Constellation vs Seamaster?

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dhgarrabrant

·Jul 6, 2020

Hi all, I've been a causal watcher of the forums for sometime. Now I'm starting to seriously look at pulling the trigger on a vintage watch. I'm looking for a gold watch I can wear to work when I have to been in a suit (~50% of the days). Obviously, I've come to the logically conclusion that likely a good Connie or Seamaster would fit the bill nicely. I do like the piepans, but outside of aesthetics is there anything in your mind that really differentiates the two? I don't really have any other preferences (center second vs subdial, date vs time only, etc).

 

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X350 XJR

·Jul 6, 2020·Vintage Omega Aficionado

Generally speaking, at least how they were originally marketed.

Seamaster = sportier

Constellation = dressier

 

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Peemacgee

·Jul 6, 2020·Purrrr-veyor of luxury cat box loungers

The Constellation was Omega’s flagship model and (until sometime in the mid 70s) carried their best chronometer rated movts.
Some Seamasters were also chronometer rated but generally had ‘standard’ Omega movts (which were still pretty damned high quality)

Alongside pie pans there are dome dial Connies which, (IMHO) due to their simple elegance, befit the work environment and a suit better than the more showy pie-pan.

 

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dhgarrabrant

·Jul 6, 2020

Oh, those domed dials are quite attractive.

Are both movements similar in terms of service?

 

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BrianPankow

·Jul 6, 2020

I have a couple of both in my 12 or so collection of wrist watches. The Constellation is my favorite watch. While dressy it is so beautiful it will make anything look better except maybe shorts. Save a Seamaster for those. 😀 With a nice leather band, the Connie weights nothing at all.

 

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Banner Roar

·Jul 6, 2020

I go for bigger Connie's at 37.5mm very dapper on the wrist.......

 

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Peemacgee

·Jul 7, 2020·Purrrr-veyor of luxury cat box loungers

D dhgarrabrant

Oh, those domed dials are quite attractive.

Are both movements similar in terms of service?

yes, because the Omega movts were essentially a family of movts, the contemporary versions were very similar to each other.
So much so that unscrupulous sellers can swap parts from a chronometer movt onto a non-chronometer movt to try to fool the unwary.

the nice thing about Connies is that each reference often came in both pie pan and dome dial styles, both date and no date, from the two tone dome dials of the 50s lyre lugs (and later) through the dog legs and into the hidden crown references of the 60s.
After which came flat dials of the late 60s (which have their own elegance)
So, there isn’t one ‘pie pan‘ or one ‘dome dial’ but many to choose from.

if you haven’t seen it, spend some quality time lost in the many pages of this glorious OF thread
https://omegaforums.net/threads/vintage-constellations-show-and-tell.19186/

 

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DJG2645

·Jul 7, 2020

I am a fan of the Jumbo's, haven't yet got a Connie but I have got a jumbo Seamaster that has a lot of wrist presence 😀

 

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gbesq

·Jul 7, 2020

A vintage pie pan no date Constellation is hard to beat as a dress watch.

 

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Peemacgee

·Jul 7, 2020·Purrrr-veyor of luxury cat box loungers

gbesq

A vintage pie pan no date Constellation is hard to beat as a dress watch.

well now, I'm going to see your rather lovely gold cap dogleg piepan and raise you a solid gold 14382 de luxe dome dial 😉
(simple elegance and bling all in one watch)

 

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gbesq

·Jul 7, 2020

^That's a beauty!

 

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wilderbeast

·Jul 7, 2020

But for a more modern dressy watch for work wear, I love the C-case Connie:

I also have a 1956 Seamaster, but the dial has been refinished. In a way this makes it more presentable as a daily wearer:

I use both for office wear. There are so many options with these two families of watches.

 

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mrbreen

·Jul 7, 2020

Fair warning: regardless of which model you buy first (and either will look great for your needs), you’ll soon be looking to buy the other 😀

 

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wilderbeast

·Jul 7, 2020

mrbreen

Fair warning: regardless of which model you buy first (and either will look great for your needs), you’ll soon be looking to buy the other 😀

Wise words, my friend.

 

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MtV

·Jul 7, 2020

mrbreen

Fair warning: regardless of which model you buy first (and either will look great for your needs), you’ll soon be looking to buy the other 😀

Last weekend, I met a guy who was interested in either a C-shaped Conni or a sparkle-dial Seamaster I had on offer. He asked me beforehand about the difference of the two watches, as light dials, steel cases and similar sizes seemed to him like they were pretty identical. Seeing the two in person he tried both on and compared them. Until he took a deep breath and asked “Ok, so what would be your price if I took both?”

I could completely relate.

 

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dhgarrabrant

·Jul 7, 2020

That's my fear; what's one more? I've only really dabbled in watches. A few Seikos, a Baume and Mercier, a couple of Casios (who doesn't love a G-Shock or F91w), a Swatch, and recently a Rolex, but as I look at new watches, I keep getting drawn to vintage. Mainly because I'm quite small, so everything over 36mm doesn't look great on me.

I'll spend the rest of my day looking at different examples to see what really speaks to me.

My wife disagrees with seven watches being only dabbling, but what's a fight for another day...

 

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felsby

·Jul 7, 2020·I don't see any option in settings or profile

D dhgarrabrant

...
My wife disagrees with seven watches being only dabbling, but what's a fight for another day...

Ask her to count her shoes. Tell her to take her time. That should do it.

 

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harrymai86

·Jul 8, 2020

Piepan dial is hard to resist, top dress watch for the money in the market

 

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dhgarrabrant

·Jul 8, 2020

So many cool different examples. It's going to be very hard to narrow the field. The only other non-Omega that I really like is the IWC cal 89. That also has a number of different dials and lugs you can find.

 

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Peter_from_NL

·Jul 8, 2020

DJG2645

I am a fan of the Jumbo's, haven't yet got a Connie but I have got a jumbo Seamaster that has a lot of wrist presence 😀

Jumbo fan also. Recent acquisition from forum member!