1966 Omega Constellation 168.005 check

MDemo12 · Mon. 9:06am

Hi everyone!

I'm in the process of buying this Constellation 168.005 domed dial. Those are photos from the seller. Could you please help me check the watch overall, the dial and other components for any signs of redialing/refurbishing? This would be my first vintage Omega so any help is really appreciated, thank you!

Michele

Cartesian · Mon. 9:15am

Hi, Michele, and welcome. This looks to me to be an honest example of a 168.005.

The dial is original (with a nice crisp font!) though it has some age-related spotting, the crown has been replaced (which is not a big deal), and the movement looks like it is a bit worn (which is, again, normal)

Spruce · Mon. 9:26am

Hi Michele,
It looks nice and @Cartesianay well be right about the condition but to me, the dial looks a little too clean, and the photos are just not sharp enough for me.

Also, because the photos are not sharp enough, whilst I can see from the ‘T’ markings at the bottom of the dial that the indices should have tritium luminosity, I’m just not seeing it at the end of the indices.

Get a few more opinions from more knowledgeable OF members before you buy.

MDemo12 · Mon. 9:40am

Thank you both for your kind replies! I'll wait for more comments from the community about the tritium luminosity!

Michele

Cartesian · Mon. 9:41am

Spruce
Hi Michele,
It looks nice and @Cartesianay well be right about the condition but to me, the dial looks a little too clean, and the photos are just not sharp enough for me.

I agree the photos are a bit washed out - and am more than willing to be corrected - though the difficult to replicate serifs on the font made me think the dial was original

Spruce
Also, because the photos are not sharp enough, whilst I can see from the ‘T’ markings at the bottom of the dial that the indices should have tritium luminosity, I’m just not seeing it at the end of the indices.

On further inspection, it does seem hard to see the lume plots on all the indices but I think I see them on at least 1, 5, and 7 here:

M MDemo12

Cartesian · Mon. 9:43am

M MDemo12
Thank you both for your kind replies! I'll wait for more comments from the community about the tritium luminosity!

Michele

But yes, this is a good idea - I'm sure the experts will weigh in soon!

TexOmega · Mon. 9:46am

I like all except the case has seen some polishing and the movement is tired, comes down to price.

Also, add in a service.

MDemo12 · Mon. 9:49am

TexOmega
I like all except the case has seen some polishing and the movement is tired, comes down to price.

Also, add in a service.

Thank you! By "tired" movement you mean the visual appearance? I've got a servicing receipt from the seller dated December 2025

SOG53 · Mon. 9:51am

12 marker appears misaligned
Movement photo shows a different dial to side raising question whether movement goes to this or another watch.
Text looks quite bold and cramped together to my eye.
Compare text

TexOmega · Mon. 9:55am

M MDemo12
Thank you! By "tired" movement you mean the visual appearance? I've got a servicing receipt from the seller dated December 2025

Movement has been through many hands to get in that condition, could be a fly-in, but if serviced, why is the micro regulator arm pegging the right edge to the limit?

Comes down to price

Spruce · Mon. 9:56am

Two more worries:

First, the movement photo shows an entirely different dial and hands adjacent to it, and

Second, the movement is mucky and clearly hasn’t been serviced judging by the position of the regulator

And, again, members who know more about movements will probably spot other problems.

How much is the seller asking?

MDemo12 · Mon. 10:09am

Could it be that the photo of the movement was taken before servicing? The seller is asking for €1500

Peemacgee · Mon. 10:09am

The text does look a little heavy and cramped but the correct different elements appear to be there - even down to the 'dodgy' Cs in the upper text.
If that's a redial - hats off to the person who did it.
The pink furniture is rather lovely.

None of the photos are good enough to assess the case properly.

The movt worries me - as one of our elder members once said, it looks like it has been ridden hard and hung up wet.
Different colours and grubby
Regulator hard (!) over
More importantly the rotor has been dragging severely on the movt.
If this was a pic pre-service, then ok - if not it's going to need one immediately.

(the errant dial is just in the pic for window dressing)

Cartesian · Mon. 10:13am

Spruce
Two more worries:

First, the movement photo shows an entirely different dial and hands adjacent to it, and

Second, the movement is mucky and clearly hasn’t been serviced judging by the position of the regulator

I agree that the regulator arm being moved that far over is not a good sign, though sometimes sellers take pictures pre-service for some reason.

And, the dial in the picture has a sub-second hand, so it wouldn't go to the 561 movement, so it seems to be just an aesthetic choice

Overall, though, it seems like perhaps there are enough yellow flags to pass on this one

Spruce · Mon. 10:23am

Cartesian
I agree that the regulator arm being moved that far over is not a good sign, though sometimes sellers take pictures pre-service for some reason.

And, the dial in the picture has a sub-second hand, so it wouldn't go to the 561 movement, so it seems to be just an aesthetic choice

Overall, though, it seems like perhaps there are enough yellow flags to pass on this one

In your position, I’d keep looking.

It’s sometimes said that ‘you buy the seller as much as the watch’ and anyone reading this thread will be wondering why on earth the seller posted the photo of the movement.

And, just for your future reference, I have two 561 Connie’s and I append the seller’s movement photos when I bought them. One was serviced (and I made sure I got the receipt and that it was from a well known watchmaker) and the other was unserviced.

But, well done for checking here before you bought it 👌

MDemo12 · Mon. 10:53am

Spruce
In your position, I’d keep looking.

It’s sometimes said that ‘you buy the seller as much as the watch’ and anyone reading this thread will be wondering why on earth the seller posted the photo of the movement.

And, just for your future reference, I have two 561 Connie’s and I append the seller’s movement photos when I bought them. One was serviced (and I made sure I got the receipt and that it was from a well known watchmaker) and the other was unserviced.

But, well done for checking here before you bought it 👌

Thank you!

MDemo12 · Mon. 12:55pm

Peemacgee
The text does look a little heavy and cramped but the correct different elements appear to be there - even down to the 'dodgy' Cs in the upper text.
If that's a redial - hats off to the person who did it.
The pink furniture is rather lovely.

None of the photos are good enough to assess the case properly.

The movt worries me - as one of our elder members once said, it looks like it has been ridden hard and hung up wet.
Different colours and grubby
Regulator hard (!) over
More importantly the rotor has been dragging severely on the movt.
If this was a pic pre-service, then ok - if not it's going to need one immediately.

(the errant dial is just in the pic for window dressing)

Thank you! just for my learning experience and just focusing on the dial: you think the heavy and a little cramped test is a red flag or there are proper examples with this heaviness?

Spruce · Mon. 1:20pm

Red flag - and the watch was no bargain either

Peemacgee · Mon. 1:32pm

It would, generally, be a red flag.
But there are instances of ‘heavy’ text being as being ok.
The point being - look for standards that you can be certain of.

TexOmega · Mon. 2:20pm

M MDemo12
Could it be that the photo of the movement was taken before servicing? The seller is asking for €1500

Just say no at anything over $800-900USD FOR THIS ONE.

I’d keep looking

1966 Omega Constellation 168.005 check

MDemo12

Cartesian

Spruce

MDemo12

Cartesian

Cartesian

TexOmega

MDemo12

SOG53

TexOmega

Spruce

MDemo12

Peemacgee

Cartesian

Spruce

MDemo12

MDemo12

Spruce

Peemacgee

TexOmega

Similar threads

1966 Omega Constellation 167.005 Dog-Leg Buying Advice

1966 Omega Constellation 168.005: Cal. 561 vs 564

1966 Omega Constellation 168.005, crosshair domed dial, Cal. 561, freshly serviced

Vintage Omega Constellation 168.005 Authenticity Check

1966 Omega Constellation Gold w/ Gold Bracelet Value

1966 Omega Ladies Cocktail watch - crown replacement