Kensington Watches
Omega Seamaster Bullhead 1960s 43mm Stainless Steel

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Omega

Omega Seamaster Bullhead 1960s 43mm Stainless Steel

Ref. 146.001HG

Among our 10 Omega watchesThis watch£9,000
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Stepping up in Omega's range

Price range £4,850 to £33,000 across 10 Omega watches in stock.

The Bullhead was one of the more radical ideas to come out of the late 1960s chronograph boom: a case deliberately inverted so that the crown and pushers sit at twelve o'clock rather than three. The logic was practical — a rally driver or motorcyclist could operate the timing functions with the index finger of the hand already on the wheel, without any awkward rotation of the wrist. That function determined the form entirely, giving the case its distinctive widening at the top and the silhouette that earned the nickname. The Calibre 930 inside is a hand-wound movement from the generation Omega collectors tend to regard most seriously, sharing its architecture with the chronograph calibres that defined the brand's sporting output in that period. Winding a watch of this age is an act of engagement the table of a modern automatic never requires, and on something this scarce it feels appropriate. At 43mm on a round case that reads wider at the crown end, the Bullhead sits differently on the wrist from any conventional chronograph. The yellow dial pushes hard against the steel — there is nothing restrained about it — and the acrylic crystal sits with a slight convexity that catches light in the way no sapphire does. This is not a watch that asks for attention quietly.

Reference
146.001HG
Brand
Omega
Collection
Seamaster
Case size
43mm
Case material
Stainless steel
Case shape
Round
Dial
Yellow
Crystal
Acrylic
Movement
Manual
Functions
Chronograph, Date
Bracelet / strap
Leather strap
Strap colour
Black
Lume
Luminous
Condition
Vintage
Retailer
Goldsmiths
Additional specifications
Gem set
Yes
Learn more about Omega

Louis Brandt began assembling pocket watches in La Chaux-de-Fonds in 1848. His sons moved production to Biel in 1880 and, in 1894, released a calibre whose parts were fully interchangeable and which could be serviced by any watchmaker with standard tools. They named it Omega. The movement was successful enough that the company took its name.

Omega's history is bound up with measurement in public. It became official timekeeper of the Olympic Games in 1932 and has held the role for most Games since, which drove genuine engineering: photo-finish cameras, touchpads in swimming pools, and the timing systems that made hundredths of a second meaningful.

NASA qualified the Speedmaster for manned spaceflight in 1965 after testing chronographs from several manufacturers to destruction, and it was on Buzz Aldrin's wrist on the lunar surface in 1969. The watch has never been substantially redesigned.

The Seamaster line dates to 1948 and covers everything from dress watches to saturation diving instruments. Omega's technical position strengthened considerably after 1999 with the adoption of George Daniels' co-axial escapement, the first genuinely new escapement to reach series production in two centuries, and more recently through Master Chronometer certification testing resistance to magnetic fields at 15,000 gauss.

The company has been part of the Swatch Group since its formation.

1848
Louis Brandt starts assembling watches in La Chaux-de-Fonds.
1894
The Omega calibre gives the company its name.
1932
Becomes official timekeeper of the Olympic Games.
1948
The Seamaster line is introduced.
1965
NASA qualifies the Speedmaster for manned spaceflight.
1999
The co-axial escapement enters series production.

All Omega watches

Also in 5 collections

This watch appears in Stainless Steel Watches (2,996), Chronograph Watches (1,234), Leather Strap Watches (958), Dive Watches (484) and Pre-Owned, Ex-Display & Vintage Watches (154).

2-year Goldsmiths warranty

What the specifications mean

Strengths

  • Luminous hands and markers for low light
  • Sits in the lower half of Omega's range as we list it

Worth knowing

  • 43mm sits at the larger end
  • Acrylic crystal marks easily, though it polishes out
Best forTiming thingsFormal wear
Less suited toSmall wrists

Compare alternatives

Watches from other brands at a similar price, style and size, so you can see what else your budget can buy.

Seamaster Bullhead 1960s 43mm Stainless Steel compared with 2 alternatives from other brands
SpecificationThis watchSeamaster Bullhead 1960s 43mm Stainless Steel146.001HGGlashütte OriginalPanoInverse Mens Watch1-66-06-04-22-62TudorMontecarlo 7149/0 40mm Stainless Steel7149/0
Price£9,000£10,900£13,950
Case size43mm42mm39.5mm
Water resistance50m
MovementManualManualManual
StrapLeather strapLeather strapStainless steel bracelet
Power reserve41 hours
This watch
  • Costs more
  • Costs more
  • Wears smaller

Your new watch

Frequently asked questions, and things you should know about this watch

Will the glass scratch?

Yes, but it polishes out. Acrylic marks easily and a scratch can be buffed away at home, which is why vintage-style watches still use it.

Does it need a battery?

No. It is hand-wound, so it needs winding every day or two but never a battery.

Is it a men's or women's watch?

Listed as men's.

Cheapest place to buy

Goldsmiths at £9,000, vintage. No UK retailer we track lists this reference new.

Is this available new?

Not from the UK retailers we track. This reference is listed as vintage only, at £9,000 from Goldsmiths. Goldsmiths check and clean every used watch they sell and warrant it for 2 years, though a vintage piece is sold as it stands and servicing history varies.

Who are Goldsmiths?

Goldsmiths has been selling watches in Britain since 1778 and is part of the Watches of Switzerland Group, which is listed on the London Stock Exchange. They are an authorised dealer, so a watch comes with the manufacturer’s own warranty.

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