Inherited Constellation, opinions on patina/dust

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I inherited this watch from a relative who was a Norwegian sailor and its only previous owner. I'm going to have a vintage watch guy look at it, maybe clean it up, but I'd appreciate some opinions up front.

It was probably bought in the sixties, but I don't know exactly when. As far as I've been able to research, it might be a Constellation 14381. It runs fine and has been serviced at least once, but that was maybe 20 years ago or more. The thing is, it has a bit of an uneven patina, which looks kind of dirty, and I don't like that look, so I was thinking of getting it cleaned up. Also, there is some little fragment loose inside, which will sometimes stick to the inside of the glass for a while. The hour hand doesn't have that middle bit of material that the minute hand has, but it seems to have fragments of it (sorry about not getting a better picture of the hour hand), and this looks a bit like the piece of loose material that can stick to the inside of the glass sometimes.

I don't know how much was done about the grit/dust-situation the last time it was serviced, but maybe nothing? And in that case why? I don't really know what is patina and what is dirt or dust. How much can/should I get cleaned up here?

 
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The watch looks like an early version and I would venture that the T has been added after the dial was originally printed.
Be careful- because whilst it has a T for tritium, the darkened lume could be radium.

It is unlikely that you can improve the dial, cleaning it would probably do more harm than good.

The seconds hand has been replaced at some point and the crown is a replacement.

My advice would be to have the watch serviced (by an experienced vintage watchmaker) - replacing the seconds hand, and enjoy the watch as it is.
 
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Thanks. There is no radium, otherwise it would still glow , right? It doesn't at all. If nothing should be done to the dial, I'd at least want to get the loose fragment(s) out and the second hand sorted.
 
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If you can, take it to a watchmaker with an Omega parts account. In top condition, these are very sought after watches. Yours has lived a full life on the wrist and shows it. It will be better after a sympathetic service. As said any attempt to clean up the dial will make things worse.
 
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T has been added after the dial was originally printed.
Never seen that 'High T' before, thanks for pointing out
 
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Thanks. There is no radium, otherwise it would still glow , right? It doesn't at all. If nothing should be done to the dial, I'd at least want to get the loose fragment(s) out and the second hand sorted.
Tritium can darken, especially when exposed to moisture (which has happened here) - I’m no expert but I wouldn’t take not glowing as definitive proof that it is not radium.
I would hope that whoever applied the T knew what they were doing - but best to have it checked with a Geiger-Müller counter.
(But better to be safe than sorry and avoid opening the watch yourself until you’ve had it checked)

Assuming that it is not radium, a good watchmaker should be able to fill the hour hand to match the rest of the lume.
However, if the rest of the lume is not stable then it would be better to have it all removed and replaced with lookalike lume fill.

A watchmaker with an Omega account will be able to source the correct second hand for you.

If you let us know (approximately) where you are you may get some recommendations for a trusted watchmaker.
 
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Never seen that 'High T' before, thanks for pointing out
I suspect this is a crossover dial on an early ‘6-figure’ dogleg.
It might be that the legal regs kicked in before it was released and the T was added before sale. (Or sent out to retailers )
(Which makes it more likely to tritium - but as I said, better to be safe than sorry)
 
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If you let us know (approximately) where you are you may get some recommendations for a trusted watchmaker.
Thanks. I'm in Oslo, Norway.
 
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We have a few Scandinavian members - so hopefully they will chime in with some suggestions.