1. Yes. They will give you an "Extract from the Archives" that tells you when and where the watch was delivered to the wholesaler.

2. Yes, if it were white gold, there would be two very small hallmarks on the inside of the lugs. Also, the observatory on the back would show the bricks on solid gold pieces like this one:



It would also be exceedingly rare and have a very high value.

3. I have not, but here is the link to Omega's website that discusses cost:

http://www.omegawatches.com/customer-service/watch-intervention/complete-maintenance-service-prices

Your watch is likely a Group A, which will cost just under $1,000 to service. It will take at least six months, maybe more if you send it in August when the factory closes for vacations. A much better choice would be to take it to an independent watchmaker. Since I don't know where you are located, I can't make any recommendations in your area. If you choose to mail it, Al Archer in Canada would be a good choice. Look up "Archer" here, you'll find many of his posts.

Good luck with your project.
gatorcpa

 

OK, but please do not, do not, do not let Omega touch the dial unless it's really in horrible condition. They will want to repaint it, which will not be done to the same standard as when the watch was new.

We could help you more with pictures of the watch pre-Omega service.
gatorcpa

 

All you have to know is that some serious vintage omega collectors will not send their pieces to omega to be serviced - price is too high and their efforts at real sympathetic restoration are spotty at best.

 

They can not re-do the the indices, or hash marks as you call them, without refinishing the dial. I wish we could have seen the watch before you sent if off, as we could have given you very specific recommendations. Honestly, you would be much better off giving them the $75 and getting the watch back.

 

You might not be old enough to remember this, but...

gatorcpa

 

No, it's more of a "no one knows how to do the job properly anymore" thing. Omega used dozens of contractors to make those dials back then. Most have gone out of business, so the original dies are long gone. The modern companies are capable of doing the work, but without the original dies it's impossible to make them look the same.

For American watches, a lot of the original dial companies are still in business and use the old processes to refurbish dials. So for American watch collectors (think Hamilton, Elgin, Waltham, etc.) it's not a terrible thing to redo a dial.

But for Omega collectors, it's a big Bozo no-no.
gatorcpa

 

No not at all. In fact they are better then many companies. Rolex will not even work on a watch as old as yours. If you just have them service the movement that is fine. But you have to understand that watch manufacturers have a very different perspective than watch collectors or owners with a sentimental sensitivity. Their objective is to make a watch like a new one, not necessarily the one they made decades ago. Any changes at all are seen as perfectly fine to them. They do not have the facility to redo every dial and case they receive. Sometimes they do good work on cases, but dials they generally sub out to independent subcontractors . Omega is not a museum conservator.

 

For vintage collectors: Less is more For watch company: Less profit
So it makes economic sense to try to restore to new to get their warranty and of course to maximize the bottom line.

 

Technically, the Boutique is correct. The watch will be sent to the Omega factory where technicians there will do the work. That makes it is a factory restoration and they do back their work with a 2-year warranty.

However, not all of the original parts are still around. So Omega makes do with what they have. The supply of new-old-stock dials for Constellations were exhausted a long time ago.

Hope this helps,
gatorcpa

 

Steve N2FHL is good too in NJ