Faulty quartz Constellation... Should I buy this?

TempusFugit73 · Oct 28, 2019

Canuck
HAVE THEM FIT THE CELL! If you bugger it up, you’ve likely bought an obsolete, dead watch. If THEY bugger it up, it’s their problem! If you even take the back off, if there is damage inside that they don’t know about, they could well accuse you! Be SMART about this, or our efforts to help you are wasted!

Sage advice! Thank you. I will provide the battery and let them do it.

Canuck · Oct 28, 2019

TempusFugit73
Sage advice! Thank you. I will provide the battery and let them do it.

Do you know what cell it takes? Until you own it, the less input you have, the better. Whatever battery it takes, it will not likely be tough to find. LET THEM DO IT, for goodness sake! It could be a 388 or a 392. Depending on the calibre of the movement, it might be one of those cells which are readily available. LET THEM DO THE WHOLE JOB. In their eyes, the less you seem to know about the watch, the more negotiable the price!

TempusFugit73 · Oct 28, 2019

Me thinks you've done this before! lol. Thank you again.

Willbur · Oct 28, 2019

So, after some google search, model ref seems to be 191.0012 and movement a 1330 using battery 388.
Minutes adjustment is made by pressing the button in the middle of the crown.

TempusFugit73 · Oct 28, 2019

Willbur
So, after some google search, model ref seems to be 191.0012 and movement a 1330 using battery 388.
Minutes adjustment is made by pressing the button in the middle of the crown.

Thank you Willbur! I will definitely be confirming this today.

Canuck · Oct 28, 2019

TempusFugit73
Me thinks you've done this before! lol. Thank you again.

Not really! We don’t know how much you know. But in their eyes, the less you appear to know, the better. If anyone is going to trip over themselves trying to close the sale, let it be them!

TempusFugit73 · Oct 28, 2019

After googling the 1330 movement, I see the exact battery isn't critical for testing purposes. There are so many different sized batteries it's quite laughable.

JimInOz · Oct 28, 2019

TempusFugit73
........... I see the exact battery isn't critical for testing purposes. ...............

Could you explain your reasoning?

webvan · Oct 28, 2019

The movement is actually a 1320 but yes, minutes will only move with the center button, the manual is here http://www.old-omegas.com/1320en.html

Canuck · Oct 28, 2019

Do we know it is a 1330? Depending on the caliber, it should ge a 388 or a 392. Stop trying to appear as though you know a LOT about this watch! Play dumb, discreetly apply what you have learned, and save yourself either the purchase of a dead horse, or better yet, save yourself some money! For goodness sake, PLAY DUMB!

TempusFugit73 · Oct 28, 2019

JimInOz
Could you explain your reasoning?

The photos that came up online of the movement with a battery in it showed about 6 different batteries. Most modern watch batteries produce the same voltage (1.5 volts), even though this specific one requires a 1.35 Volt battery, So just for testing purposes any battery (other than a 3 volt battery, never acceptable!) that fits will be ok. Of course it's never a good idea to leave the higher voltage battery in permanently.

TempusFugit73 · Oct 28, 2019

Canuck
Do we know it is a 1330? Depending on the caliber, it should ge a 388 or a 392. Stop trying to appear as though you know a LOT about this watch! Play dumb, discreetly apply what you have learned, and save yourself either the purchase of a dead horse, or better yet, save yourself some money! For goodness sake, PLAY DUMB!

I won't say anything to them, believe me, this is for my own edification.

TempusFugit73 · Oct 28, 2019

I had a chance to take a closer look and I've decide to wait a few weeks and see. The watch does indeed have the minutes adjustabutton inside the crown just as was described. However, the pawn shop refused to put a battery in it so I can test it. I tried to negotiate them down but they only went down $30. Add to that the fact that I was incorrect about the lint in my first pic. That lint is absolutely inside the case! So, I'm going to hold off until December I think. Give me a chance to pay off a couple other watches I have on layaway and save for this one. If it's meant to be, it will still be there and they'll be more willing to negotiate a more reasonable price. Again, thank you to everyone for your input, advice and knowledge. I will update this down the road.

Canuck · Oct 28, 2019

Sounds like a case hardened outfit you are dealing with! Tell them that you nor anybody else is going to buy the thing unless they can prove that it runs. You still have an ace up your sleeve if it runs. If it runs with a cell, you can still beat them down in price because of the problem of setting the watch (to which you know the answer). Let us know how this turns out.

TempusFugit73 · Mar 15, 2020

Update on this watch Folks! After keeping an eye on this watch for several months, I was finally able to talk them down to $80 and I bought it! Ref. 391.0011 running a 1330 movement. Since this watch originally had a 288 battery (mercury) I had to put a smaller 329 in it, but it works great, The hidden button set the minutes correctly and it has been running perfectly since. I'm very happy with this watch, especially the great deal, lol. Thanks again to everyone for their knowledge and advice.

Canuck · Mar 15, 2020

Good things come to he who waits. As you certainly have waited for this one. Once you found the secret to setting the watch, had you disclosed that secret to the shop, there’s no way you’d have bought it for $80.00! I suspect you might be fairly new to watch collecting. You might have learned to listen to the advice of your peers over these negotiations. From knowledge comes strength. You got lucky on this one. Buying obsolete watches (as is the Omega) is like walking on thin ice.

wilderbeast · Mar 15, 2020

I’m glad this has worked out well for you. I felt very stupid when I came across a similar issue with setting the time on a quartz Seamaster I was given:

https://omegaforums.net/threads/advice-on-seamaster-quartz-from-1977.97390/#post-1266660

The battery life is poor on my cal 1342 and it runs a bit slow, but it’s a very presentable watch and was a gift that I treasure. We have to accept these won’t have a guaranteed long life and probably can’t be repaired if the circuit fails, but it is an interesting if slightly dark period in Omega's history.

here’s a gratuitous wrist shot of my 196.0116:

Enjoy your quartz Connie!

JimInOz · Mar 15, 2020

TempusFugit73
Update on this watch Folks! ..................

It's missing the plastic battery adapter, and probably has the wrong battery.

janice&fred · Mar 15, 2020

wilderbeast
We have to accept these won’t have a guaranteed long life and probably can’t be repaired if the circuit fails

Our watch tech back in Cebu city has breathed new life into dead examples of these quartz Omegas by doing an "engine swap" with basic ETA quartz movements harvested out of beat up swatches. At least that way some sentimental heirlooms are still usable. He has also done the same with some temperamental Cartier and other quartz stuff.

wilderbeast · Mar 15, 2020

janice&fred
Our watch tech back in Cebu city has breathed new life into dead examples of these quartz Omegas by doing an "engine swap" with basic ETA quartz movements harvested out of beat up swatches. At least that way some sentimental heirlooms are still usable. He has also done the same with some temperamental Cartier and other quartz stuff.

That’s reassuring to know, @janice&fred - thanks!

Faulty quartz Constellation... Should I buy this?

TempusFugit73

Canuck

TempusFugit73

Willbur

TempusFugit73

Canuck

TempusFugit73

JimInOz

webvan

Canuck

TempusFugit73

TempusFugit73

TempusFugit73

Canuck

TempusFugit73

Canuck

wilderbeast

JimInOz

janice&fred

wilderbeast

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