Need your advice ! Constellation 168.004 or 168.010 ? Fair deal ?

rdw200 · Mar 19, 2021

Hi there,

I have been considering to buy a Constellation or a Seamaster for quite some time, without taking the leap.
Now my wife wants to offer me one for my birthday (as we're just married), so it seems like an offer I can't refuse !

I read a lot on this forum, and browsed ebay for quite some time.

I came upon this example from a nearby shop, sold for 1250 euros with a 2 years warranty.
Seller thinks it is a 168.004, but according to the case back it is a 168.010, Cal. 564.

What is your take ? Is it original ? Is it a fair deal ?

It seems in good shape, unpolished...

Thanks a lot for the advice !!!

TexOmega · Mar 19, 2021

not a 168.004 and my .010 has a pie pan dial and a semi-hidden crown

004

Peemacgee · Mar 19, 2021

Welcome @rdw200

quite a nice dome dial 168.010
Later pencil hands, which I happen to really like.
Good looking dial, unusual for having both onyx inserts and lume.
Some patination on the hands.
Decent case, retaining the facets on the lugs.
Replacement crown but this is common on these references.

These watches wear really well on the wrist.

I realise that a 2 year warranty is offered but has it been properly serviced?
Shows signs of rotor rub in case back which will require fixing if. It hasn’t already been done.
€1250 is quite expensive but if it has been serviced then it’s certainly not daylight robbery.

edit:
These references have a 19mm lug spacing as opposed to the more usual 18mm spacing - you can see the gap beside the 18mm strap

iamvr · Mar 19, 2021

The last one with a white dial sold here, went for EUR 1050 as a reference, but without known service history.
https://omegaforums.net/threads/fs-omega-constellation-168-010.108895/

So if yours is indeed serviced with a 2 year warranty, it's not a bad deal IMO.

nkhandekar · Mar 19, 2021

It looks a lot like a 168.018 with later hands on it. This is mine from 1968. One thing I noticed on the OP watch is that the ray pattern on the bezel is missing...possibly from a light polish as the bevels appear to be pretty sharp. I paid $280 for mine 20 years ago. No idea of the current market value. Sorry.

Peemacgee · Mar 20, 2021

nkhandekar
It looks a lot like a 168.018 with later hands on it. This is mine from 1968. One thing I noticed on the OP watch is that the ray pattern on the bezel is missing...possibly from a light polish as the bevels appear to be pretty sharp.

Whilst it does look similar, the OP’s watch is a 168.010, not a 168.018.
It never had a radially brushed bezel.
It has a dome dial, not the flat dial of the .016s&.018s
For clarity, I meant the hands were the correct later style found on these watches, not incorrect later hands added later to the watch.

cristos71 · Mar 20, 2021

Peemacgee
For clarity, I meant the hands were the correct later style found on these watches, not incorrect later hands added later to the watch.

They may be correct but I think they look very inelegant and short to boot, a poor design judgement IMO

Peemacgee · Mar 20, 2021

cristos71
They may be correct but I think they look very inelegant and short to boot, a poor design judgement IMO

I see where you’re coming from but I just happen to like their simplicity, which to my mind matches the simple outline of the watch.
But then again, I I do have a choice 😉

nkhandekar · Mar 20, 2021

Peemacgee
Whilst it does look similar, the OP’s watch is a 168.010, not a 168.018.
It never had a radially brushed bezel.
It has a dome dial, not the flat dial of the .016s&.018s
For clarity, I meant the hands were the correct later style found on these watches, not incorrect later hands added later to the watch.

Thanks for clarifying. I posted before looking carefully enough. My apologies

Need your advice ! Constellation 168.004 or 168.010 ? Fair deal ?

rdw200

TexOmega

Peemacgee

iamvr

nkhandekar

Peemacgee

cristos71

Peemacgee

nkhandekar

Similar threads

buying advice: Constellation 168.004

Buying advice - Constellation Globemaster

Need advice - Constellation 167.021

Help/advice Constellation 1448/431 bracelet

Advice: Constellation ref.168.016

Need Opinion/Advice: Looking for Box (Constellation 168.017)