Omega Constellation 168.016 - lug width

Mensur · Mar 7, 2022

So I have been in love with my Omega Constellation 168.016 since I got it. I have been wearing it on a perlon strap (I am a barbarian, I know). I was looking for something more dressy like a nice metal bracelet. From the straps that I own the 18mm straps is to small and the 20mm is to broad. So I got myself a nice 19mm bracelet.

I was surprised to find that the 19mm bracelet also seems to be a little to narrow, leaving a small gap between the lugs. Which leads me to conclude that the lug width of this watch is something like 19.5mm, which seems a little odd. Anyone on the forum with experience with this issue? Any suggestions on finding a good fitting bracelet for this watch?

The situation in question:

dlukask · Mar 7, 2022

I had a 168.029 for a few years that was 19mm, IIRC. There were some interesting vintage Spiedels that worked well with it.

tdn-dk · Mar 7, 2022

MtV · Mar 7, 2022

Have you measured the end piece of your bracelet / lug width of your watch to 0.1mm? The lugs might well be ever so slightly bent, making it 19.2 or so, while the bracelet is likely not 19 but 18.8-18.9mm.

Mensur · Mar 7, 2022

MtV
Have you measured the end piece of your bracelet / lug width of your watch to 0.1mm? The lugs might well be ever so slightly bent, making it 19.2 or so, while the bracelet is likely not 19 but 18.8-18.9mm.

I have not (don't have the precisie measuring tools, just a ruler. The difference will be only a few fractions of millimeters, so that might well be it. I'll ask my watchmaker to check the lugs, the watch was in need of a checkup anyway. And just wear it on perlon until then.

kaplan · Mar 7, 2022

If 20mm is too broad, I'm pretty sure it's 19mm and the bracelet in actuality could be something like 18.5mm for a relaxed fit

Because you can usually cram 20mm into 19mm, 19mm into 18mm and so on

I bought a nice caliper a while ago and use it daily, would suggest one to you as well, the good ones aren't cheap but definitely no regrets

SkunkPrince · Mar 7, 2022

US Collection 3/4" is my guess.

SkunkPrince · Mar 7, 2022

kaplan
I bought a nice caliper a while ago and use it daily, would suggest one to you as well, the good ones aren't cheap but definitely no regrets

My recommendation:

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B000VDZEAC/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

No dials, no digital, no batteries.

Dan S · Mar 7, 2022

These are quite accurate and won't scratch your watch if you are at all clumsy. Digital with carbon fiber jaws.
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B01DXAFZ94/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Mensur · Mar 8, 2022

Thanks for all the suggestions! I will go and look for some nice calipers.

SkunkPrince
US Collection 3/4" is my guess.

So there was actually a different case for these watches build specifically for the US market? I have never heard anything about that before.

kaplan · Mar 8, 2022

I had the opposite issue for a while, approximately half of my Omega’s didn’t accept 19mm Quick Release straps - back then I didn’t have a caliper and now I wish I had, some lugs are very slightly smaller than 19mm and now I wonder what the actual measurement was

Though it’s usually a design fault on aftermarket stuff, either not enough tolerance or too much in your case 😀

SkunkPrince · Mar 8, 2022

Mensur
Thanks for all the suggestions! I will go and look for some nice calipers.

So there was actually a different case for these watches build specifically for the US market? I have never heard anything about that before.

Yes, though whether yours is might be hard to tell, and 3/4" is so close to 19mm that it shouldn't matter. But as was mentioned, cases and straps/bracelets can vary.

Omega Constellation 168.016 - lug width

Mensur

dlukask

tdn-dk

MtV

Mensur

kaplan

SkunkPrince

SkunkPrince

Dan S

Mensur

kaplan

SkunkPrince

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