Looking for help with 1958 Constellation

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Mark R

·Mar 21, 2022

Hi All,

I inherited what I believe to be a 1958 Constellation Calendar. The spelling of Chronometre is the French version. We believe the watch was given to my great uncle in Rhodesia upon his retirement from Rothmans. The watch has been sitting in its current state in a drawer since about 1970. The case # is 2943 2 SC and Serial#16487805. I’m looking for a crown # and possibly a crystal as this one has a small crack. I realize the cyclops one is likely not available. I believe there is a trim bezel missing too? If so I would like to locate one if anyone has? Also, the movement itself moves in and out in the case. Are the screws at either end between the lugs supposed to secure it to the case? Any info or help would be greatly appreciated. Sorry about the photos, not a good light day in Western Canada.

Edited: Mar 21, 2022

 

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Waltesefalcon

·Mar 21, 2022

Welcome to the forum. You are correct that you have a Conestellation Calendar, ref. CK 2943. You are also correct in your assumption that you are missing the bezel in addition to the crown. No, the movement should not be loose in the case. Can you provide better pictures of the watch, preferably in natural, indirect lighting?

Judging by your questions, I'm guessing that you are a neophyte in the world of watches, so I'd suggest finding a good watchmaker in your neck of the woods, I know that we have at least a couple really good Canadian watchmakers here on the forum.

 

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Dan S

·Mar 21, 2022

M Mark R

The watch has been sitting in its current state in a drawer since about 1970.

Are you absolutely sure the bezel isn't somewhere in that drawer? It won't be super easy to find otherwise.

 

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Mark R

·Mar 21, 2022

Thank you for the welcome and replies. Yes I am neophyte when it comes to vintage Omega watches but am mechanically inclined and eager to learn. It’s not a great light day here at the moment and decent pictures are hard to get. I will do my best to get some better ones on another day. For now here are a couple more. No the bezel is not in the drawer….but I would love to find one!

 

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Franzjoni

·Mar 21, 2022

Hey, welcome! Interesting thread 👍
You will probably get a lot of good advises here in the OF by the experts!

 

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Dan S

·Mar 21, 2022

It is possible to have a replacement bezel custom fabricated.
https://omegaforums.net/threads/1961-connie-refinished-and-back-to-former-glory.141498/
https://omegaforums.net/threads/seamaster-deville-1965-cal-600-needs-bezel.141998/

 

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Yo32Leigh

·Mar 21, 2022

Hi Mark,
Give @No Mercy a shout. He made my replacement bezel and the quality speaks for itself. Pics in thread on link provided by @Dan S above

 

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MtV

·Mar 21, 2022

Yo32Leigh

Hi Mark,
Give @No Mercy a shout. He made my replacement bezel and the quality speaks for itself. Pics in thread on link provided by @Dan S above

Was just gonna recommend the same thing. Finding a spare bezel will be pretty much impossible. Your best bet would be buying a donor watch of the same reference, a much more costly exercise than having NoMercy produce a bezel for you. Should you want to go this route and if he doesn't have a good 2943 case to model the bezel on, feel free to drop me a PM, I have a donor one I could lend him for the time it takes.

From your pictures I can't see why the movement is loose, by the way, the one movement clamp and screw visible is in place. It might well be corroded, though, or the other one is missing.

Either way: Very lovely find and definitely worth the effort of bringing it back to life!

Edited: Mar 21, 2022

 

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cicindela

·Mar 21, 2022·Steve @ ΩF

Nice find. These are very uncommon. Hope you can find all you need to restore it.
Here is another that is rather famous. It is/was owned by two prominent collectors, Desmond and Ulackfocus.

Black dial with pink hardware on stainless !!!

 

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Mark R

·Mar 21, 2022

Thanks @Dan S @Yo32Leigh @MtV I have reached out to @No Mercy.

@MtV I believe both screws and clamps are in place, so I’m unsure why the movement is loose also?
Update: I have located and purchased the appropriate crown. I will look at sourcing a replacement crystal and wait to hear back on the bezel from @No Mercy….unless anyone has one they’d like to part with

Edited: Mar 21, 2022

 

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padders

·Mar 22, 2022·Oooo subtitles!

Are those gold cap lugs? I seem to recall the original bezels on the 1950s capped watches like that were solid gold. A remanufactured then gold plated one would look fine I’m sure but thought I’d mention it all the same since a plain steel one will look wrong.

Edited: Mar 22, 2022

 

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MtV

·Mar 22, 2022

M Mark R

@MtV I believe both screws and clamps are in place, so I’m unsure why the movement is loose also?

Me too - but it’ll need a full service anyway and it’s an issue that’ll certainly be addressed by a competent watchmaker.

@padders Yep, I‘d expect the bezel to be solid gold, and that’s the material NoMercy produces them in. It’s about 3g of gold, if I remember correctly. Not sure if he does do gold plated ones but the money to be saved on this is probably a rather small amount, compared to the total value of the watch.

 

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Waltesefalcon

·Mar 22, 2022

M Mark R

Thank you for the welcome and replies. Yes I am neophyte when it comes to vintage Omega watches but am mechanically inclined and eager to learn. It’s not a great light day here at the moment and decent pictures are hard to get. I will do my best to get some better ones on another day. For now here are a couple more. No the bezel is not in the drawer….but I would love to find one!

If you want to learn watch repair I'd start on something other than this one. You can find a plethora of cheap watches in need of a service on Ebay that won't hurt your feelings if you mess it up.

 

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Mark R

·Mar 22, 2022

padders

Are those gold cap lugs? I seem to recall the original bezels on the 1950s capped watches like that were solid gold. A remanufactured then gold plated one would look fine I’m sure but thought I’d mention it all the same since a plain steel one will look wrong.

 

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Mark R

·Mar 22, 2022

@padders they are gold plated lug caps. Yes, steel would look wrong for sure!

 

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MtV

·Mar 22, 2022

M Mark R

@padders they are gold plated lug caps. Yes, steel would look wrong for sure!

It‘s gold-capped, not plated. Similar thing, but a much thicker layer of gold. More like 80+ microns instead of 20 or so that omega used from the 70s onwards.

And there are actually vintage Omegas in two-tone configuration, gold bezel with steel lugs. Not on this ref, though.

 

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Mark R

·Mar 22, 2022

MtV

It‘s gold-capped, not plated. Similar thing, but a much thicker layer of gold. More like 80+ microns instead of 20 or so that omega used from the 70s onwards.

And there are actually vintage Omegas in two-tone configuration, gold bezel with steel lugs. Not on this ref, though.

Oh interesting thanks @MtV

 

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Mark R

·Mar 27, 2022

Original bezel found!!

 

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MtV

·Mar 27, 2022

How the f did you manage that? Congrats!

 

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Mark R

·Mar 27, 2022

It was an unbelievable fluke! My Dad took another look around and found it laying in the bottom of an old unrelated trunk! Super excited! @No Mercy got back to me with a very reasonable and much appreciated quote right at the same time!