Omega Watches Serial Numbers Guide (2024)

Ultimate Guide to Omega Serial Numbers, Reference Numbers, and PIC Numbers

When it comes to identifying certain watch models, enthusiasts and industry insiders typically use reference numbers. While it's perfectly acceptable to simply say "Omega Seamaster," there are dozens and dozens of different versions of the watch - so reference numbers (or Omega PIC Numbers as the brand calls them now) are used for clarity.

Some manufacturers use relatively short reference numbers (for example, Rolex and Patek Philippe) while others (such as Omega), use a long string of digits - which Omega calls a PIC number. These digits can tell us a lot of useful information about the watch, including the model family, the case material, the bezel material and type, the bracelet material and type, and the movement type.

On the other hand, a serial number is an identification number that is unique to each individual watch. Since they are typically issued somewhat sequentially (there are some discrepancies as we'll explore below), Omega serial numbers can reveal the approximate manufacturing period of a specific watch. Therefore, you can calculate the ballpark age range of any given Omega watch by cross-referencing the Omega serial number with the production period chart below.

Additionally, because you can use an Omega serial number to estimate the production era, understanding how these numbers work can also help you when authenticating a watch. You can even order an Extract from the Archives directly from Omega with the serial number, which many collectors choose to do for an additional level of authentication and documentation.

Omega Serial Numbers

The easiest place to find an Omega serial number is on the corresponding paperwork for the watch such as the warranty card, chronometer certificate, certification of authenticity, or official service records. However, having the original paperwork is not always feasible - particularly in regards to vintage Omega watches. In those instances, an OMEGA serial number lookup isn't as difficult as you might think. You can find the serial number on the actual Omega watch itself.

Each Omega watch has a seven-digit or eight-digit serial number etched somewhere on it. For most Omega watches, the watch’s serial number is in fact the movement serial number, which is etched on a bridge of the internal movement. In more recent decades (by most estimates, the early 1990s), Omega also began placing the movement serial number on the exterior of the watch - sometimes on the back of the lugs and sometimes on the outside of the caseback.

However, there are some important discrepancies to note here. First, some Omega watches do not have a movement serial number (for instance some non-COSC movements and some ETA-based movements) but they will have a serial number somewhere else on the watch such as the interior caseback, exterior caseback, or lugs. It’s also been reported that Omega does not always place the serial numbers in the same place, which can create an additional level of confusion for collectors that do not have experience with the brand.

Therefore, depending on the specific model and year of production, an Omega serial number can be found on:

• The movement
• The interior caseback
• The exterior caseback
• The back of the lugs

If the serial number is not on the exterior of the watch (which will generally be the case on vintage and older Omega watches), the caseback will have to be removed in order to view the serial number engraving, which will be located either on the movement itself or on the inside of the caseback.

Yet another important thing to note is that because Omega serial numbers are typically movement serial numbers, the sequence of serial numbers should be taken with a grain of salt. Movement parts could have come together much earlier than a complete watch, so it is entirely feasible that a later model could have a lower serial number than an earlier model. Furthermore, the below charts are estimations, therefore there is the possibility that certain production dates could be off by as much as a few years.

Finally and perhaps most importantly, the Omega Speedmaster - the brand's most famous collection of watches and the model best known for being the first watch worn on the moon - follows a different Omega serial number system. So, if you're looking for the serial number of an Omega Speedmaster, it's crucial to make sure you're using the correct chart.

Omega Serial Numbers (Movement Serial Numbers) Excluding Speedmaster

Omega Speedmaster Serial Number (Movement Serial Number) Chart

*Again, it should be reiterated that these Omega Serial Number charts are approximations and cannot always guarantee the exact year of manufacturing for all Omega models.

Omega Reference Numbers

Over the years, Omega has used a variety of different reference number systems, which can sometimes make it a bit tricky to understand exactly what they mean.

• First System (before 1962): XY 1234
• MAPICS System (1962 – 2007): XY.123.456 & XY.123.4567 (from 1970)
• PIC System (1988 – 2007): XXXX.YY.ZZ
• PIC14 System (from 2007): AAA.BB.CC.DD.EE.FFF

Omega Codes for 7-Digit References

From 1970 until 1988, Omega used an alphanumeric code with letters and seven digits for reference numbers. An example of the Omega 7-digit reference number layout would be: BB.145.XXXX.

• Letters denote materials
• First three digits denote watch characteristics
• Last four digits (XXX) denote case, dial, and bracelet styles.

Omega Metal Codes

Omega Watch Characteristics Codes

Omega Product Identification Codes (PIC)

When it comes to Omega watch reference/model numbers, it will be the PIC number that you will want to look for to learn more information about the watch. PIC stands for Product Identification Code. From 1988 until 2007, Omega used an 8-digit PIC System. Then in 2007, Omega switched over to a 14-digit PIC System, which the brand continues to use for the watches that it manufactures today.

Short Omega PIC (8 Digits)

XXXX.YY.ZZ

X(1) = Product Line

X(2) = Material Type

XX(3&4) = Product Variation (Varies by Product Line)

Y(1) = Dial Color

Y(2) = Hour Markers

ZZ = Strap

Product Line

1 = Constellation

2 = Seamaster

3 = Speedmaster

4 = De Ville (De Ville Prestige and Symbol)

5 = Louis Brandt

7 = De Ville (Vasarelli)

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

Dial Color

1 = Champagne

2 = White

3 = Silver

4 = Gray

5 = Black

6 = Ivory

8 = Blue

Hour Markers

0 = Mixed

1 = Indexes

2 = Arabic

3 = Roman

5 = Diamonds

Strap

01 = Black

02 = Brown

03 = Blue

04 = Green

Long Omega PIC (14 Digits)

AAA.BB.CC.DD.EE.FFF

AAA = Collection Code

BB = Case and Bracelet/Strap Material

CC = Case Diameter Rounded to Two Digits

DD = Movement and/or Complication

EE = Dial Color and Material

FFF = Sequence Number

Collection Code (AAA)

123 = Constellation for Men

127 = Constellation for Women

130 = Constellation Globemaster

131 = Constellation Manhattan

212/210 = Seamaster Diver 300M

215 = Seamaster Planet Ocean 600M

220 = Seamaster Aqua Terra

233 = Seamaster 300

304 = Speedmaster Moonwatch Moonphase

311 = Speedmaster Moonwatch Co-Axial

329 = Speedmaster Racing

331 = Speedmaster '57

327 = Speedmaster Mark II

424 = De Ville Prestige

425 = De Ville Ladymatic

428 = De Ville Trésor Quartz

522 = Olympic Games Collection

Case + Bracelet Material (BB)

10 = Steel + Same Material

11 = Steel + Other Metal

12 = Steel + Non Metal

13 = Steel + Non Metal (CITES)

15 = Steel Paved + Same Material

16 = Steel Paved + Other Metal

17 = Steel Paved + Non Metal

18 = Steel Paved + Non Metal (CITES)

20 = Steel/Gold + Same Material

21 = Steel/Gold + Other Metal

22 = Steel/Gold + Non Metal

23 = Steel/Gold + Non Metal (CITES)

25 = Steel/Gold Paved + Same Material

26 = Steel/Gold Paved + Other Metal

27 = Steel/Gold Paved + Non Metal

28 = Steel/Gold Paved + Non Metal (CITES)

30 = Steel/Other + Same Material

31 = Steel/Other + Other Metal

32 = Steel/Other + Non Metal

33 = Steel/Other + Non Metal (CITES)

35 = Steel/Other Paved + Same Material

36 = Steel/Other Paved + Other Metal

37 = Steel/Other Paved + Non Metal

38 = Steel/Other Paved + Non Metal (CITES)

50 = Gold + Same Material

51 = Gold + Other Metal

52 = Gold + Non Metal

53 = Gold + Non Metal (CITES)

55 = Gold Paved + Same Material

56 = Gold Paved + Other Metal

57 = Gold Paved + Non Metal

58 = Gold Paved + Non Metal (CITIES)

60 = Gold/Other + Same Material

61 = Gold/Other + Other Metal

62 = Gold/Other + Non Metal

63 = Gold/Other + Non Metal (CITES)

65 = Gold/Other Paved + Same Material

66 = Gold/Other Paved + Other Metal

67 = Gold/Other Paved + Non Metal

68 = Gold/Other Paved + Non Metal (CITES)

90 = Other Material + Same Material

91 = Other Material + Other Metal

92 = Other Material + Non Metal

93 = Other Material + Non Metal (CITES)

95 = Other Material Paved + Same Material

96 = Other Material Paved + Other Metal

97 = Other Material Paved + Non Metal

98 = Other Material Paved + Non Metal (CITES)

Movement Type (Dx)

0 = Mechanical

1 =Mechanical Chronometer

2 = Mechanical with Co-Axial

3 = Mechanical Chronograph

4 = Mechanical Chronograph Chronometer

5 = Mechanical Chronograph with Co-Axial

6 = Quartz

7 = Quartz Chronograph

Number of Complications (xD)*

0 = 0 complications

1 = 1 complication

2 = 2 complications

3 = 3 complications

4 = 4 complications

5 = 5 complications

6 = 6 complications

7 = 7 complications

8 = 8 complications

9 = 9 complications

*Considered a complication if the watch provides more than hour, minute, second and date. Also, since the chronograph function is already described in the first digit, it is not considered a complication here.

Dial (EE)

01 = Black

02 = Silver

03 = Blue

04 = White

05 = White MOP

06 = Gray

07 = Colored MOP

08 = Champagne

09 = Ivory

10 = Other Color

11 = Red

12 = Yellow

13 = Brown

51 = Black + Precious Stones

52 = Silver + Precious Stones

53 = Blue + Precious Stones

54 = White + Precious Stones

55 = White MOP + Precious Stones

56 = Gray + Precious Stones

57 = Colored MOP + Precious Stones

58 = Champagne + Precious Stones

59 = Ivory + Precious Stones

60 = Other Color + Precious Stones

61 = Red + Precious Stones

62 = Yellow + Precious Stones

63 = Brown + Precious Stones

64 = Sapphires

99 = Fully Paved/Special Materials

Where Can I Find Omega Reference Numbers?

While vintage Omega watches typically include the reference/model number stamped inside the caseback (meaning that you'll have to open the watch to see it), modern Omega watches do not. To find the complete PIC reference number of an Omega watch, you'll have to consult the accompanying paperwork.

OMEGA Collection By Watch Reference

OMEGA Constellation

OMEGA Seamaster

OMEGA Speedmaster

OMEGA De Ville

OMEGA Specialities