Omega Constellation... Rare bird or dial swap ?

Servius · Oct 17, 2021

Hello OF,

Saw this one offered at auction today...

Announced as a 166.052 / 168.033 with a cal 1011 from the auction house, no pics of the caseback nor the movement...

The blue caseback makes me think of a (possible) NOS case, completed after with a movement / dial from a C-Case 168.0056...

Hammered for quite a chunk of money. What do you think about it ?

I must admit that I find the combination very desirable.

ConElPueblo · Oct 17, 2021

Are there any other photos from the auction? To the best of my knowledge, the dial has been repainted.

Servius · Oct 17, 2021

@ConElPueblo
That didn't even crossed my mind... To my eye, it looks quite the same than the C-Case ones... What are the hints that you can discern?

Unfortunately no other pictures, these are the only ones that were published...

ConElPueblo · Oct 17, 2021

Servius
@ConElPueblo
That didn't even crossed my mind... To my eye, it looks quite the same than the C-Case ones... What are the hints that you can discern?

...it's blue?

Servius · Oct 17, 2021

@ConElPueblo

Thanks for your help, now I see why 👍

Boojumhunter · Oct 17, 2021

ConElPueblo
...it's blue?

Best. Comment. Ever.

Archer · Oct 18, 2021

ConElPueblo
Are there any other photos from the auction? To the best of my knowledge, the dial has been repainted.

ConElPueblo
...it's blue?

So, had a look at both the reported case references...no blue dial for the 166052, but for the 168033, there's this:

DIAL BLUE 11GR+WHT IND.AO C.1011 CST
REF : 064TB1646004
APPLIQUE : Stick
BACKGROUND COLOUR : Blue
Caliber : 1011
COLLECTION : Constellation
COLOR TRACES : White
DIAL DIAMETER : 27.50 MM

No photo of the dial available, but given the description, I wouldn't be 100% confident in saying this is a repainted dial, simply because it's blue.

Cheers, Al

ConElPueblo · Oct 18, 2021

Archer
So, had a look at both the reported case references...no blue dial for the 166052, but for the 168033, there's this:

DIAL BLUE 11GR+WHT IND.AO C.1011 CST
REF : 064TB1646004
APPLIQUE : Stick
BACKGROUND COLOUR : Blue
Caliber : 1011
COLLECTION : Constellation
COLOR TRACES : White
DIAL DIAMETER : 27.50 MM

No photo of the dial available, but given the description, I wouldn't be 100% confident in saying this is a repainted dial, simply because it's blue.

Cheers, Al

Thanks for the information - I may have to give up my shorthand dismissal...

I Google Image'd a bit after this and found this type of blue dial (I couldn't tell with certainty that it was the exact same type, but I would say it probably is) used on at least three different Constellations; the one in this thread being the only one of this reference which is a bit odd.

https://omegaforums.net/threads/sol...-shape-blue-metorite-dial-£475-shipped.95589/

Servius · Oct 18, 2021

@Archer

Thanks a lot for those informations...

@ConElPueblo

Yeah, that was the

Servius
dial from a C-Case 168.0056...

part. Sorry I should have posted a pic of one of those, I just thought that you were being sarcastic.

And forgive me to insist, but the fonts looks correct to me, and the script looks too nice for a redial... I'd be happy to be corrected though, always happy to learn 👍

Only one of this reference, haven't seen other blue C-cases without tritium like this one, and some odd details like this pointy "A" of Automatic... That's why this example raised my eyebrows.

MtV · Oct 18, 2021

ConElPueblo
Thanks for the information - I may have to give up my shorthand dismissal...

I Google Image'd a bit after this and found this type of blue dial (I couldn't tell with certainty that it was the exact same type, but I would say it probably is) used on at least three different Constellations; the one in this thread being the only one of this reference which is a bit odd.

https://omegaforums.net/threads/sold-omega-constellation-c-shape-blue-metorite-dial-£475-shipped.95589/

I’ve seen a few of these, but never in a blue as bright as the OPs watch. My initial thought went to the last design phase C-shapes, too - maybe @kaplan can shed some light on this?

ConElPueblo · Oct 19, 2021

MtV
I’ve seen a few of these, but never in a blue as bright as the OPs watch. My initial thought went to the last design phase C-shapes, too - maybe @kaplan can shed some light on this?

I can find clearer examples online in the reference that has an integrated bracelet.

MtV · Oct 19, 2021

ConElPueblo
I can find clearer examples online in the reference that has an integrated bracelet.

You’re right, I think. One more major point that @Servius mentioned is the pointy Automatic-A. Can’t find a single example of the last design phase C-Shapes that has it - yet, as you mentioned, some of integrated bracelet ones (168.045 etc) do.

I’d say it’s unlikely to come out of a C-Shape - no idea though if it started live in this exact watch. If there are other 168.033 with a pointy A, regardless of the color of the dial, I’m inclined to believe it might be correct.

Omega Constellation... Rare bird or dial swap ?

Servius

ConElPueblo

Servius

ConElPueblo

Servius

Boojumhunter

Archer

ConElPueblo

Servius

MtV

ConElPueblo

MtV

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