Omega has since about 1990 used what they now call a "short PIC" of 8 characters. There are several locations where they are explained.
Try here
http://home.xnet.com/~cmaddox/omega/other/omega_pic.html
for one on Chuck Maddox's amazing site.
The short explanation is UVWW.XY.ZZ:
U -- collection, 2 for Seamaster, 3 for Speedmaster, etc.
V -- case metal and strap/bracelet code
W -- product variations
X -- dial color
Y -- hour markers
Z-- strap color and variation
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Now there are "long PICs" which are 14 characters
AAA.BBB.CC.DD.EE.FFF
AAA - the same three digit collection code as used presently. Huh? I didn't know of three digit collection codes, did you?
Here's what I know so far
| Code | Collection |
| 111 | Constellation Mens automatic |
| 113 | Constellation Ladies Quadra Quartz Chronograph |
| 121 | Constellation Double Eagle Chronograph |
| 122 | Constellation Quadra Jewelry |
| 221 | Seamaster Chronograph |
| 222 | Seamaster Planet Ocean |
| 311 | Speedmaster Manual |
| 323 | Speedmaster Auto |
| 422 | Deville Chronoscope Chronograph |
| 423 | Deville X2 Chronograph |
| 431 | Deville Hour Vision |
| 513 | Specialties Tourbillon |
| 516 | Museum watches |
-------------------
BB- represents "WH diams + Bracelet", which I guess is watch head, diamonds and bracelet
I don't have time to reproduce the chart, so let me generalize.
There are only first digits of 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, and 9, or 10s, 20s, 30s, 50s, 60s and 90s, or six ranges of ten.
Last digits are only 0-3 and 5-8.
Thus, there are 8 choices in each range of ten, of which there are six:
ergo, 48 choices.
10s, 20s and 30s are a primarily stainless steel case;
50s and 60s are a primarily gold case;
90s are other metals.
Bracelet or strap is indicated by the code as well, with the higher second digits representing "non-metal" or a strap: that is second digits of 2,3, 7 and 8 (only 0-3 and 5-8 occur in second digits).
The type of material for the strap is further identified by CITES (Convention on International Trade In Endangered Species) or non-CITES with CITES-compliant materials given the higher second digits, 3s and 8s.
The highest second digits of 5-8 are "paved", presumably with diamonds.
------------------------------------
CC - size (width) of watch head rounded to two digits
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DD Type of movement/number of complications
First digit see table below; second digit is the number of complications, not counting one disk date and complications implicit in type of movement
| 0 - | Mechanical |
| 1 - | Mechanical Chronometer |
| 2 - | Mechanical with Coaxial (chronometer assumed) |
| 3 - | Mechanical Chronograph |
| 4 - | Mechanical Chronograph Chronometer |
| 5 - | Mechanical Chronograph Coaxial (chronometer assumed) |
| 6 - | Quartz |
| 7 - | Quartz Chronograph |
-----------------------------
EE - Dial
01 - black
02 - silver
03 - blue
04 - white
05 - white MOP (mother of pearl)
06 - grey
07 - colour (color) MOP
08 - champagne
09 - ivory
10 - lapis lazuli
11 - red
12 - yellow
13 - brown
51 - black and diamonds
52 - silver and diamonds
53 - blue and diamonds
54 - white and diamonds
55 - white MOP (mother of pearl) and diamonds
55 - grey and diamonds
57 - colour (color) MOP and diamonds
58 - champagne and diamonds
59 - ivory and diamonds
61 - red and diamonds
62 - yellow and diamonds
63 - brown and diamonds
64 - sapphire
99 - Others
---------------------------------------
FFF is a counter, apparently a way to count variations and improvements.
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Thus a "patch" 50th Anniversary Speedmaster has a long PIC of
311.30.42.30.01.001
311 or AAA code = manual winding Speedy
30 or BB code = stainless steel and other material case or watch head without diamonds on an "assorted metal" bracelet
[curious -- I have this watch and I am unaware of any non-stainless parts on the watch head]
42 or CC code = 42 mm diameter
30 or DD code = Mechanical chronograph with no complications (other than the chronograph)
01 or EE code -- Black dial
001 or FFF code -- first variation
*********************************************
REFERENCE
323.50.40.44.01.001
This is a solid 18k red gold day date Speedy on a gold bracelet
323 or AAA code = auto winding Speedy
50 or BB code = gold case or watch head without diamonds on an "assorted metal" bracelet
[curious -- any non-gold parts on the bracelet?]
40 or CC code = 40 mm diameter
44 or DD code = Mechanical chronograph chronometer with 4 complications (other than the chronograph): day, date, month 24 hours display
01 or EE code -- Black dial
001 or FFF code -- first variation
**********************
REFERENCE
222.63.46.50.01.001
Planet Ocean chrono red gold on black alligator
222 or AAA code = Planet Ocean
63 or BB code = gold case or watch head plus other material without diamonds on CITES-compliant "non-metal' strap
46 or CC code = 45.5 mm diameter
50 or DD code = Mechanical chronograph with coaxial with no complications (other than the chronograph and single disk day)
01 or EE code -- Black dial
001 or FFF code -- first variation
*****************************************
Hope this helps
I did notice you still can't tell anything about the indices or hands and the color of the metal . . .
Sam aka Hewybaby
