Advice on Getting a 1963 Constellation Repaired

slatermethuen · Dec 30, 2019

Hi, this is my first post so please go easy on me!

Whilst going through my late father's possessions I came across this Constellation watch. It was bought from Nottingham, England in 1963. Please forgive the poor photos, since they were taken on my phone.

The face, glass and hands seem to be in a bad condition - the second hand catches slightly on the minute hand. I would love to get this this repaired so that I can wear it (I have no intention of selling it). The bracelet is clearly not the original so I would like to get that changed as well.

I have been visiting various jewellers in Southampton and Winchester, and they are saying a repair by Omega would start at £700 and would likely end up being much more. I don't feel that it would be worth spending that much on this watch (unless the experts here can convince me otherwise). Although it was my dad's, I never remember him wearing it so I have no sentimental reason for spending that much money.

So my questions to the experts here are:

Would it be worth (in purely financial terms) getting it repaired by Omega?

Can anyone recommend a cheaper independent watch repairer in central southern England that could get the watch into a useable state for less than Omega would charge?

What sort of strap/bracelet would this have had originally?

Any more information about this watch would be welcome.

Shabbaz · Dec 30, 2019

Very nice watch you have there. 700 pounds or more is ridiculous. We have a very good watchmaker here on OF from the UK. @ChrisN maybe can help you. Or people can direct you to another independent watchmaker.

Watch came originally on a leather bracelet. I think BOR was optional.

Is it a 167.005?

Shabbaz · Dec 30, 2019

I see a original connie box on the background. Cool! Those are quite expensive as well. Do you have a picture of it?

janice&fred · Dec 30, 2019

oh yea baby that's a beauty! hope you can find a reasonable watch repair shop nearby to service her up.

and a quick translation of the idiosyncratic vernacular in case the OP isn't a WIS (watch idiot savant)...BOR is beads of rice bracelet and connie is constellation 😀

Noddyman · Dec 30, 2019

Shabbaz
We have a very good watchmaker here on OF from the UK. @ChrisN maybe can help you.

Sssshhh he needs to fit one of mine in first.😀

Shabbaz · Dec 30, 2019

janice&fred
and a quick translation of the idiosyncratic vernacular in case the OP isn't a WIS (watch idiot savant)...BOR is beads of rice bracelet and connie is constellation 😀

Yes. I mean this! 😁

slatermethuen · Dec 30, 2019

Shabbaz
Very nice watch you have there. 700 pounds or more is ridiculous. We have a very good watchmaker here on OF from the UK. @ChrisN maybe can help you. Or people can direct you to another independent watchmaker.

Watch came originally on a leather bracelet. I think BOR was optional.

Is it a 167.005?

What sort of price would you expect to pay (assuming there is nothing majorly wrong with the movement)?

The watch says 167.005 inside.

The back came off quite easily so I was able to have a look inside. To my untrained eye the internals looked pristine. I was going to take some photos of the inside with my proper camera but I have just dropped the watch off at a jewellers in Winchester called Offord & Sons who said they would get me a no obligation quotation from their watch repairer. Does anyone have experience of this place?
They did suggest a repair and sympathetic tidy up could be around £400.

Shabbaz · Dec 30, 2019

Service normally is between EUR 200 and EUR 500 depending on location, condition and parts that need to be replaced. So it's on the high end. What do they mean with a tidy up? Be very specific what you want with the watch. For example, most collectors dont want their watches to be polished.

slatermethuen · Dec 30, 2019

janice&fred
oh yea baby that's a beauty! hope you can find a reasonable watch repair shop nearby to service her up.

and a quick translation of the idiosyncratic vernacular in case the OP isn't a WIS (watch idiot savant)...BOR is beads of rice bracelet and connie is constellation 😀

Thanks for the translation! I prefer the look of leather straps, but they never seem to last very long. Does anyone know where I could get a beads of rice bracelet from (either Omega or a decent replica)?

Shabbaz · Dec 30, 2019

S slatermethuen
Thanks for the translation! I prefer the look of leather straps, but they never seem to last very long. Does anyone know where I could get a beads of rice bracelet from (either Omega or a decent replica)?

Ebay or sales forum here

GarethS · Dec 30, 2019

I can recommend @ChrisN who recently serviced my grandfather's 1910 Omega pocket watch and produced a fabulous report of the process.

I have also used The Watch Guy - no report unfortunately but the process was well documented and can be viewed through his website. He also has a standard pricelist - he is generally swamped with work and allegedly turns away more work than he can handle so be patient.

And just in case no one has mentioned before Do Not Send to Omega. They will replace stuff that does not need replacing then polish the crap out of it and charge you five times over the odds for the privilege.

slatermethuen · Dec 30, 2019

Shabbaz
Service normally is between EUR 200 and EUR 500 depending on condition and parts that need to be replaced. So it's on the high end. What do they mean with a tidy up? Be very specific what you want with the watch. For example, most collectors dont want their watches to be polished.

The lady at Offord and Sons was quite careful about explaining the need for a repair to be sympathetic to the watch's age so they would clean it, but not polish it. I feel like the glass ought to be polished, but is that something that should be left alone?

Shabbaz · Dec 30, 2019

Polishing the plexi is no problem. Especially because i think i can see a authentic omega plexi

slatermethuen · Dec 30, 2019

Shabbaz
I see a original connie box on the background. Cool! Those are quite expensive as well. Do you have a picture of it?

Here is a picture of the box.

I actually found a second identical box at my dad's house, but no watch in it 🙁

So somewhere there is another Omega of the same vintage, but I haven't found it yet. I suspect it might be a ladies model he bought for my mum at the same time (also deceased so I can't ask her 🙁 )

slatermethuen · Dec 30, 2019

Shabbaz
Polishing the plexi is no problem. Especially because i think i can see a authentic omega plexi

Please forgive my ignorance, but what am I looking at there?

Peemacgee · Dec 30, 2019

Welcome @slatermethuen and both congratulations on your inheritance and commiserations on the loss of your father.
You have a very nice dome dial dogleg constellation there.
‘63 is when Omega changed the reference from 14900 to 167.005, so it is an early version of this reference.
the watch is in pretty good condition for a 56 year old watch.
The case is really very good and it’s really important you not have it polished, a sonic clean is all that is required.
The dial has micro- bubbling of the lacquer and this is common for Connies.
If no one tries to clean the dial then it could stay like this for another 50 years.
The crown is original which is a bonus
The crystal can be polished but if you replace it then ask for a genuine Omega crystal. ( they have a tiny Omega symbol in the centre)

since you know the date of purchase, do you have the papers as well as the box?

Shabbaz · Dec 30, 2019

S slatermethuen
Here is a picture of the box.

I actually found a second identical box at my dad's house, but no watch in it 🙁

So somewhere there is another Omega of the same vintage, but I haven't found it yet. I suspect it might be a ladies model he bought for my mum at the same time (also deceased so I can't ask her 🙁 )

Very nice to see the inner box. That's uncommon. Most are just empty. You can recognise a genuine plexi when there's a small omega symbol in the middle. Like this

slatermethuen · Dec 30, 2019

Peemacgee
Welcome @slatermethuen and both congratulations on your inheritance and commiserations on the loss of your father.
You have a very nice dome dial dogleg constellation there.
‘63 is when Omega changed the reference from 14900 to 167.005, so it is an early version of this reference.
the watch is in pretty good condition for a 56 year old watch.
The case is really very good and it’s really important you not have it polished, a sonic clean is all that is required.
The dial has micro- bubbling of the lacquer and this is common for Connies.
If no one tries to clean the dial then it could stay like this for another 50 years.
The crown is original which is a bonus
The crystal can be polished but if you replace it then ask for a genuine Omega crystal. ( they have a tiny Omega symbol in the centre)

since you know the date of purchase, do you have the papers as well as the box?

I remember seeing the receipt when I was going through my dad's paperwork, but I fear they may have been lost forever now.

slatermethuen · Dec 30, 2019

Thanks for all the helpful advice. I have already chatted with @ChrisN and will be sending the watch to him for a quotation.

Shabbaz · Dec 30, 2019

That's good to hear. Your watch will be in good hands. Enjoy!

Advice on Getting a 1963 Constellation Repaired

slatermethuen

Shabbaz

Shabbaz

janice&fred

Noddyman

Shabbaz

slatermethuen

Shabbaz

slatermethuen

Shabbaz

GarethS

slatermethuen

Shabbaz

slatermethuen

slatermethuen

Peemacgee

Shabbaz

slatermethuen

slatermethuen

Shabbaz

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