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1963 omega constellation 168.005 missing trim ring

W
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Hello I recently acquired my grandfather's Omega constellation And I'm looking to get it repaired as a gift for my father. Overall it is i fair condition after being worn for close to 40 years and then locked away for another almost 20. However i am missing the trim ring between the crystal and case and looking to purchase a new one as told to me by my local watch repair shop. My problem is im not sure what i am look for, on eBay i fond new crystals will have a Either silver or gold ring. Could this be the trim ring that is missing? I would greatly appreciate if someone can give me some information on what i should be looking for.
Thank you
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Peemacgee
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Welcome @William Taurone
What you are looking for is the bezel. (Not the crystal retaining ring)
These are few and far between I’m afraid.
 
Caliber561
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There is a tension ring on the inside of this crystal, that is either colored yellow or white. What it seems like you are missing is the bezel, which sits outside the crystal. A tension ring, which is what is supplied with replacement crystals, cannot be used as a bezel replacement.

Replacement bezels are very tough to find. Usually, you end up having to salvage one from a donor/'parts' watch.
 
perks713
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Anyone happen to know if they’re still available from Omega?
 
precisionhrlgy
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perks713 perks713
Anyone happen to know if they’re still available from Omega?

Depends on the reference. Some of those older bezels are still available according to the Extranet
 
precisionhrlgy
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I probably should have read the post title!

Part number - 082ST1680005

Extranet lists as available.
 
philips
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I would look on ebay for the same watch in very poor condition, that has the bezel, a donor watch. You could also call Omega directly and ask them if that part is available. They won't sell it to you, but at least find out if it's available and a watchmaker with an Omega account can get it for you. There are also parts sellers like Jules Borel (USA), Cousins in the UK, but doubt if they will have the part.
 
precisionhrlgy
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philips philips
I would look on ebay for the same watch in very poor condition, that has the bezel, a donor watch. You could also call Omega directly and ask them if that part is available. They won't sell it to you, but at least find out if it's available and a watchmaker with an Omega account can get it for you. There are also parts sellers like Jules Borel (USA), Cousins in the UK, but doubt if they will have the part.
See above post.
 
W
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Wow i had no idea i would get responses so fast. Thank you for all the information and insight on this subject. I greatly appreciate everyones time in this matter.
 
Dan S
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W William Taurone
Wow i had no idea i would get responses so fast. Thank you for all the information and insight on this subject. I greatly appreciate everyones time in this matter.

I'm not sure if you followed the posts above, but the bezel needed can be provided directly by Omega. However, Omega does not sell parts to the general public. So to have the part replaced, you will need to have the watch serviced by Omega or by an independent watchmaker with an Omega parts account. If you local watch repair shop had an Omega parts account, they probably would have already given you this information.
 
W
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Dan S Dan S
I'm not sure if you followed the posts above, but the bezel needed can be provided directly by Omega. However, Omega does not sell parts to the general public. So to have the part replaced, you will need to have the watch serviced by Omega or by an independent watchmaker with an Omega parts account. If you local watch repair shop had an Omega parts account, they probably would have already given you this information.
As far as i know he is not affiliated with omega. He does work with Rolex and is a master watchmaker, i know he was consulting the gentleman ahead of me about his Rolex repairs. All he really said would it would be vary hard to find the bezel and that i might be out of luck. I have used him i the past as a jeweler and he does some amazing work but like i seid i don't think he is with omega. Tomorrow i will call the omega retailer near me and see when i can sit down with them and discuss repairs.
Thank you very much i really appreciate
 
Dan S
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W William Taurone
As far as i know he is not affiliated with omega. He does work with Rolex and is a master watchmaker, i know he was consulting the gentleman ahead of me about his Rolex repairs. All he really said would it would be vary hard to find the bezel and that i might be out of luck. I have used him i the past as a jeweler and he does some amazing work but like i seid i don't think he is with omega. Tomorrow i will call the omega retailer near me and see when i can sit down with them and discuss repairs.
Thank you very much i really appreciate

The retailer (AD) would not be an option I would consider. I would either send it directly to an Omega (Swatch) Service Center, or I would do some research and find a good independent watchmaker with an Omega parts account. If you give it to an AD, they will probably outsource it for repair, and you are at their mercy. You don't know where they are sending it, and all of the communication is totally out of your control.
 
perks713
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W William Taurone
Tomorrow i will call the omega retailer near me and see when i can sit down with them and discuss repairs.

Some things to consider:
https://omegaforums.net/threads/things-to-consider-before-having-a-watch-serviced.134016/

In my own opinion it would be ideal to find an Omega authorized watchmaker that can access parts directly from Omega. Several are members of this forum and since @ATracyWatches mentions searching the Extranet they are likely one of them. Service for the watch may be expensive - $400-$1000+ US depending on what's needed, the Bezel itself could be $40 or $400, not sure what it would sell for. Many of the watchmakers on this forum are booked months and months in advance but you never know, they could be available.

As a side note, I recently purchased a crystal and stem from someone on ebay who seemed to have a good amount of Omega parts. Aside from buying a few things I know nothing about them but maybe they'd be worth reaching out to as well: https://www.ebay.com/usr/nwcs84
Edited:
 
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Engee
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Where are you based, William? I’m sure members here can point you in the direction of trusted watchmakers close to you with Omega accounts.
 
W
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Engee Engee
Where are you based, William? I’m sure members here can point you in the direction of trusted watchmakers close to you with Omega accounts.
I live just outside of Albany, new York
 
W
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Dan S Dan S
The retailer (AD) would not be an option I would consider. I would either send it directly to an Omega (Swatch) Service Center, or I would do some research and find a good independent watchmaker with an Omega parts account. If you give it to an AD, they will probably outsource it for repair, and you are at their mercy. You don't know where they are sending it, and all of the communication is totally out of your control.
I vary much agree , i would rather have it repaired with the shop that already looked at it to be honest. I really trust his work i just don't think he has an account with omega that is why he suggested that i look into finding the bezel. I just should have asked him some more questions about what exactly i was look for but everyone has been an incredible help.
 
Peemacgee
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precisionhrlgy ATracyWatches
I probably should have read the post title!

Part number - 082ST1680005

Extranet lists as available.

This is potentially good news.
However, just to sound a note of caution.
IIRC There are at least 3 different case makers for this reference and whilst the dimensions and profile should be similar, some further investigation as to the compatibility of the currently available bezel with all the old cases might prove worthwhile.
 
DON
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Although you trust this watchmaker. If he can't get the part from Omega. He's not going to be much help. Even if you find a match on Ebay to the case reference. People are paying higher prices nowadays for Constellation models and you could end up paying $400+ just for a bezel and it may not fit (no CNC computerized machines back then).

If he's friends with other local watchmakers. Maybe one with an Omega parts account. That watchmaker could order it for him. You could ask the Omega distributor and tell them the story about fixing it for your father and ask about purchasing the bezel May or may not work.

I would avoid buying any watch for parts. That will be the most expensive option

DON
 
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