Hi all,

Been looking at acquiring my first Constellation and I've been trying to do some reading around models, etc. I'm looking for a dog legs model. My question is, what difference is there, if any, between the 14900 series and the 16xxxxs series that followed thereafter?

How do you tell which crowns are appropriate for each model? Which hands?

From what I've gathered so far,
167.005 - No date, should be Cal 551
168.005 - Date, should be Cal. 561 or cal 564 transitional

Any help is appreciated! If there's already a dedicated post to this, feel free to re-direct me!
J.

 

Just search omega constellation collectors

Not one article, but about 100 essential essays

Dont buy anything until you have read and understood everything on fhis extraordinarily excellent site

 

http://omega-constellation-collectors.blogspot.com/

 

This also confused me when I first began looking at Constellations.
But it’s actually quite straightforward.

The change was simply made by Omega in their case reference numbering system around 1963.

14900 = 167.005 no date. Cal 551
14902 = 168.005 date. Cal 561/564
The cases on each are essentially the same.
(I have never found an explanation why Omega used 167 for a chronometer rated watch which should be an ‘8’)

Not sure what you mean by ‘564 transitional’ as I’ve not heard that phrase in connection with Connies.

There can be subtle differences between the dials on the pre/post reference change (like no Ts for lume and two-line texts) but just to complicate things these can also spill over into the early post change dials.

Crowns should generally be the classic decagonal Connie crown but there are accepted examples of the ‘lobed’ crown found on 14381/14393 Connies.

Hope that helps.

 

Interesting. Does this mean there are no non-date chronometer rated Connies?

 

yes - lots
I'm wearing a 14381 right now

 

It's quite obvious from your own listing above: 167.xxx = no-date chronometer. Like 167.015, 167.021 and 167.070.

 

Does it mean that case parts between these cases are exchangeable?
Thanks,
Bo

 

Which case part are you talking about? Case clamps? Case backs or crystals?

 

In particular case back

 

Yes, for example, you can replace a 168.005 case back by a 167.005 caseback but it will have a wrong reference #.

 

Thanks!

 

But are 14900 and 168.xxx exchangeable too?

 

Yes, you can put a14900/167.005/168.005 case back on this.

.....or even a 14381.

 

Hello

i just found this thread. I am new around here usually just being a silent reader.

i am interested to buy a connie cal 551 but it seems the crown is not original and i found the replacement in ebay with this serie 069ST 42019 for Constellation, tap 10 (0.90mm), 5mm diameter, 3mm height.

will this fit the cal 551?
Many thanks for the help

 

Both 14381 and 167.005 host cal 551 but crowns maybe different. You need to know the case reference, too.

 

thank you !
Will check the reference