Hello all,
This is my great uncles watch that I came across in storage. It keeps perfect time and I’m certain that it is old as my uncle has been gone for over 45 years. I haven’t a specialty tool to remove the back properly to get the numbers. I’d like to list it, but would love some education on what I have here. I have yet to find one just like it online. Any help would be appreciated.

 

It certainly is old, your Great Uncle had good taste and that's a very nice all original solid gold Omega Constellation. The band isn't original and should be removed as the spring loaded end links will chew holes in the solid gold lugs.

If you intend to sell it, do nothing to it except take good clear photographs and let the market find the value, I'm sure it will do that without any problem.

You may not have to worry about that though, just keep an eye on the little envelope at the top right of your screen.

PS: Where are you located?

 

18k 14381?

 

14k or 18k.. not sure?

Definitely 14381, probably circa 1960. Should be a 551 caliber. Crown is a replacement.

Follow @JimInOz ’s advice on removing the band and otherwise doing nothing. Don’t open it yourself but a watchmaker could do it to confirm details.

 

If 14 carat, a ballpark figure would be Us$ 1900. With the risk, that the movement needs a $4-500 service. Good luck! Kind regards. Achim

 

If it’s not been opened in 45 years then there is no risk: it needs the service.

 

Thanks for the information! I’m located in California.

 

I wanted to give sincere thanks to all that helped me with this information. I don’t know that I have much to offer in the watch arena other than my desire to know more. I’m fascinated and always have been. My collection is a much less refined in nature (Swatch), but I am now very inspired! I wish that I could keep the Omega that I have and build from here, but, it belongs to my mother now that my father has passed. My Great Uncle was his best buddy and it was passed to him.
I’m interested in learning about the history and story behind Omega. Thank you for your kindness and inspiration. I hope you all are well!

 

family watches of this quality are hard to come by. see if you can talk your mom into keeping and passing along to you. If the funds are needed, maybe you can "buy" it from her, over time even? Just a thought.

 

A well cared-for solid gold Constellation like that is a worthy heirloom piece.

 

Agree with keeping it, you will not come across a finer heirloom piece and you know the provenance. Don’t attempt to remove the stretchy bracelet yourself- you can scratch the gold lugs if you don’t have the right tool.
As suggested above, if you have to sell it- just keep it as is, take sharp pictures in good lighting (avoid glare on the crystal so buyers can see the dial clearly), and describe it honestly.
If you can keep it, these watches look brilliant on dark leather or croc and there are very fine straps made in short lengths for smaller wrists.
We have many female members who wear watches like this daily- they are equally stunning on a woman as they are on a man.

 

A word of advice: when looking at the photos, it appears that the bezel is still reasonably sharp and hasn't been too rounded by polishing. @AnitaVarney - whatever you and your mother do, please please resist the temptation of having it polished by a jeweller to bring out the shine! The case quickly losses the key characteristics such as the texture of the caseback medallion and the facets of the bezel (the gold ring around the crystal) when subjected to heavy-handed polishing. Polishing by hand using care and consideration could do the job just as well, without the risks, should you wish to have it cleaned.

 

Stunning watch. My wife would be very happy to wear that. I think the crown is original to it. 14381s were often supplied with this type.

+1 on the points made by @ConElPueblo.

 

This one is the wider version, though. Yours is the slimmer and, IMO, correct version.

 

True, but there seems (to me) to be quite a bit more variety in crown styles when it comes to the solid gold cases.