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Found Omega Constellation watch while metal detecting. Help with dating and authenticity.

FreeBirdTim2025
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I was hoping to get some information about this Omega Constellation watch I recently found while metal detecting. It's in terrible condition, but the case appears to be 14K gold, so I'm assuming it was a quality watch. I mainly wanted to know when it was manufactured and if it's authentic, since there's no logo on the back. I've added some pics, but they're not for the faint hearted! It was five inches under the ground and missing the crystal, so it's pretty nasty looking! You have been warned!

zero omega watch 4.webp zero omega watch 2.webp zero omega watch 224.webp clean case.webp
 
Tag0935
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Now that is a new level of a barn find! The model is obviously a 168.005 but to date it you would need the caliber serial number, which seems quite muddy in your pics 😀
 
Peemacgee
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welcome @FreeBirdTim2025

The Constellation was indeed a quality watch - the top of the line Omega watch at that time.

The watch you found is a 168.005 dome dial and was produced from approx 1963 to the around the first year of the 70s (the end date is a bit of a contentious point)
- as @Tag0935 says, the serial on the movt would give an approx year of production.

The watch is commonly known as a 'dogleg' case and was produced in stainless steel, gold-capped, 14k gold and 18k gold.

14k was popular in the US but also found in Europe.

The case back would normally have a 'medallion' on the rear, showing an observatory and stars, but IIRC there were also plain casebacks available by special order for presentation inscriptions.

Being gold, the case has survived quite well - but I think there may be a bit of a ding on the top left lug?
If so, as the movt and dial are toast, the value will be in the weight of the gold case I'm afraid. (the dial indices will be gold too)

If you want to know more about constellations you could delve into Desmond's blog.

http://omega-constellation-collectors.blogspot.com/

or this OF thread
https://omegaforums.net/threads/show-me-your-167-005-or-168-005-connie.124329/ Cover Image
Thread 'Show me your 167.005 or 168.005 connie' ·
Following the ‘show me your 2852 connie’ topic, I really think this legendary reference deserves its own topic, instead of the shared ‘vintage Constellation’ thread.

Show me your 167 or 168.005...
septentrio ·

hope that helps
 
Dan S
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That's a fun find, and I'm sure you know the value of the gold. It's possible that someone needing a case might pay you more than the value of the gold, although the fact that there is no medallion makes it less interesting. My guess is that the melt value is all you can get for it.
 
Marcello130
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I think I would rather replace the movement and get it running again. Even if the dial turns out to be in total beat up condition, you have a 🔥 Story to tell when wearing it.
Even though my knowledge is limited on this ref, I am confident that finding a suitable movement or a donor (steel) watch should not be too difficult!
 
Marcello130
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Ok, looking closer at that pile of mud, the dial IS probably total rubbish .. but again .. get a cheap donor 😀 I even have a Connie dial in the drawer, but I think it’s for a later C Shape model ..
 
Peemacgee
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Marcello130 Marcello130
I think I would rather replace the movement and get it running again. Even if the dial turns out to be in total beat up condition, you have a 🔥 Story to tell when wearing it.
Even though my knowledge is limited on this ref, I am confident that finding a suitable movement or a donor (steel) watch should not be too difficult!

A 561 or 546 movt would be easy enough to find - and they might even come with a dial.
But you would have to make sure that you get a dial from a 168.005 as constellation dials do vary slightly in size.
 
FreeBirdTim2025
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Thank you for all the replies. Unfortunately, the serial number is totally obliterated, so I guess I'll never know the exact date of manufacture. At least I have a rough idea when it was made. I do know that it was a 24 jewel watch. Even I know that's a well made watch! I figured it was only worth melt value, since I put it in a vise to pop off the back! Stupid, yes, but I really didn't think it was 14K. Rang up at 72 on my AT Pro, which is usually brass. Probably rang up higher than gold due to all the copper and brass innards. Thank you for checking out my watch.
 
SOG53
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Ha! That case looks better than many of the examples that pop up here for assessment! Nice lugs!
 
B
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Whilst the internals are shot, that case is in very nice condition. Please don't send it to be melted, it is probably worth more than it's scrap value to those on this forum.
 
gatorcpa
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Peemacgee Peemacgee
The case back would normally have a 'medallion' on the rear, showing an observatory and stars, but IIRC there were also plain casebacks available by special order for presentation inscriptions.
Omega had a separate division in the US that engraved casebacks for corporate presentations. For Constellation, they had the plain backs.

983675-a70c6f760faa1bb4ca01452cb9cddaa7.jpg

https://omegaforums.net/threads/does-a-167-500-constellation-caseback-ever-not-have-a-medallion.113398/ Cover Image
Thread 'Does a 167.500 Constellation caseback ever not have a medallion?' ·
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...
hobbes85 ·

Looks like there could be some remnants of an engraving there that are too faint to see.
gatorcpa
 
drpaul
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Is it a deluxe model? Is the dial gold too? Would love to see this restored.
 
FreeBirdTim2025
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Is the dial gold too?

I do believe the hands and the hour markers are 14k gold. Too far gone to restore.
 
FreeBirdTim2025
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Whilst the internals are shot, that case is in very nice condition. Please don't send it to be melted, it is probably worth more than it's scrap value to those on this forum.

Wouldn't want to sell it to anyone, except for scrap. Too far gone to be saved. Squishing it in a vise to pop out the back probably damaged the threads and the case seems to be slightly out of round now. Lots of scratches on it and some of the rust remains in some of the grooves.
 
Peemacgee
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FreeBirdTim2025 FreeBirdTim2025
I do believe the hands and the hour markers are 14k gold. Too far gone to restore.

It’s generally believed that the hands are gold plated.
It would be interesting if you were to find differently.
 
sheepdoll
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There may be salvageable parts in the movement. I like rusty rat watches. Have posted many threads about them. I have about half a dozen basket cases on my bench. (which is way too many.) Just got a new SS case today.

The iron parts are pretty much toast, although it is amazing what can be salvaged. Not seeing much green corosion in the photos on the movement plates,so the anti corrosion plating seems to have held up. I was told this is berylium copper, but others tell me it contains a bit of gold.

Do not thow the movement out. At the very least it can be used for art projects.

Most hands are plated steel. There needs to be some spring to them. Gold would be pretty soft (and heavy) Too easy to deform.
 
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