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Does a 167.500 Constellation caseback ever not have a medallion?

  1. hobbes85 May 7, 2020

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    Long time lurker on OF and have been interested in vintage constallations for a while. I recently found a copy of a 167.005 Pie pan and everything looked great based on all my research about that particular reference. The only thing out of place was the caseback did not have a medallion. It’s stamped with the right ref number though.

    Thought I’d throw it out to the experts here, since I’m clearly still new to this. Is this legit? Realizing, after the fact, I probably should have come here first. Thanks in advance!
     
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  2. Passover May 7, 2020

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    Hi Hobbes!

    Welcome here on Omegaforums! :)

    Asking before buying would maybe have been better but anyway...

    Looks not too bad at first sight.

    Dial seems genuine, hands are OK, movement looks OK but the regulator indicates that a service should be carried out I think

    Lugs are too polished IMO

    I'm pretty shure that there hasn't been a 167.005 Connie without medallion.

    This reference isn't know to be faked often so I think the caseback is genuine.

    Maybe the outer caseback has been heavily polished to get rid of an engraving?

    How much did you pay?

    Take care

    EDIT: the lugs width is 18mm so you should change the watchband
     
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  3. Noddyman May 7, 2020

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    That case back is a mystery.
    The medallion on a 167.005 is stainless steel and an integral part of the case back.
    As @Passover says possibly someone got carried away trying to disguise an engraving.
     
  4. Peemacgee Purrrr-veyor of luxury cat box loungers May 7, 2020

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    I agree that the 167.005 should have a medallion and other than that the watch looks correct.
    It would a hell of a job to polish off an integral medallion.
    My guess would be a special order back for presentation engraving.
    You can see the remnants of some kind of engraving.
     
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  5. Edward53 May 7, 2020

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    Very nice dial, original hands and crown, lugs polished but we have seen worse on here. It's still very wearable (others won't see the back!) and if the price was low, worth enjoying on its own terms.

    I agree that this must be a ground-down special order presentation caseback. Wasn't there one with a religious icon posted some time ago? It looks as if someone went to a lot of trouble to erase both inner and outer circles.
     
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  6. Peemacgee Purrrr-veyor of luxury cat box loungers May 7, 2020

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    The religious one was a hoot - a medallion of Our Lady.
    By the time it appeared on OF for the second time, it had even acquired a miraculous halo. :cautious:
     
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  7. six-barrel May 7, 2020

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    It was on the original photos, I used the same pics..
     
  8. hobbes85 May 7, 2020

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    Thank you @Passover and everyone for taking the time to reply. I'm fairly new to vintage omegas, and this forum is just invaluable. I didn't even think of an engrave/polished scenario, but that makes sense and you do see possible remnants of that possibility. I'm glad it looks, for the most part, correct.

    This was on ebay, I got it for the starting bid of $999. After no one else bid on it, that had me worried. As a newbe, I don't know what I don't know. But that's why I'm here. Thanks again for all your knowledge.
     
  9. gatorcpa ΩF InvestiGator Staff Member May 7, 2020

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    Yes, I have seen these without medallions. They were sold as presentation watches for engraving.

    21C367E8-701C-44B6-ADEE-53B82D890649.jpeg

    Note that these came from a special office inside Norman Morris, Inc. who was the US Omega importer. These casebacks were likely made only for the US market.

    On this example, the engraving was likely polished off.

    Hope this helps,
    gatorcpa
     
  10. Peemacgee Purrrr-veyor of luxury cat box loungers May 7, 2020

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    no intention to offend @six-barrel

    Original pic from thread
    Followed by second later pic with halo
    52429623-0A83-4E52-B492-628612A581B5.jpeg
    AB8653F5-5A0F-4083-ABA6-B150275D7F79.jpeg
     
  11. gatorcpa ΩF InvestiGator Staff Member May 7, 2020

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    My guess is that the Madonna was not a custom job from Omega. Just a skilled jeweler that worked with the medallion that was there and maybe added a small amount of gold to it.

    Unlike the OP’s example which never had a medallion to begin with.
    gatorcpa
     
  12. Peemacgee Purrrr-veyor of luxury cat box loungers May 7, 2020

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    do you not think that the original medallion was lost (as @cristos71 said in the original post - 2782s appear to be prone to ‘throwing’ their medallions) and someone added the Madonna to fill in the hole and as a votive gesture?
     
  13. hobbes85 May 7, 2020

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    I think I prefer my polished caseback. An engraved Omega for years of loyal service seems like such a different time/place from now.
     
  14. Passover May 7, 2020

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    New to me so thanks for that!