Hello OF members,
I found a local watch seller that is willing to sell an omega constellation ref. 14393.61.sc , what got me drooling over the watch is the fact that it is a black dialed pie pan.
I asked the seller for a detailed close up photo but alas to no avail. The seller is willing to part with the watch for a fee of USD 1,275.
Here are some photos (apologize for the quality of the photo if it is inadequate):
Front:



Rear:


Side:


Movement:


What got me a little bit concerned is the following:
1. dial, I can't confirm whether it is original or redial
2. Movement, no service history and the movement is quite dirty. may need a lot of change in the parts.
3. Bracelet. Is this bracelet a time correct bracelet? I'm only accustomed to constellation with leather and buckle. So I'm not knowledgeable on this matter.

Appreciate if you can educate me on the matter, will this be a worthwhile collection or a bust.
Thank you for the time and space OF.
Best regards,
Fraist

 

Yikes.

Wrong crystal
Officially certified, patina-free matte black, slanted Constellation text ... definitely redialed.

Onto the case:
It's been heavily polished. There are distortions on the lugs, the double bevel on the bezel has been polished to a shadow of its former self, and despite that all it still seems like there are scratches on the lugs in the first picture.
There is pitting on the caseback interior, and that probably means there is some in the gasket channel too.

The bracelet, I am quite sure, is from a later Omega, and is not original to this watch. I'd recommend asking to see a picture of the text on the inside of the clasp, but this watch really isn't worth the effort.

TL;DR
Move along (Unless you can get it for $40. The crown is original, and not bad).

 

From the pictures I’m not 100% sure it’s a redial. I think I see “adjusted” on the movement which matches the dial.

 

Pix are just bad enough to make a mistake. But I lean good dial, but I'm worried about the two "n" 's in CONSTELLATION, they appear too similar, the loopy part should be two distinct, and different shapes. As I say, pix just bad enough whether intentional or not.


I am concerned about the severe rotor wear and dirty movement, though.

 

See for yourself?

 

Dont buy it.

Should be dogleg. Is a chicken leg.

Also redial and that crazy submariner crystal would scare me off.

Very dirty movement too

 

No it shouldn’t. The 14393 isn’t a dog leg model. Those lugs are no where near as bad as suggested above. The serial is about right for the reference, others I have seen are high 17m. The movement is filthy but looks correct.

I can’t really comment definitively on the dial since the photos aren’t great other than to say there aren’t any massive red flags. I have seen them with and without the OC text. The minute track looks a little irregular but it could just be the fuzzy photo.

It is fair to say though that it’s best to treat any black dial Connie as a redial and work forward from there.

 

This:

I’m not feeling the love for this watch.

Let’s look at the evidence we have:
Case is polished but ok
Serial okay for late version of this reference.
Black dial plus poor pictures - red flag
Officially certified on dial - not usual on this reference
Rounded pie pan edges - a common sign of a repaint job.
Minute ticks appear to overlap the edge between 11and 12
Second hand replaced - not unusual on this reference as they are commonly ‘rusty’ - but incorrect replacement hand
Crystal replaced
Lume cleaned from indices
Pristine dial but corrosion on inner caseback
New BOR bracelet.
Grubby movement.

At the very least this watch has had work done on it and has been prepped for sale (but doesn’t appear to have been serviced.)
Without better pictures I wouldn’t put my money down on this one.

 

Need better pictures. Just for the fun of it my 14393 without the officially certified...

 

Shouldn't it have gilt text, not white?

 

Font looks clumsy to me, especially in Officially Certified with the latter word seemingly climbing a hill; n's too similar as mentioned above; I don't like the sharp bend in the first t in Constellation; unconvincing matt finish. Redial.

 

Well...didn't know it was this bad. At least my initial suspicion of redial is correct.
Thanks for the heads up, you're a lifesaver.

That's why I'm not so sure the first timw i saw it.

Chicken legs LOL

Guess my dream of owning a black dial connie will ony be a distant dream.

Nice....I didn't know about this before.

I seemed to miss the font misalignment on my initial inspection. The attention to details members of this forum have is amazing.

Thank you very much for all the info and appraisal of the watch,all of you have saved me from a bad buy.

Cheers,
Fraist

 

Yes.