Subdued and refined, Omega's De Ville Trésor got me the moment I laid my wanting eyes over it. Presented in a beautifully smooth and steel case atop a supple blue leather strap with an intriguing blue patterned dial, the De Ville Trésor oozes classicism and old-school charm.
The De Ville Trésor is neither ostentatious nor does it lack presence. It's a wonderful balancing act of sophistication and purity. This is not a watch that you buy to sell. This is the type of watch you would buy and wear proudly every day. It's the kind of watch that you would hand down to your son or grandson. It's the exact kind of watch that I would consider an heirloom.
The beauty of the De Ville Trésor is in its intricacies. From the wonderfully patterned blue dial with its unique textured look to the clean and restrained look of the 40mm steel case, from the white gold hour indices and hands to the inconspicuous date window, the De Ville Trésor is exquisite.
Classically designed, the De Ville Trésor’s affectionate look gives it the innate ability to be worn casually or formally, easily complimenting or elevating an outfit. But it doesn't do this in the manner of being pretentious. Rather, it sits in the background and goes unnoticed until needed. Happy to be a bystander, an extra even. But also, more than ready to step up and be the star of the show.
Reminiscent of Omega's dress watches from generations ago, the De Ville Trésor is wholesome, virtuous and has a veritable truth to it that I find is missing in many modern watches. It's an elegant affair and while its simplicity for some may be a bore, the De Ville Trésor is, in a word, a delight.
Turning the piece over and, in stark contrast to the very classical aesthetic of the piece, is a movement that is modern and finished with clinical precision to a degree of sumptuous perfect. The Omega Co-Axial Master Chronometer Calibre 8910 is a work of art. Architecturally, the 8910 is functional, deliberate and purposeful. Technically, it is absolutely supreme. The 8910 is certified at the industry's highest standard and being approved by METAS means that the 8910's quality and performance really is second to none.
Perhaps saturated isn't the right word. But the industry is and has been inundated with sub-par, lack lustre and really uninspiring dress watches for a long time now. The reinvigoration of the vintage watch appeal has prompted many a manufacture to create watches inspired by heritage, traditional design and of course classicism. But that doesn't mean that these watches are, for lack of a better word, good. The De Ville Trésor is a masterful stroke of ingenuity from Omega. It's a watch that doesn't need an elaborate marketing campaign to sell, nor does it need a celebrity wearing it at an exclusive event to appease the masses
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The Omega De Ville Trésor is everything I would want in a dress watch and more. Absolutely, unadulterated, uncontested perfection. But the question remains: Would I purchase it? A resounding and wholly resolute, yes.
Omega's De Ville Trésor is priced at $9,250AUD.