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Help to identify my Dad's Omega Constellation

M
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My elderly Dad bought this watch about 20 years ago from an antique dealer as an investment. Sadly with no papers or any other information. The strap is clearly not original but he's nearly 80 now and has asked me to try and value it. I am not brave enough to open it up as I've seen suggested by many on the forum but I have searched for pictures on line to try to narrow the field. The mystery seems to be that none of the Constellations I've been able to find have a complete set of actual numbers for the hours on the dial.... I thinks its a solid gold case but I'm beginning to suspect its provenance. I will take it to a watch specialist to open it up and better identify if the feedback looks positive. Any help would be gratefully received. Best Regards. Mike
 
Omega Vintage 1.jpg Omega Vintage 2.jpg
ConElPueblo
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Hi Mike, welcome to the forum.

The watch is most likely from the first part of the sixties. The case is solid gold as you can tell by the hallmark stamped on the back of the upper left lug in the picture. If it was a Swiss watch case, there would be a similar one on one of the other lugs; Swiss gold watches of this era must have two stamps on the case (not the caseback). However, due to the full Arabic numerals dial layout, I would guess that it is an English cased Constellation, probably a ref. 886 by Dennison.

If you clean up that hallmark you can tell where it is from and look it up to see the gold content.

The dial has been repainted at some point and crown is a replacement item. The second hand has broken off at the tail end.

The value is fairly low compared to a similar model in better condition, I am afraid. The value to most buyers will be gold content + value of mechanical parts (£120-ish), as the case has been severely polished and the dial is in poor condition.
 
Spruce
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W WhiteThorn
Just commenting to following this.
You can also touch the ‘FOLLOW' option at the top of any thread page 😀
 
M
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ConElPueblo ConElPueblo
Hi Mike, welcome to the forum.

The watch is most likely from the first part of the sixties. The case is solid gold as you can tell by the hallmark stamped on the back of the upper left lug in the picture. If it was a Swiss watch case, there would be a similar one on one of the other lugs; Swiss gold watches of this era must have two stamps on the case (not the caseback). However, due to the full Arabic numerals dial layout, I would guess that it is an English cased Constellation, probably a ref. 886 by Dennison.

If you clean up that hallmark you can tell where it is from and look it up to see the gold content.

The dial has been repainted at some point and crown is a replacement item. The second hand has broken off at the tail end.

The value is fairly low compared to a similar model in better condition, I am afraid. The value to most buyers will be gold content + value of mechanical parts (£120-ish), as the case has been severely polished and the dial is in poor condition.

Much appreciated ConElPueblo, my old feller told me he paid £500 for it more than 20 years ago... I'll see if I can get a read on the hallmark but I was also concerned the small star was not correctly aligned on the face as well. I hadn't realized the second had was damaged as well. Great job, cheers Mike
 
W
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Hi con, where do you see the hallmark? I can’t find it?
What are the tell tale signs that the dial has been repainted?

I can’t see that that the second hand is damaged?
Really appreciate tour help in training my eye 😀
 
Jerseyhammer
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W WhiteThorn
Hi con, where do you see the hallmark? I can’t find it?
What are the tell tale signs that the dial has been repainted?

I can’t see that that the second hand is damaged?
Really appreciate tour help in training my eye 😀
Hallmark top left leg
 
Peemacgee
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ConElPueblo ConElPueblo
However, due to the full Arabic numerals dial layout, I would guess that it is an English cased Constellation, probably a ref. 886 by Dennison..

impressive memory! 👍
 
Peemacgee
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W WhiteThorn
Hi con, where do you see the hallmark? I can’t find it?
What are the tell tale signs that the dial has been repainted?

I can’t see that that the second hand is damaged?
Really appreciate tour help in training my eye 😀

The fonts are wrong and varying thicknesses.
the minute hashes are too heavy and inconsistent.
the tale is missing from the second hand.
 
Peemacgee
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M MikeT
Much appreciated ConElPueblo, my old feller told me he paid £500 for it more than 20 years ago... I'll see if I can get a read on the hallmark but I was also concerned the small star was not correctly aligned on the face as well. I hadn't realized the second had was damaged as well. Great job, cheers Mike

unfortunately, @ConElPueblo is correct, the dial has been repainted (which is why the star is misaligned) and the case is quite heavily polished.
- these fully Arabic dial Constellation were particularly popular in the UK.
You do find them in Swiss cases but often in English ones too.
As a Collector’s piece it has little value I’m afraid.
However, if it is 18k gold, the case will have intrinsic value plus a little for the value of the movement.
 
jeppe888
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i would just keep the watch since its not that valuable, its a really nice thing to inherit
 
M
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Peemacgee Peemacgee
unfortunately, @ConElPueblo is correct, the dial has been repainted (which is why the star is misaligned) and the case is quite heavily polished.
- these fully Arabic dial Constellation were particularly popular in the UK.
You do find them in Swiss cases but often in English ones too.
As a Collector’s piece it has little value I’m afraid.
However, if it is 18k gold, the case will have intrinsic value plus a little for the value of the movement.
Thanks Pee I'm going to take a much closer look at the hallmarks I reckon
 
M
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jeppe888 jeppe888
i would just keep the watch since its not that valuable, its a really nice thing to inherit
Agreed, I just have to stop him weighing it in. Fingers crossed.
 
jeppe888
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M MikeT
Agreed, I just have to stop him weighing it in. Fingers crossed.
i hope you can persuade him
 
ConElPueblo
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Peemacgee Peemacgee
impressive memory! 👍

Yes.

No googling was involved.

At all.

Edit: could be a later reference. Still working from memory here... 😗
Edited:
 
M
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ConElPueblo ConElPueblo
Yes.

No googling was involved.

At all.

Edit: could be a later reference. Still working from memory here... 😗
Morning ConElPeublo , looks like I managed to persuade the old feller to keep it once we looked inside. Looks like an 18k case with several marks one being A.L.D, which I'm guessing is AL Dennison - top marks. The movement looks genuine? and the watch runs perfectly. So we're going to keep it and add a more in keeping watch strap as the original leather one with a gold Omega buckle has seen better days. Thanks for the expert advice my friends.
 
Omega3.jpg Omega4.jpg Omega5.jpg
Peemacgee
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So, Birmingham date letter for 1963/64
Serial no. 19,65xx is around 62/63
All ties in nicely.

case no. 1685415 is a Denison no. but based on an Omega no.
The first ‘5’ after the 168 denotes an English case (France used a 3) but there isn’t an Omega case style ‘415’
The fact that it starts with 168 pushes it into post 1963 (when Omega changed their numbering system) which again ties in nicely.

for clarity, the English (and French) cases were every bit as good and as heavy as the Swiss cases - Omega simply saved import tax by having them produced locally.

you might like to read this essay on British gold cases, from Desmond’s blog
http://omega-constellation-collecto...01/from-advent-of-bretton-woods-monetary.html


very glad you’re keeping the watch.

C640AF95-DDBD-4864-B6EA-2012F0E6272D.jpeg
Edited:
 
M
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The final piece of the puzzle for dad. Very much appreciated Pee.
 
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