Information, please.

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Hello,

I recently acquired my great uncle's watch from my father. I do not know much about the watch and was looking for a little more insight on it. I know it's an Omega constellation. I would appreciate any help. Thanks.
 
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Looks like 168.004 with recessed crown, dome dial in 18k gold with custom gold integrated bracelet. Probably cal 561 movement. In very good condition.
For confirmation have experienced watchmaker open case and take photos of movement and inside caseback.
Will you wear it? It’s a lovely heirloom congrats.
 
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Welcome @madlilkat

Splendid watch - congratulations.

Both Omega and their local affiliates produced these fixed bracelet Constellations.
(They generally had their own reference number but were based on an existing reference)

The case doesn’t look like a local English or French production - so is most likely Swiss.

It looks like a gold dial - so we refer to it as a ‘deluxe’ Constellation.

These fixed bracelet watches were also custom made by jewellers by removing lugs and adding a bracelet.

The watch is a strange one for a couple of reasons.
It has the case back shape of a 168.004 (without the lugs).
However, the indices style suggest a later reference and the both slanted and straight Ms in the text were never seen on an .004.

The bracelet would usually have an Omega symbol hallmark on the clasp.

The only way to get accurate information is to have the back (very carefully) removed by a competent watchmaker.

One of the issues with these watches is that the bracelet is made to fit the original owner and has to be irrevocably altered to fit a new owner.

Here is a 1974 Omega advert for a similar watch (although I would suggest that your watch is slightly earlier - like late 60s)

Hope that helps.
 
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very nice watch....can't be too helpful but I do have this one that was my father's daily wear for about 20 years until early 90s.

564 inside
different case back style
....I am still looking for a replacement medallion somewhere.
 
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now thats another weird one.
I always thought that the gold cases were usually one piece and didn't have applied medallions.

Couple of things if you have the info:
what is the movt serial of your father's watch?
what does it say inside the caseback?
what are the markings on the bracelet ?
 
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Here are a couple of other pics from when I received it from him….will take a look at the bracelet later.
 
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OWC means the case was made in London by D Shackman and Son. Around 1971 or so which is what both the 33m serial and q London Assay letter suggest.
 
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thanks @Paedipod

So, a Shackman London made English case
serial and hallmark date it to 1971
This could be why it had an applied medallion - but I still always thought that the case backs were one piece - even with Shackman cases.

I initially thought it to be Ref 3685481 (which would also make it an English case reference - but I think it may be 3685461 and is in fact the watch featured above in the advert - it even has the same 'brutalist' indices (possibly jet rather than onyx)

 
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OWC means the case was made in London by D Shackman and Son. Around 1971 or so which is what both the 33m serial and q London Assay letter suggest.
That would make sense as he grew up in London and emigrated to North America about 1960…the watch was a gift from his parents in early 70s. It’s the watch I associate with him as it was daily wear in my “formative” years. He put it away after a rash of locker thefts at work in early 90s. He had no real idea of when the medallion went missing. Not anywhere in his “stuff”.
 
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Oh and before anyone starts wringing their hands, it’s not a speed master but he wore this daily and for any and all activity including hiking/dogwalking/mowing the lawn/gardening.

After 30 years of rest started right up with a shake when he gave it to me nearly 4 years ago…has since been properly serviced and proper crown installed.
 
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Welcome @madlilkat

Splendid watch - congratulations.

Both Omega and their local affiliates produced these fixed bracelet Constellations.
(They generally had their own reference number but were based on an existing reference)

The case doesn’t look like a local English or French production - so is most likely Swiss.

It looks like a gold dial - so we refer to it as a ‘deluxe’ Constellation.

These fixed bracelet watches were also custom made by jewellers by removing lugs and adding a bracelet.

The watch is a strange one for a couple of reasons.
It has the case back shape of a 168.004 (without the lugs).
However, the indices style suggest a later reference and the both slanted and straight Ms in the text were never seen on an .004.

The bracelet would usually have an Omega symbol hallmark on the clasp.

The only way to get accurate information is to have the back (very carefully) removed by a competent watchmaker.

One of the issues with these watches is that the bracelet is made to fit the original owner and has to be irrevocably altered to fit a new owner.

Here is a 1974 Omega advert for a similar watch (although I would suggest that your watch is slightly earlier - like late 60s)

Hope that helps.
Thank you! My uncle's watch is probably from 1962-1965. Going to take to a professional to retrieve serial # inside and have a tiny scratch on the glass fixed.
 
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I could be wrong but it’s unlikely to be that early with those particular style of indices.
They are more commonly seen on late 60s Constellations such as the 168.018 and C cases.
But it’s not based on those references as yours has a dome dial and they have a flat dial.

However, with Omega, never say never.
Looking forward to you sharing whatever info is inside the watch.
A pic of the inside case back and a pic of the movement showing cal and serial would be really useful.
 
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Thank you! My uncle's watch is probably from 1962-1965. Going to take to a professional to retrieve serial # inside and have a tiny scratch on the glass fixed.
I will let you know. I am excited to find out. I am wondering if it is an 168.011.
 
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I will let you know. I am excited to find out. I am wondering if it is an 168.011.
If it had lugs it could well have been (points for you for discovering the reference for a deluxe version of the .010)
If it is an Omega-made lugless watch with a fixed bracelet it is likely to have something like a 368… reference.