Cal. 1343 Quartz Chonometer Service? Constellation 198.0112

Hello all and sundry,

If you have any experience getting a cal. 1343 quartz chronometer serviced or, indeed, servicing it yourself, do chime in.

I did that ready, fire, aim thing on a cold Friday night with some bourbon and now own a (relatively cheap) Constellation 198.0013 [edit, its a 198.0112] described as "Second hand doesn’t work". Taking gamble that perhaps the hand is loose and it just needs to be de-cased and re-seated (something I'll do myself). I also forsee myself having to make a new case back gasket...

Of course, and more likely, the movement needs a service or a replacement. All this because Connie # 3 needed to be stainless and wacky 70s.

The best blurry auction photo:


Thanks and regards,

Many thanks, will look the cross-references.

Step 1 seems to be "new battery", then go from there.

For completeness, there are a couple YT vids of disaembly of the 13xx movements (from a self described amateur, but helpful)

1342:
1345:

Picked it up this week and, in good news:
1) It works with a fresh battery!
2) The strap has an original Omega buckle;
3) Ref # is 198.0112
4) Cal is 1343
5) Movement SN dates it to 1977.

In less good news:
1) there's something funky going on with the crown and the "push" part (It has been mangled);
2) which probably explains why the push and hold and push again to advance the minute hand function isn't working (the push to advance or hack the second IS working).

Currently cleaning up the case and dial and looking into if a new and crown and stem are required. Or a complete service.

Thoughts are welcome about the setting the minute the issue.

Many, many thanks!

Updates to follow.

Many thanks to the OF community for reading and the resources and encouragement. It runs and works! I will, certainly, need to service the mechanical side in due course; but enjoying this win for now.

Hand setting issue
After de-casing the movement and cleaning the case and stem (ultrasonic with Simple Green and distilled water) and manually removing all sorts of gunk (deceased gasket?) from the stem and crown, I've been able to set the time!



It was sold as "something wrong with the hands"; problem solved.

Strap
I revived the strap (as you can when they're quality) with automotive leather care products. A cleaner with lots of moisturizers followed by a treatment and lots of time for the goop to soak in.

The strap is either an original or period replacement based on how well it fits the Omega buckle. And the dimensions are wacky! ~22mm at the lugs that narrows down to ~15mm! Oh the later 70s! I will need to get one custom made, however, because I'm maxed out on this one and it isn't comfortable (7.75").


Testing Note
Note, with these movements - if the minute hand won't set/seconds hand won't advance - an easy test to verify if the movement is good (once up and running with a battery) is to de-case the movement into a holder, fit the battery and stem, and test by simply pushing the crown (and not the centre). With the movement out of the case, the entire crown will push in for the minute and second hand setting.




Again, many thanks to the OF community for reading and the resources and encouragement.

And for completeness, a new old stock rear gasket I found on ebay arrived today and was installed (with appropriate silicone).

Does anyone know (@sheepdoll ?) if these came with a crown gasket and the part number or a source? I think some of the gunk I scraped off this was degraded crown gasket.

I'm a fan of redoing all the gaskets on a vintage piece to keep moisture etc.. out and make them more day-to-day wearable.

Obligatory group photo:

A custom-made strap is in progress with @Duracuir1. The wacky (stock) 22mm to 14mm drop isn't one you find on the shelf.