18k Constellation Quartz Ref 198.0111 Caliber 1346 help please

[SameGuy]

I apologize in advance if this first post will sound uncouth, but here goes. I don’t mean to annoy any of the members and collectors and true Omega aficionados here.

My two siblings and I are in the final stages of closing out our mom’s estate, with the distribution to be split between the three of us. We’ve already sold jewelry and coins for what we found were fair prices of 85-95% of fine gold spot.

The last piece to sell is an Omega Constellation Chronometer Quartz in solid 18k yellow gold, with a custom 18k bracelet that looks like a Rolex knockoff. I only found out about this watch a couple of months before mom passed, so it has zero sentimental value to any of us. Dad received it as a gift from a close friend, a fine jeweller in Italy, around the time it could’ve been current stock in the late 70s, and we believe the friend fabricated the bracelet for it.

So now the crass part. None of us wants the watch (I inherited dad’s circa-1950 18k JLC-Türler auto, which my dad wore every single day that he was in my life). We’ve decided to sell this watch and distribute the proceeds as per the will. I brought it to the Swatch Group service centre downtown to remove the back and get the reference and caliber details, and asked them to leave the back off (photos further down). Last fall I brought it to an indie and he replaced the battery, and I later learned the sequence of crown twists and button pushes to set the time and day/date.

We’ve taken it to jewellers and gold and jewelry buyers around town and have been getting what we think are offensively low offers, including from the places that paid ok for the coins and jewelry. I’m not delusional about the value of a quartz watch, and know that without finding an individual who wants this watch, we won’t get more than scrap value offers. Therein lies the problem. The complete watch weighs almost 120 g; all the offers so far have been based on their guesses that the non-gold parts (movement, dial, hands, crystal, etc) weigh “at least” 40 g. 😒 Can anybody shed some light on this? I’d have thought the total would be closer to 15-20 g. Also, if anybody knows of a reputable buyer in Montreal, we’d appreciate that info as well. Thank you all who contribute to this forum.

 

[Bruce235]

That is a nice bracelet. Is it 18k and hallmarked? I see an Omega logo on it but, I don't know if it is authentic, some pics of any markings may help.
You should list on ebay with details and lots of photos. Show lug width and length of bracelet. Put on no reserve sale. You will get what it's worth that way.
I would think it is worth more than scrap value.

Also search eBay for completed sales for this ref. To get value info.

Edited: Feb 6, 2023

 

[SameGuy]

Thank you for the reply. I’ve searched the ref and it doesn’t seem to come up with many hits, and virtually none in solid gold. There’s a vendor in Spain I saw on C24 with the same ref in yellow, with a leather strap with which our piece likely originally sold.

As for this band, there is no hallmark, only “Italy 18k” and that (certainly fake) Omega embossing visible above. It is a nice bracelet. The indie shops didn’t want to mess with the Explorer-style shrouds over the spring bars to remove it, they seem to hide the rings. I’ll take a closer look later. FWIW my basic (read: Taiwanese) kit doesn’t have Explorer spring bar tweezers. 😉

 

[MtV]

I don’t know the weight of the caliber, unfortunately, why not see if you can find a watchmaker near you who can take it out and weigh the rest? Not a difficult task and wouldn’t cost a fortune.

The value of the watch will unfortunately be very much gold value plus a minute amount for the movement - those are not very sought-after pieces, so to find a buyer who’s willing to pay this much money on one of those is a challenge to say the least.

 

[Bruce235]

I think the bracelet has it's own value to vintage omega people. Eg I have a solid gold 50s Constellation that it would go with nicely.

So you could measure the width, length and gold weight and list it separately. Then put the head on a new cheap black leather strap and list it. Somebody may want the case to swap in a dial and movement to make a gold Franken watch.

Another way to go would be an auction house near you.

 

[MtV]

Bruce235

I think the bracelet has it's own value to vintage omega people.

Note that there are many aftermarket bracelets that were handmade for certain watches and were decorated with an Omega logo, that still doesn’t make them OEM parts. Here’s another such examples:



From my limited experience they’re usually trades at about scrap value. I doubt it’s a different story with the OPs bracelet, as he states himself, but happy to stand corrected.

 

[Donn Chambers]

Only thing I will add here is make sure you take into account selling fees on eBay -- they are likely to be high enough to cancel any extra you can get from scrap value. As others have said, these quartz Constellations are not very collectible and many who might buy one won't pay the premium for a solid gold case and bracelet.

If you do decide to sell for scrap, make sure to remove the movement and crystal first so the price is based on the actual weight, not their estimated weight. I'm surprised the jeweler didn't offer to do this -- I sold a non-functioning 18k gold watch with a bad dial several years ago. The jeweler opened it up and removed the movement and crystal before weighing and giving me my offer.

 

[SameGuy]

Thank you all. This is all good info for us. Yes, as I said earlier, we’re not expecting it to fetch a premium over scrap value, and indeed the eBay fees were an eye-opener. I’ll see if I can find a local jeweller or watch specialist who can remove the innards and crystal. Does anybody know if the dial and analog movement mechanics might also be gold?

 

[SameGuy]

PS: yes, it seems like a shame to part it out. If I were the sole heir I’d likely keep it as-is, but because it’s part of an estate distribution we’d just like it to be settled.

 

[webvan]

Nope, no gold in that dial or in the movement.
Keep the movement so you can sell it separately on eBay, there are always people on the lookout for old quartz movements.
Let us know how it works out !

 

[Bruce235]

Not OEM but I thought would appeal to Omega owners more than say a rolex owner. Good point that the ebay fees may exceed the scrap premium if any.

OP will have to find a more "generous" gold buyer.

 

[SameGuy]

Many thanks for all the replies. I’ll pop back in with any updates, but I’ll be sure to get an avatar up because I may use my share of the proceeds to try to track down a Speedy or perhaps an auto Connie. These are just such nice timepieces!