Connie MEISTER date dial on cal 561 movement

southtexas · Nov 18, 2019

Hello all. A few members have shown interest in this combo and I’m doing research to ensure we all know exactly what it belongs to. My initial search said 168.006, but now I’m not so sure.

For help, I’ve scoured: omega watches.com reference search; omega constellation collector blogspot “de luxe models”; Chrono24 listings; OF website.

Data:
Dial has “officially certified” but doesn’t have ”Calendar”
The 561 movement has serial (20,371,XXX) dates to ca. 1963
Dial OD measures approx. 29.28mm (measured from outermost edges of dial—I’m trying to point pencil to it in pic.)
The watchmaker recalls the case being solid Gold and being melted (whether correct or not, obviously I don’t know).

While the omega site is nice wherein you can insert a reference, a number of the models it presents are just pencil drawings. Also, I know that there are any number of dial varieties within any given reference.

Any help is appreciated!

Robby

gatorcpa · Nov 18, 2019

Have you removed the dial from the movement to confirm that is it solid 18K? There should be a hallmark on the back of the dial.

Could be a dial from one of several early Constellation DeLuxe models:

https://www.omegawatches.com/en-us/vintage-watches?v_watches_calibre=3066

My suggestion would be to look up the case references from the above link in Google, and choose "Images" to determine which one is closest. But bear in mind that the same dial could have been used for several similar references.

Then again, Ref. 168.006 might very well be right.

https://omegaforums.net/threads/18k-constellation-türler-pie-pan-is-this-beauty-not-a-bargain.11377/

Hope this helps,
gatorcpa

southtexas · Nov 18, 2019

Thanks for this link Gator https://omegaforums.net/threads/18k-constellation-türler-pie-pan-is-this-beauty-not-a-bargain.11377/

Looks like mine is a dead match for that 168.006 dial if Hoipolloi is correct in that thread. I didn't take off the hands yet since I don't want to risk any damages to the dial...but maybe I'll need to run it by my watchmaker to confirm what it is.

hoipolloi · Nov 18, 2019

Don't need to remove the dial. 100% of dial in that color with large onyx inserts hour markers are 18 k gold.
It will fit into a 168.006 case to be a correct combination .

gatorcpa · Nov 18, 2019

hoipolloi
It will fit into a 168.006 case to be a correct combination .

Actually, these cases are marked 168.005/6 because they are used for both models.

The 18K gold dial separates the .006 from the .005.
gatorcpa

hoipolloi · Nov 18, 2019

gatorcpa
Actually, these cases are marked 168.005/6 because they are used for both models.

The 18K gold dial separates the .006 from the .005.
gatorcpa

Yes. It looks like this

And 168.005 is correct for a normal dial

And 006 is for 18k dial.

southtexas · Nov 18, 2019

Great details, thanks to you both

Peemacgee · Nov 19, 2019

hoipolloi
Don't need to remove the dial. 100% of dial in that color with large onyx inserts hour markers are 18 k gold.
It will fit into a 168.006 case to be a correct combination .

Do you know, I hadn’t previously noticed the style of onyx inserts on the OP’s dial
Flat top surface instead of the usual prismatic shape.
Less finesse perhaps but they do give the dial something of a robust presence.

Just checked my 14382 dome dial deluxe and it has them too 😀:facepalm2:😀

Were these large flat inserts a feature of the gold dials of the time @hoipolloi or do you know if they ever appeared on other non-precious dials too?

Claven2 · Nov 19, 2019

Great dial and movement, I really hope you find a case. So many have been converted to bullion, perhaps yours was too 🙁

hoipolloi · Nov 19, 2019

Peemacgee
Were these large flat inserts a feature of the gold dials of the time @hoipolloi or do you know if they ever appeared on other non-precious dials too?

No, I haven't seen them on a non-precious dial yet.
(these large inserts are always on 18k pie pan dials.)
On 18 k domed dials, Omega also used small inserts.

A friend of mine (a watchmaker) has removed and tested, compared and said they ( small and large) are made by different material.
Large are straight, hard and cannot be bent.
Small are softer and can be bent.

Noddyman · Nov 19, 2019

hoipolloi
No, I haven't seen them on a non-precious dial yet.
(these large inserts are always on 18k pie pan dials.)
On 18 k domed dials, Omega also used small inserts.

A friend of mine (a watchmaker) has removed and tested, compared and said they ( small and large) are made by different material.
Large are straight, hard and cannot be bent.
Small are softer and can be bent.

I'd never noticed this until you pointed out.

Peemacgee · Nov 19, 2019

hoipolloi
No, I haven't seen them on a non-precious dial yet.
(these large inserts are always on 18k pie pan dials.)
On 18 k domed dials, Omega also used small inserts.

A friend of mine (a watchmaker) has removed and tested, compared and said they ( small and large) are made by different material.
Large are straight, hard and cannot be bent.
Small are softer and can be bent.

No neither had I @Noddyman
My 14382 dome dial with previously unnoticed large flat indices

Connie MEISTER date dial on cal 561 movement

southtexas

gatorcpa

southtexas

hoipolloi

gatorcpa

hoipolloi

southtexas

Peemacgee

Claven2

hoipolloi

Noddyman

Peemacgee

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