Omega cases: steel or gold? Which to prefer?

I think Omega really played a douche move with gold cap watches, main reason is bracelets being plated yet for some reason they polished the sides down to steel. So they intentionally expose the steel on an all gold exterior watch. After this realisation I had a distaste for gold cap. Not because of an actual distaste for gold cap, but mainly from a distaste to Omega's approach to it. Competing with oneself is unethical. And they do this to this day. They compete with their own vintage market as well and I think make moves to bomb it (no direct access to replenishing parts like crystals and crowns), with hopes that people go the modern route. Very illogical as a strong vintage market would elevate modern sales as well.

I personally like gold a lot, sad when it's polished, but otherwise only gold watches are truly long lasting. Steel watches usually have rust pits and paths inside them.

Wish I could pull of yellow gold myself, I usually wear black/gray tones and go with steel to complement it. If I ever renew my wardrobe with warmer tones, I will try to wear gold one day in the future

I'm told the case number on my Omega Constellation is very rare - anyone know why? It's 2887-2 SC. 1958 watch.

Can you please stop posting about your watch on threads that have nothing to do with your watch? There is a plenty of information about your reference just look it up. If you are trying to sell your watch you need 200 meaningful posts!

Thanks for welcoming me to this forum! I couldn't find a thread on case references and have no idea where to find that information. If anyone can direct me to a forum where new members are treated politely, I'd be very grateful.

You already posted in thread which contains all the answers you need!

This is really a matter of personal choice and reasons behind those choices.

I like both steel and gold regardless of model. I do not like gold plated watches ( worse still chrome pated ones) as once the plating wears off, you are left with the brass base metal which is swiftly eaten away from erosion and corrosion of body fluids making the watch disposable unless a new donor case is found or you are willing to spend money to have it electroplated (defeating the purpose altogether in my opinion) . Lets not confuse gold plating with gold capping which is a thin shell of gold fused over stainless steel.

I would prefer some models in gold over steel such as the early 1960's constellation such as reference 14393 which for me is a very classy watch if found with a solid gold dial making it both a tool watch and a dress watch at the same time. It pushes all the right buttons for me!!!

On the other hand, I would also be comfortable with a stainless steel 166.009 ( and also in gold capped) and the 300 divers 165.024.

There are both advantages and disadvantages of both gold and steel apart from price difference even though I have on some very rare occasions found the same model in both solid gold and stainless steel with negligable price difference.
Advantages of gold watch ;
to mention a few

gold never goes old. as it never rusts nor corrodes like stainless steel does especially where salts and perspiration concentrates like around the back seal gasket channels.

In the past it was known as the true investment watch as gold could always be built up by a goldsmith where it had worn off. Nowadays not a problem with laser welding of stainless steel with these days technology l!!

If the value of the watch does not go up in value, the gold content will, so you will always get your money back if at worse you would want to sell it off as scrap gold and spare parts in a few years, (but not get the same return on scrap stainless steel)

It is an expensive substitute for people that cannot wear stainless steel from allergies related to nickel in stainless steel. .Therefore anything that would hurt gold would hurt you first!!!

Gold is self lubricating even in alloyed metal where the gold threads do not gall unlike stainless steel, titanium, platinum and aluminum which can gold weld.

Although gold is soft, I wore an 18k gold Cyma daily for almost 20 years and saw very little wear on it just like I have with a stainless steel watch that I also have been wearing for about the same time. Obviously harsher conditions would have a possible different outcome
The disadvantage of a new gold watch is often the price where the gold model costs 5 times the stainless steel model when considering the amount of gold used is not in the same proportion of price.
Advantages of Stainless steel watch

stainless steel is still homogenous and will wear evenly without showing any metal discoloration under the wear.

Even if it pits and corrodes, it can still be laser welded to repair the damage and be restored like before

It is durable and has a neutral appearance

It is stronger than gold when used in harsher conditions

If you damage the case where the repair cost overrides the value of the watch, it is easier and cheaper to find a replacement case in steel than to have a new one made in gold or purchasing a solid gold second hand one even if you are lucky to find one.

In my opinion, I like the color of the stainless steel better than that of gold as I personally find gold too overwhelming for everyday use especially when mix and matching with other items such as a belt buckle or metal objects that are predominantly in steel color. Therefore iideally, I would choose a white gold one if price and availability was not a barrier.

Again each to their own, but if given the opportunity to obtain at an irresistible price, I would not be too over prejudiced for choice of metal, BUT DEFINITELY NOT PLATED unless I wanted it for the donor movement and dial!!!.

sorry - I can only oblige with a 14382 (but I don't get the tool-watch reference, all Constellations - IMHO - are dress watches )

That is a joy of a watch you have!!!! If yours is 18k solid gold I might suggest we do a direct swap with a SS version and pay each other's postage 😉

I had the date version in 18k and when I had it serviced, it passed to be water resistant to 30 meters at best which was good enough for me!!!

I wore it on vacation a couple of months later to Australia Queensland Gold Coast.. I accidentally went swimming with it having forgotten to remove it and upon noticing that I was still wearing the watch, I came out of the water right away, thinking that I had water damaged my watch. I was pleasantly surprised it was unaffected and continued to run well. I believe it was the screw down back with new seals including the crown helped the water resistance of it or maybe I was lucky?.. I would never attempt that with any other dress watch; either gold nor stainless steel. I agree that most Constellations are dress watches, especially those with a snap on back as with any other watch that has a snap on back. The monocoque Seamasters rank to be no better in water resistance IMHO as their weakness is in the split stem crown regardless of metal composition!!.

It is indeed a deluxe Constellation with 18k case and dial. (hence the 14382 reference)

Unfortunately, I already have a SS version 14381, otherwise of course we could have swapped watches.....😁

I love the style of these regardless of SS, gold or even gold capped ( if one accepts gold capped for what it is)

There is something about the non date 1960's Omega models that I am attracted to which does not do it with other watch brands. I seriously prefer the 165.XXX models over the 166.XXX of that series. I don't know what it is, but it really enchants me!! For example I love the 165.009 over the 166.009 and same with the 165.010 over the 166.010 even though I would not say no to the latter models ether. Maybe because they are not as common or something about the design.

I am in sensory overload!!!! Without overlooking your other collectibles, these are three of my favorite things Let me guess the Omega G6546, the Constellation 14382 and the Rolex date 1500/0

Hallo friends of golden Omegas,
yes a gold case tends more to scratches and wear than steel, gold is weaker of course.
On the other hand I do not expect a vintage gold watch to be like new with sharp edges and scratch-free. If I had an as new exemple, I would have to keep it in the box and only show photographs.
I want to wear my gold Omegas in dayly life, so look here even in a more sporty environment: In case I have a crash, I care more of skin scratches and my bones.
Konrad


Yes and this is a way to show nice photos of nicer Omegas here. Its a ref 2988 Grand Luxe with cal 504.