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Dad’s Constellation

estiegel
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My father passed last month and while helping Mom go through his things, we found this watch. I remember him wearing it several years ago, but not recently. I was wondering if anyone can tell me how old it is, what model number, and if it’s worth restoring.

Mom seems to remember that it was a college graduation present from his Dad. That would place it around 1955 or so.

Thanks in advance

Eric
 
AEFC74F9-1281-4AE1-BE3F-F6822F37E343.jpeg 1842A353-7BE5-4844-B707-FA8C63A1D688.jpeg 695F63B7-1C7C-431C-AEC8-EA70D8857C90.jpeg
Davidt
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Looks to be an original and correct arrow head Constellation with a valuable flat link bracelet.

Lovely piece. With a sympathetic service (full movement service, case clean but no polishing, retain crown, hands etc), it will look beautiful.
 
ConElPueblo
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That is a very, very nice watch 😀

I have one pretty similar, sadly without the lovely bracelet yours is on.


289682-ba379b08a7922aa3e875df84e28ddebe.jpg

It could well be the same reference, a reference 2782 with a caliber 354 movement. It is probably from around 1954, given that the logo is the newer, more square type that was introduced around 1953-1954 and it has the "crossed t" in the Constellation text in the bottom half of the dial.

With an absolutely beautiful dial like yours have and a very nice case to boot, it is absolutely worth restoring. The value is probably about $1,00-1,200 for the watch, around $2,000 in total. But hopefully that won't make a difference to you - as a heirloom it is probably neigh on priceless.

Your grandad had great taste 😀


EDIT: The value of the bracelet may well be off, it is very dependent on which reference (number) it is. It could well be even more valuable than my estimate.
 
Peemacgee
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Condolences on the loss of your father.
You have wondeful Constellation there to remember him by.
As above - a service by a competent watchmaker is all it needs.
If you tell us where you are (state or country will do) you should get some recommendations.
 
estiegel
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Peemacgee Peemacgee
Condolences on the loss of your father.
You have wondeful Constellation there to remember him by.
As above - a service by a competent watchmaker is all it needs.
If you tell us where you are (state or country will do) you should get some recommendations.

I am in the western suburbs of Chicago, thanks for the offer
 
ahsposo
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A beautiful watch and a wonderful heirloom.
 
Peemacgee
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estiegel estiegel
I am in the western suburbs of Chicago, thanks for the offer
I can’t personally help as I’m in the U.K. but I’m sure our American members could give you some pointers.
A lot of us post our watches off to trusted watchmakers and our own @Archer is ‘just’ over the border from you.
 
Edward53
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As others have said, it's a beauty of a watch and a very good reflection on your Grandad's taste. I'd love to have had something like that in my family.

Whatever you do, DON'T be tempted to send it to Omega for servicing! Although that might seem like the logical thing, it is absolutely wrong for a vintage piece like this. Their criterion is not to carry out a sympathetic restoration maintaining maximum originality, but to get the piece looking as new as possible which usually involves replacing original parts with later services parts and can even include repainting the dial, which in this case would be an absolute crime. I know that all sounds weird and totally counter-intuitive but it's the way they work. You need to take your time and find the right vintage specialist.
 
cristos71
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Your father had good taste, that's a nice Connie.

It looks like a reference 2782 with a calibre 354 and the bracelet maybe a 1035. The endlinks don't look correct to me for the case. Is that number 48 I see on the back of one?
 
maxbelg
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It's a beauty! Having said that I think they look even better on leather like ConElPueblo's.
 
estiegel
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cristos71 cristos71
Your father had good taste, that's a nice Connie.

It looks like a reference 2782 with a calibre 354 and the bracelet maybe a 1035. The endlinks don't look correct to me for the case. Is that number 48 I see on the back of one?
It does have the number 48 on the back. What does that mean?
 
cristos71
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estiegel estiegel
It does have the number 48 on the back. What does that mean?

That is the reference number of the end link. Hmm, now with those 48 ends ( which I think may have originally been 19mm ) and after having had another look at your bracelet I think it is not a 1035 but possibly an 1175, can you show a picture of the clasp markings?
 
ConElPueblo
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estiegel estiegel
It does have the number 48 on the back. What does that mean?

It's the model of end link when the salesman originally ordered the bracelet, he'd know which sort of end link that was necessary to make the bracelet match up against the specific case. The bracelet can be used on a number of different watches, but the sit flush against the case, a certain end link is necessary.

As @cristos71 says, it would be interesting to know what type of bracelet you have. If you open up the clasp, there should be some markings there - the four digit number is the bracelet model code 😀
 
estiegel
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ConElPueblo ConElPueblo
It's the model of end link when the salesman originally ordered the bracelet, he'd know which sort of end link that was necessary to make the bracelet match up against the specific case. The bracelet can be used on a number of different watches, but the sit flush against the case, a certain end link is necessary.

As @cristos71 says, it would be interesting to know what type of bracelet you have. If you open up the clasp, there should be some markings there - the four digit number is the bracelet model code 😀
ConElPueblo ConElPueblo
It's the model of end link when the salesman originally ordered the bracelet, he'd know which sort of end link that was necessary to make the bracelet match up against the specific case. The bracelet can be used on a number of different watches, but the sit flush against the case, a certain end link is necessary.

As @cristos71 says, it would be interesting to know what type of bracelet you have. If you open up the clasp, there should be some markings there - the four digit number is the bracelet model code 😀

The clasp is really worn, and pictures are not coming out correctly. It looks like it is engraved with an oval on the left showing "No 12" "Stainless Steel" in the middle and OMEGA s[spelled out at the end with the Omega logo above it.
 
cristos71
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estiegel estiegel
The clasp is really worn, and pictures are not coming out correctly. It looks like it is engraved with an oval on the left showing "No 12" "Stainless Steel" in the middle and OMEGA s[spelled out at the end with the Omega logo above it.

As far as I know this "No 12" is correct for the 1175 bracelet. Note also the lack of stretch links.

Basically what this all means is that the bracelet isn't period correct for your 50's Constellation. This "No12" bracelet, also known as a 1175 is from 10 or 15 years later.....and yes it does hurt the value...
 
Edward53
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cristos71 cristos71
As far as I know this "No 12" is correct for the 1175 bracelet. Note also the lack of stretch links.

Basically what this all means is that the bracelet isn't period correct for your 50's Constellation. This "No12" bracelet, also known as a 1175 is from 10 or 15 years later.....and yes it does hurt the value...

upload_2018-1-10_18-20-10.jpeg
 
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