Omega Constellation Case Ref. 2887 - A Very Uncommon Case Reference

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is there a disagreement here?

Nope none in my mind - watch has all the same parts it came from the factory with.
 
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So, there are two possible variants of dials/chronometer spelling on this model? 😕
 
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So, there are two possible variants of dials/chronometer spelling on this model? 😕

+1 I'm intrigued to know too! 😀
 
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+1 I'm intrigued to know too! 😀

Most of the ones that have surfaced so far were domed dials with the ChronometER spelling. In fact there was some question about the dial and originality when this was first discussed 2-3 years ago. If you read Desmond's article back then he speculated (eventually proven to be correct) that this case reference also contained piepan dials. This is evidence that this case reference came with piepan dials and apparently had original dials with both RE and ER spelling of the word. While case ref. 2887 is very uncommon, we are still only dealing with a small sample size here so it is quite possible that future watches will surface with piepan dials and the same RE spelling.

The watch I have is a single owner watch and hasn't been touched since its original sale - I don't think the same can be said of the other 2887s that have been discussed. The seller is neither a watch dealer nor a watch enthusiast who has need of funds for other purposes and sold this one and only vintage watch that he owned. It is watches with this kind of provenance that advance the knowledge base for certain models/case references of which not much was known previously.
 
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Recently, I found this one in pretty good condition but wasn't attracted to its bland dial so I let it sit there for a few weeks until someone bought it for GBP 650. Probably most people thought the same about the dial and took a pass on it. The dial's script is different from what has been seen so far: http://www.ebay.com/itm/371139952818.
 
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Yes,both the 14747 and 14397 were screw-in cases housing cal 504. I bet Mike's looking for both of those 😀

Another stunner.

Is there a cal 504 equivalent to this reference?
 
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Hmm, that's interesting. I understand that the first appearance of the "Officially Certified-Less" lettering was late 1958 when the experiment to omit it coincided with the production of the first cal 550 base calibres. But Omega was selling 14747s and 14397s in 1959 which I believe were remaindered cal 504s.

It's possible that remaindered 505s carried that script but I've never seen another.



Recently, I found this one in pretty good condition but wasn't attracted to its bland dial so I let it sit there for a few weeks until someone bought it for GBP 650. Probably most people thought the same about the dial and took a pass on it. The dial's script is different from what has been seen so far: http://www.ebay.com/itm/371139952818.
 
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Hmm, that's interesting. I understand that the first appearance of the "Officially Certified-Less" lettering was late 1958 when the experiment to omit it coincided with the production of the first cal 550 base calibres. But Omega was selling 14747s and 14397s in 1959 which I believe were remaindered cal 504s.

It's possible that remaindered 505s carried that script but I've never seen another.
Certainly interesting, now that you've mentioned it, Desmond! The listing said it's a 2887-2 SC with cal. 501 serial 14655275, probably dated to about 1955-1956. It would be an odd 501 remainder, so is it likely an early service dial?

Also, have you seen a 2887 in solid gold or have pictures of one? Does this look like one? (No better picture available)

Regards,
Tony
 
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Funny that both Mike and Hoi had before seen another pie-pan 2887 with the RE ending and forgot about it 😁: http://patek.watchprosite.com/s-/fi...show-forumpostf.classic/pi-5146043/ti-772678/

That one has a different shape of the lugs as well as that of the case back - like the 14747's instead of the 2652's.
I did not forget that, just did not accept that dial as a real dial for a 2887.
To me, a 2887 to collect should have that "funny font" that you don't see on any other ref.
The font with RE are everywhere on any 2852 and I can swap the whole unit into a 2887 in 5 minutes.

 
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Yes, I imagine it would be possibly a service dial as 55/56 is far too early.

I don't recall having seen a 2887 is 18k. I don't think they had a special case made as these pieces were being sold alongside the 14381 models until they exhausted inventory.

Regards

Desmond

Certainly interesting, now that you've mentioned it, Desmond! The listing said it's a 2887-2 SC with cal. 501 serial 14655275, probably dated to about 1955-1956. It would be an odd 501 remainder, so is it likely an early service dial?

Also, have you seen a 2887 in solid gold or have pictures of one? Does this look like one? (No better picture available)

Regards,
Tony
 
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I did not forget that, just did not accept that dial as a real dial for a 2887.
To me, a 2887 to collect should have that "funny font" that you don't see on any other ref.
The font with RE are everywhere on any 2852 and I can swap the whole unit into a 2887 in 5 minutes.

What makes you certain that your dial is not a redial or service one? Desmond's article does not mention anything about dial script and the script on your dial does not look like the one on Tim Mackrain's example either. What would you make of the dial with no "Officially Certified" writing?
 
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Yes, I imagine it would be possibly a service dial as 55/56 is far too early.

I don't recall having seen a 2887 is 18k. I don't think they had a special case made as these pieces were being sold alongside the 14381 models until they exhausted inventory.

Regards

Desmond
Your 2887 article mentions a possibility of solid gold case, so perhaps a correction? What reference do you think the watch I posted might be of? The lugs look similar to those on the 2652, but the back does look look like anything that I can google in gold case.

Regards,
Tony
 
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I think that with these remaindered cal 505 and 504 models we could see a number of variations. I expect, even though it is pure speculation, that dials made for parts inventory as well as dials from factory stocks may well have been used. So we could see some diversity.

The 2887 has a 29mm dial and the dial feet I believe are the same so I would be all that surprised to see a 14393 dial in a 2887.
 
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I think that with these remaindered cal 505 and 504 models we could see a number of variations. I expect, even though it is pure speculation, that dials made for parts inventory as well as dials from factory stocks may well have been used. So we could see some diversity.

The 2887 has a 29mm dial and the dial feet I believe are the same so I would be all that surprised to see a 14393 dial in a 2887.
I think you meant "so I would *not* be all that surprised to see a *14381* dial in a 2887" (as the 14393 is the date version).

I would wholeheartedly agree. Dial variations were certainly the norm for vintage Omegas, rather than dial exclusivity. Out of 4 or 5 variances, it's too hard to believe only one of them is original. One of the others may be a service dial, but there's not much evidence, if any, to say all the other are not original to this reference.

Regards,
Tony
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I read a thread like this and realize I am still quite firmly in the "oooh shiny!" demographic. 😵‍💫
 
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Here´s my 2887 piepan with `re`....not sure if my script is funny or not, doesn´t make me laugh anyway.

 
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The script doesn't make me laugh, either but the lume dots do.
 
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The script doesn't make me laugh, either but the lume dots do.

I hear ya!!

Lucky for me it was very cheap 😁 and I do find the overall look quite pleasing in a patinated kind of way 😀
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