Constellation 167.005 Tropical dial

Sa Calobra · Jul 17, 2021

Hi everyone,
I saw an ad for the Constellation below and fell in love with it, and thinking about buying it.
It's a Cal 551, movement number 25599

Curious to hear your views on it. Anything to consider with dials like these? (durability, sensitivity to light)
As for the rest of the watch?

What would you believe is an appropriate value for this model?
Best, Yves

MtV · Jul 17, 2021

The dial has developed an interesting color - I like it although it really is extreme, but the rest of it is too far gone in my eyes.

The tension ring of the seems to have degraded? It’s dirty and unpleasant. Also there seems to be color missing at the edge of the dial. Case is soft, and the movement looks very tired. I wouldn’t be surprised if there was rust in there tbh, and if the gasket wasn’t only removed for the picture but has been missing for a while, then there’s a good possible reason.

It also depends on the price. For 300€ I’d be tempted, even if it ends up needing a new movement / the case not being particularly attractive. For 700€, this’d be a hard pass for me.

la_lusigne · Jul 17, 2021

Hello,

If you like the dial then great but it doesn’t add any to the value of the watch, it actually depreciates it. But it is to everyone’s appreciation.
Dials like that usually appear due to a default in gaskets and the sealing system in general.
The case of the watch has been highly polished, there isn’t any original trait to it. Even the caseback is heavily polished.
The movement isn’t clean at all. So you’ll have to plan a service.
Finally, it all comes down to the price. I wouldn’t put more than 500e-600e in that watch.

Sa Calobra · Jul 17, 2021

Oh wow that's a lot lower than expected. Isn't there value already in the bracelet?

MtV · Jul 17, 2021

Yves86
Oh wow that's a lot lower than expected. Isn't there value already in the bracelet?

Yes. It’s not correct/the best fit for the case, but it should be around ~150€ I’d say.

ConElPueblo · Jul 17, 2021

I like the bracelet and the only part here worth saving, in my opinion.

The pictures seem to be fairly heavily doctored, so what you end up with will differ from what you see, at least in regards to the dial colour etc.

The movement has been treated badly and is very unattactive. The caseback is one of the worst I have seen on a Constellation. The lugs and bezel have been heavily polished. The dial is toast and - IMO - completely trash.

MtV · Jul 17, 2021

ConElPueblo
The pictures seem to be fairly heavily doctored, so what you end up with will differ from what you see, at least in regards to the dial colour etc.

Good point, forgot to mention this: If you’re going after this because, against my expectations, the price is very low and you wanna try, do ask the seller for pictures of the dial in daylight.

gatorcpa · Jul 17, 2021

The rotor assembly is from a much later watch (maybe early 1970’s?).

This looks to be an over polished, artificially aged frankenwatch.

Run away,
gatorcpa

Peemacgee · Jul 17, 2021

ConElPueblo
I like the bracelet and the only part here worth saving, in my opinion.

The pictures seem to be fairly heavily doctored, so what you end up with will differ from what you see, at least in regards to the dial colour etc.

The movement has been treated badly and is very unattactive. The caseback is one of the worst I have seen on a Constellation. The lugs and bezel have been heavily polished. The dial is toast and - IMO - completely trash.

totally agree with @ConElPueblo - this is a very sad watch.

There is no such thing as a tropical Constellation dial.
There are clean dials, patinated dials, heavily patinated dials and knackered dials.
This dial is off the scale of the latter. ( but ‘toast’ is an apt description)

if you like it that’s great, each to their own - but let’s not attribute a Rolex fandom phrase to cloud the sensible world of Omegas.

I also agree that the only real monetary value is in the bracelet, and the movt looks like a money pit.

Sa Calobra · Jul 17, 2021

Wow this thread gets better by the hour. Thank you all for the contributions.

Let me add to the fun by saying the Catawiki 'expert' valued it at 3000-3300 euros 😁 (i know you should take their valuations with a grain of salt, but still)

ConElPueblo · Jul 17, 2021

ConElPueblo
...lugs and bezel have been heavily polished...

I knew there was something off with the bezel, just couldn't put my finger on it.

It is not a correct 167.005 bezel - on the dogleg versions they are flat, this one has an angle to it like a 14.3XX bezel, or it could be a custom made replacement.

14.381:

Dogleg model:

TexOmega · Jul 17, 2021

OP,

Experts are paid for the end result wanted....

Your example is such.

cristos71 · Jul 17, 2021

Yves86
Let me add to the fun by saying the Catawiki 'expert' valued it at 3000-3300 euros 😁 (i know you should take their valuations with a grain of salt, but still)

😲 Off by a factor of 10 IMO and the only thing I like about that watch is the crown.

A Constellation is a dress watch and as such should be bought as close to mint as possible.

Constellation 167.005 Tropical dial

Sa Calobra

MtV

la_lusigne

Sa Calobra

MtV

ConElPueblo

MtV

gatorcpa

Peemacgee

Sa Calobra

ConElPueblo

TexOmega

cristos71

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