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Another vintage Constellation to add to my collection!

Anchorman
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My newest acquistion. Not the greatest picture, but it's a SS 1965 or so Constellation. Bought from a co-worker who bought it new around 1965. It doesn't have the original band, so I think for now, she's going to get a black leather watch band.
SS Constellation.jpg
 
U
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168.005 - and if it is from '65 it should have a caliber 564 inside. Worst case, it has a 561 - and that's no slouch either since the only difference is the quick set date. Does the date change if you pull the crown all the way out? If so, it's a 564. Very nice watch! Get it serviced soon so you don't ruin the movement. Did it come with the box and papers?
 
Anchorman
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Ulack...as a newbie with vintage watches, I'm not quite sure what you mean by asking if the date changes when you pull the crown all the way out. I can change the date by going through a 24 hour cycle or by going past midnight, and then back to 9. I didn't have the watch checked out before i purchased it, because I bought it from a trusted person. I was thinking that it has the 561, but on my next off day, it's going to the jeweler to see. I don't have the tools or knowledge to take the thing apart, and I really don't want to "experiment" on this watch, although I don't think that it's too difficult.
 
U
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There should be three crown positions on a 564: the first is all the way in, the second is used to twist the hands, the third will pop the date forward and you push-pull the crown from position 2 to position 3 to rapidly change the date forward. If you can't do this, it's a 561. Either way it's a great watch.
 
Anchorman
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Thanks for the information. It appears that it's a 561. I guess now I'm on the prowl for a 564..
 
dsio
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That looks pretty cool actually, I like the onyx markers. Bracelet looks pretty dreadful though, IMO go a beads-of-rice on it (I'm biased, I love them and I think they're the best bracelet ever made).
 
U
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dsio
That looks pretty cool actually, I like the onyx markers.

By 1965 the top of the indices (markers) were painted black. They stopped using the onyx inserts around '62 or '63. That means that if it's a 564 it shouldn't have onyx.... I think. Nothing was written in stone with Omega back then. Even they're own vintage database says vague things like "may have existed with different dials".

dsio
, IMO go a beads-of-rice on it (I'm biased, I love them and I think they're the best bracelet ever made).

I'd agree that a BoR with 5 rows of rice in the center would look great. I don't like the 7 row version all that much. Now, as to the best? I'd put the IWC Mark XV brick or the Breitliing Pilot's bracelet ahead of the BoR. The only other bracelet I'll wear is the Seiko President homage. Never tried a shark mesh style though and heard good things about them.
 
dsio
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ulackfocus
By 1965 the top of the indices (markers) were painted black. They stopped using the onyx inserts around '62 or '63. That means that if it's a 564 it shouldn't have onyx.... I think. Nothing was written in stone with Omega back then. Even they're own vintage database says vague things like "may have existed with different dials".


I'd agree that a BoR with 5 rows of rice in the center would look great. I don't like the 7 row version all that much. Now, as to the best? I'd put the IWC Mark XV brick or the Breitliing Pilot's bracelet ahead of the BoR. The only other bracelet I'll wear is the Seiko President homage. Never tried a shark mesh style though and heard good things about them.
I know what you mean about the 7 row version, its more 70s feeling, the beads are not as rounded and more flat looking, and they don't pop as much. Compared to many of the bracelets of the day, the Omega 1039 Speedmaster bracelet, the Rolex 9315, Jubilee or rivet, it was a hell of a lot better in comfort and quality.

For modern bracelets my personal picks are the Omega Bond for comfort and looks (resizing is terrible) and the X71 Blancpain (tried one of these on a Fifty-Fathoms and it was amazing).

I've also heard good things about those mesh bracelets, kind of tempted by the Seamaster 300 Watchco remake on mesh, something very sporty and aggressive about that. Looks like the kind of watch a Mossad assassin would wear while burying a foreign dictator in the desert.
 
Steve
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Anchorman
My newest acquistion. Not the greatest picture, but it's a SS 1965 or so Constellation. Bought from a co-worker who bought it new around 1965. It doesn't have the original band, so I think for now, she's going to get a black leather watch band.
SS Constellation.jpg

Lovely watch, I think a good quailty black leather strap will give it a completely new look. 👍
 
Anchorman
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I like the Beads of Rice band, but I am thinking of going with a black leather band for now. I'm thinking that the black band will set off the silver case and the black indices. As soon as I find the right leather band, I'll post more pictures. Thanks for all the input.
 
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