially (with some exceptions, which we will come to in a moment), until around 2019. That was when the brand hit 99,999,999.

After that, instead of issuing nine digit reference numbers, Omega went the same route as Rolex and started using randomized eight digit numbers. While Rolex Serial Number are straight forward, Omega’s history with identifying their watches usually need some additional clarity. The randomization means it will be more difficult, if at all possible, to work out the year the most recent models were made.

Where is My Serial Number?

So where can you find your watch’s serial number? The easiest and quickest way to find it is on some of the paperwork that came with the model when it was originally purchased. It will be written on the warranty card, the chronometer certificate, the certificate of authenticity or, if the watch has been serviced, on the official service records.

Of course, there is always a chance that you don’t have any of these documents—if the watch is vintage or even just preowned, they can easily go astray. In that case, you could order an ‘Extract from the Archives’ directly from Omega or, failing that, locate the number on the watch itself.The exact placement will change depending on the age of the model, but you should be able to find it on either:

• The movement
• The inside of the case back
• The outside of the case back
• The underside of the lugs

Typically with older models, Omega’s serial numbers are the caliber’s serial number, and so it will be engraved on one of the internal movement’s bridges (the bar which attaches to the mainplate and forms a framework for the various mechanisms) or else the inside of the case back. So if you can’t find the number on the watch’s exterior, it will be necessary to remove the back to locate it—we would recommend getting a professional jeweler to do this for you.

From about 1990 onwards, the brand also started including the serial number on the outside of the watch too, either on the lugs or else on the case back.

The Exceptions

There are, however, a few anomalies to be aware of.

Firstly, some of Omega’s watches use non-chronometer rated calibers, or calibers made by a third party, e.g. ETA. These will not have movement serial numbers engraved on them, and so you will need to check one of the other locations.

Secondly, because of the way mass production works, even in an industry as fastidious as watchmaking, the movement may have been assembled (and been given its serial number) considerably earlier than the rest of the watch. So a newer model could well have a lower serial than an older one.

Thirdly, it is not unheard of for Omega to vary the position of their serial numbers on the same model type, for reasons known only to themselves. Not finding the number where you would expect it to be doesn’t automatically mean the watch is counterfeit, so be thorough in any type of inspection.

Finally, and most confusingly, the legendary Omega Speedmaster range has its own numbering system, separate from the rest of the collection. So if you are looking up your Speedy’s serial number, be sure you are using the dedicated chart below.

Omega Serial Numbers 1894-2008 (Excluding Speedmasters)

Year First Made

 Serial Numbers

Year First Made

 Serial Numbers

1894
1,000,000-1,999,999
1979
43,000,000-43,999,999

1902
2,000,000-2,999,999
1980
44,000,000-44,999,999

1906
3,000,000-3,999,999
1982
45,000,000-45,999,999

1910
4,000,000-4,999,999
1984
46,000,000-46,999,999

1915
5,000,000-5,999,999
1984
47,000,000-47,999,999

1923
6,000,000-6,999,999
1985
48,000,000-48,999,999

1925
7,000,000-7,999,999
1986
49,000,000-49,999,999

1934
8,000,000-8,999,999
1986
50,000,000-50,999,999

1939
9,000,000-9,999,999
1989
51,000,000-51,999,999

1944
10,000,000-10,999,999
Not Used
52,000,000-52,999,999

1947
11,000,000-11,999,999
1991
53,000,000-53,999,999

1950
12,000,000-12,999,999
1993
54,000,000-54,999,999

1952
13,000,000-13,999,999
1995
55,000,000-55,999,999

1954
14,000,000-14,999,999
1998
56,000,000-56,999,999

1956
15,000,000-15,999,999
1998
57,000,000-57,999,999

1958
16,000,000-16,999,999
1998
58,000,000-58,999,999

1959
17,000,000-17,999,999
1998
59,000,000-59,999,999

1961
18,000,000-18,999,999
1999
60,000,000-60,999,999

1962
19,000,000-19,999,999
2000
61,000,000-61,999,999

1963
20,000,000-20,999,999
2000
62,000,000-62,999,999

1964
21,000,000-21,999,999
2000
63,000,000-63,999,999

1965
22,000,000-22,999,999
2000
64,000,000-64,999,999

1966
23,000,000-23,999,999
2001
65,000,000-65,999,999

1966
24,000,000-24,999,999
2002
66,000,000-66,999,999

1967
25,000,000-25,999,999
2002
67,000,000-67,999,999

1968
26,000,000-26,999,999
2003
68,000,000-68,999,999

1968
27,000,000-27,999,999
2003
69,000,000-69,999,999

1969
28,000,000-28,999,999
2004
70,000,000-70,999,999

1969
29,000,000-29,999,999
2004
71,000,000-71,999,999

1969
30,000,000-30,999,999
2005
72,000,000-72,999,999

1969
31,000,000-31,999,999
2005
73,000,000-73,999,999

1970
32,000,000-32,999,999
2005
74,000,000-74,999,999

1971
33,000,000-33,999,999
2005
75,000,000-75,999,999

1972
34,000,000-34,999,999
2005
76,000,000-76,999,999

1972
35,000,000-35,999,999
2005
77,000,000-77,999,999

1973
36,000,000-36,999,999
2006
78,000,000-78,999,999

1973
37,000,000-37,999,999
2006
79,000,000-78,999,999

1974
38,000,000-38,999,999
2006
80,000,000-80,999,999

1975
39,000,000-39,999,999
2007
81,000,000-81,999,999

1977
40,000,000-40,999,999
2007
82,000,000-82,999,999

1978
41,000,000-41,999,999
2007
83,000,000-83,999,999

1979
42,000,000-42,999,999
2008
84,000,000-84,999,999

It is important to be aware that these charts are not compiled by the manufacture itself, but rather has been put together by enthusiasts. Therefore, they will not be 100% accurate and should only be used to give a rough idea of the age of your piece.*

Additionally, after 2008, we enter the more contemporary era of Omega watches and serial number data is sparse. To find out the date for a model with a serial number greater than 85,000,000, it is best to contact Omega directly.

Omega Speedmaster Serial Numbers

Year First Made

 Serial Numbers

Year First Made

 Serial Numbers

1957
14,000,000-14,999,999
1975
33,000,000-33,999,999

1958
15,000,000-15,999,999
1976
34,000,000-34,999,999

1958/1959
16,000,000-16,999,999
1977
35,000,000-35,999,999

1960
17,000,000-17,999,999
1978
37,000,000-37,999,999

1961
18,000,000-18,999,999
1979
38,000,000-38,999,999

1962
19,000,000-19,999,999
1980
40,000,000-40,999,999

1963
20,000,000-20,999,999
1981
42,000,000-42,999,999

1964/1965
22,000,000-22,999,999
1982
43,000,000-43,999,999

1966
23,000,000-23,999,999
1983
44,000,000-44,999,999

1967
24,000,000-24,999,999
1984
45,000,000-45,999,999

1968
26,000,000-26,999,999
1985
46,000,000-46,999,999

1969
27,000,000-27,999,999
1986-1989
47,000,000-47,999,999

1970/1971
28,000,000-28,999,999
1990-1999
48,000,000-48,999,999

1972
31,000,000-31,999,999
New Numbering System Introduced
49,000,000-76,999,999 skipped

1973
32,000,000-32,999,999
1999+
77,000,000+

A Final Word On Serial Numbers

If you happen to come upon an Omega watch without a serial number, it is most likely a fake—the brand assigns each of its watches with the number as an assurance to its validity.

The other side of that is not to take the presence of a serial number on its own as an absolute guarantee of authenticity. It is definitely worth doing a search for it on the internet, as counterfeiters will engrave the numbers on their replicas. However, they tend to use the same numbers for whole batches of copies. Many times, these will have been identified already as fakes by other watch enthusiasts and they will have reported them.

*Again, because of possible discrepancies in the manufacturing process, these dates should only be used as an approximation.

Two other, even better, options are to have the watch assessed by a professional jeweler or watchmaker, or simply get in contact with Omega themselves.