Is this vintage Omega constellation genuine?
Hello,
So I was looking for a vintage constellation and found this one for a decent price.
I am, however, not sure how legitimate it is. It seems to have a real omega movement (I think), but it doesn't seem to be the correct one. According to the dial it has tritium loom on the dial, but I don't think that this watch should have loom. The crown is not the normal decagonal crown constellations have.
Maybe it's some sort of frankenwatch? Or am I jsut wrong and it's actually authentic?
Thank you!
9 comments
Sort by
Crown looks wrong-as you already know. There's a reason the price is decent. Movement looks OK but watch isn't 100% original IMO.
When in doubt, move on.
Not authentic… stay away!
Ok hi there, just joined and yours is the first post I've read so far.
Luckily Omega watches are my passion and my special subject.
Firstly, let me say this is a beautiful looking Constellation and if you can get it for a good price it would be a great find. I've had a good look at the phots and can offer an opinion for you.
The watch is definitely an Omega Constellation but it has a few things that make it stand out so I will detail them below
The serial number on this movement comes back to 1956. 1956 is an interesting year for the Constellation as it marks the last year of production of the original Constellation which was introduced in 1952. The things that are potentially concerning you are likely caused by the presence of features from both the original release Constellations and some from the first updated model released in 1957.
Your dial is the original 1952-1956 style, though the inner minute markers have been repainted at some stage. They don't present with the level of precision that an original dial would have and the presence of the T - SWISS MADE - T certainly alludes to the presence of tritium lume, which the 1952-1956 models did not have. There should also be dot markers painted at each indices instead of the normal stick marker and the crosshair is painted a little darker and thicker than the original Omega markings. This really shouldn't be a deal breaker though as a lot of old dials have had restorations on them and at least they have left the patina and not done a horrible Mumbai special style repaint job. It is my conclusion that this is an Omega service dial that replaced the original sometime after 1957 but before the mid 1960s. These dials had the tritium T markings as from 1957 lume was present on the Delphine hands.
With the presence of the T marker on the dial it is safe to assume that the hands were also replace at the same service with then current tritium lumed hands. Whilst the picture isn't clear enough for me to make a definitive diagnosis on the hands it's safe to assume that if Omega was replacing the dial they would also put some fresh service hands on while the dial was being replaced. The lume on the post 1957 hands is a very thin line up the middle of the hands. The applied indices we not lumed as this is a dress watch and not a sports watch.
This Constellation has a calibre 505 movement which was fitted from 1957 onwards. The original Constellations had a calibre 354 movement from 1952 to 1956. From 1957 onwards they utilised the calibre 505 so this could mean a number of things but as this watch has componentry from both 1956 and 1957 it is most likely a transition model where production was using up the last of their 1952-1956 parts and where the parts we not available from that line up they have used the newer model parts which can potentially give rise to the feelings of trepidation that this is a frankenwatch. Were the serial number to come back from a year not bordering the change to a new model I would be concerned but in my opinion this is unlikely.
The crown is an original 1952-1956 style so this also supports the theory that it is a transitional period watch from likely late 1956, very early 1957. If you are comfortable with the price then I would would say go for it. It is authentic, just with elements of both models from either side of the 1956-1957 changeover period. The good thing is that all parts are authentic Omega.
EDIT: apologies the crown appears to be a Seamaster crown and not the original 1952-1956 crown. Really need to clean my glasses this morning.
I trust that this helps you and I hope that you enjoy it if you decide to go ahead with the purchase. I'm glad that I joined WatchCrunch this morning and glad that my Omega knowledge can be utilised straight away.
Take care and good luck.
Look closely at the point where the one o'clock marker is broken at the edge.
Leave it alone, I would.🤣
Ok hi there, just joined and yours is the first post I've read so far.
Luckily Omega watches are my passion and my special subject.
Firstly, let me say this is a beautiful looking Constellation and if you can get it for a good price it would be a great find. I've had a good look at the phots and can offer an opinion for you.
The watch is definitely an Omega Constellation but it has a few things that make it stand out so I will detail them below
The serial number on this movement comes back to 1956. 1956 is an interesting year for the Constellation as it marks the last year of production of the original Constellation which was introduced in 1952. The things that are potentially concerning you are likely caused by the presence of features from both the original release Constellations and some from the first updated model released in 1957.
Your dial is the original 1952-1956 style, though the inner minute markers have been repainted at some stage. They don't present with the level of precision that an original dial would have and the presence of the T - SWISS MADE - T certainly alludes to the presence of tritium lume, which the 1952-1956 models did not have. There should also be dot markers painted at each indices instead of the normal stick marker and the crosshair is painted a little darker and thicker than the original Omega markings. This really shouldn't be a deal breaker though as a lot of old dials have had restorations on them and at least they have left the patina and not done a horrible Mumbai special style repaint job. It is my conclusion that this is an Omega service dial that replaced the original sometime after 1957 but before the mid 1960s. These dials had the tritium T markings as from 1957 lume was present on the Delphine hands.
With the presence of the T marker on the dial it is safe to assume that the hands were also replace at the same service with then current tritium lumed hands. Whilst the picture isn't clear enough for me to make a definitive diagnosis on the hands it's safe to assume that if Omega was replacing the dial they would also put some fresh service hands on while the dial was being replaced. The lume on the post 1957 hands is a very thin line up the middle of the hands. The applied indices we not lumed as this is a dress watch and not a sports watch.
This Constellation has a calibre 505 movement which was fitted from 1957 onwards. The original Constellations had a calibre 354 movement from 1952 to 1956. From 1957 onwards they utilised the calibre 505 so this could mean a number of things but as this watch has componentry from both 1956 and 1957 it is most likely a transition model where production was using up the last of their 1952-1956 parts and where the parts we not available from that line up they have used the newer model parts which can potentially give rise to the feelings of trepidation that this is a frankenwatch. Were the serial number to come back from a year not bordering the change to a new model I would be concerned but in my opinion this is unlikely.
The crown is an original 1952-1956 style so this also supports the theory that it is a transitional period watch from likely late 1956, very early 1957. If you are comfortable with the price then I would would say go for it. It is authentic, just with elements of both models from either side of the 1956-1957 changeover period. The good thing is that all parts are authentic Omega.
EDIT: apologies the crown appears to be a Seamaster crown and not the original 1952-1956 crown. Really need to clean my glasses this morning.
I trust that this helps you and I hope that you enjoy it if you decide to go ahead with the purchase. I'm glad that I joined WatchCrunch this morning and glad that my Omega knowledge can be utilised straight away.
Take care and good luck.
Great insights. You've just educated us all. Greatly appreciated. Omegas do hold a special place in my heart, and I was just getting into the vintage scene. I just bought my first one (166.0216) about 2 months ago. 👍
I like the 166.0216 it's a great solid automatic Omega from the 1970s but without the dated aesthetics of the 1970s. I think these will be quite popular in the future.
Ok hi there, just joined and yours is the first post I've read so far.
Luckily Omega watches are my passion and my special subject.
Firstly, let me say this is a beautiful looking Constellation and if you can get it for a good price it would be a great find. I've had a good look at the phots and can offer an opinion for you.
The watch is definitely an Omega Constellation but it has a few things that make it stand out so I will detail them below
The serial number on this movement comes back to 1956. 1956 is an interesting year for the Constellation as it marks the last year of production of the original Constellation which was introduced in 1952. The things that are potentially concerning you are likely caused by the presence of features from both the original release Constellations and some from the first updated model released in 1957.
Your dial is the original 1952-1956 style, though the inner minute markers have been repainted at some stage. They don't present with the level of precision that an original dial would have and the presence of the T - SWISS MADE - T certainly alludes to the presence of tritium lume, which the 1952-1956 models did not have. There should also be dot markers painted at each indices instead of the normal stick marker and the crosshair is painted a little darker and thicker than the original Omega markings. This really shouldn't be a deal breaker though as a lot of old dials have had restorations on them and at least they have left the patina and not done a horrible Mumbai special style repaint job. It is my conclusion that this is an Omega service dial that replaced the original sometime after 1957 but before the mid 1960s. These dials had the tritium T markings as from 1957 lume was present on the Delphine hands.
With the presence of the T marker on the dial it is safe to assume that the hands were also replace at the same service with then current tritium lumed hands. Whilst the picture isn't clear enough for me to make a definitive diagnosis on the hands it's safe to assume that if Omega was replacing the dial they would also put some fresh service hands on while the dial was being replaced. The lume on the post 1957 hands is a very thin line up the middle of the hands. The applied indices we not lumed as this is a dress watch and not a sports watch.
This Constellation has a calibre 505 movement which was fitted from 1957 onwards. The original Constellations had a calibre 354 movement from 1952 to 1956. From 1957 onwards they utilised the calibre 505 so this could mean a number of things but as this watch has componentry from both 1956 and 1957 it is most likely a transition model where production was using up the last of their 1952-1956 parts and where the parts we not available from that line up they have used the newer model parts which can potentially give rise to the feelings of trepidation that this is a frankenwatch. Were the serial number to come back from a year not bordering the change to a new model I would be concerned but in my opinion this is unlikely.
The crown is an original 1952-1956 style so this also supports the theory that it is a transitional period watch from likely late 1956, very early 1957. If you are comfortable with the price then I would would say go for it. It is authentic, just with elements of both models from either side of the 1956-1957 changeover period. The good thing is that all parts are authentic Omega.
EDIT: apologies the crown appears to be a Seamaster crown and not the original 1952-1956 crown. Really need to clean my glasses this morning.
I trust that this helps you and I hope that you enjoy it if you decide to go ahead with the purchase. I'm glad that I joined WatchCrunch this morning and glad that my Omega knowledge can be utilised straight away.
Take care and good luck.
Thanks a lot for the insights! Impressive that you know this much.
Look closely at the point where the one o'clock marker is broken at the edge.
Leave it alone, I would.🤣
I don't see what you mean. Where is it broken?
I don't see what you mean. Where is it broken?
Right up against the rehaut it appears broken to me.
Be careful. Hopefully you won't get burned.😎