Opinion on white gold Constellation

roofwater · Jul 31, 2025

Greetings all - am new to this forum and vintage watches thanks to this watch I inherited. It's a white gold Constellation with confirmed white gold dome dial. Dial has baguette cut diamonds at 12, 6 &9. Caliber is 561 and ref is 168.005/6. Based on serial number it dates from 1966. I've been told that this is pretty rare given that it's white gold and has the diamond markers. Downsides are that the case has a couple of deep scratches, the crown and crystal are generic replacements, and the original band is MIA. I'd love to have your thoughts about whether this is indeed somewhat rare and, regardless, a general ballpark about its value (i.e., should I be scared to wear it as one of my regular watches)?

Perhaps my search skills are kinda lame, but I've tried to find something like this but haven't had any luck, so I'd appreciate any thoughts. Apologies in advance for noob status and thanks!!

Knebo · Aug 1, 2025

R roofwater
Greetings all - am new to this forum and vintage watches thanks to this watch I inherited. It's a white gold Constellation with confirmed white gold dome dial. Dial has baguette cut diamonds at 12, 6 &9. Caliber is 561 and ref is 168.005/6. Based on serial number it dates from 1966. I've been told that this is pretty rare given that it's white gold and has the diamond markers. Downsides are that the case has a couple of deep scratches, the crown and crystal are generic replacements, and the original band is MIA. I'd love to have your thoughts about whether this is indeed somewhat rare and, regardless, a general ballpark about its value (i.e., should I be scared to wear it as one of my regular watches)?

Perhaps my search skills are kinda lame, but I've tried to find something like this but haven't had any luck, so I'd appreciate any thoughts. Apologies in advance for noob status and thanks!!

It's the first time that I dare to make a statement on the originality of a dial, but IMHO, this is a redial. The vertical brushing is too rough and print is lower quality than an original dial.
Here a photo of the printing on an original dial from that era.

Peemacgee · Aug 1, 2025

A brave decision to call out a very uncommon white gold dogleg dial for your first shout @Knebo -but you are quite right.

It is a special dial (I.e. the diamonds and the indices) but the brushing is too heavy (and irregular) and the fonts are both wrong and badly done.

roofwater · Aug 1, 2025

While I didn’t get a picture of the back of the dial, I was told by watchmaker maker who serviced it that it had Omega 18k stamp on the reverse. Assuming you’re correct, is it conceivable it was redialed because my father had the dial restored at some point?

Peemacgee · Aug 1, 2025

@roofwater

Condolences on your loss if it was recent and congratulations on your inheritance.

White gold doglegs - in this case a 168.006 deluxe, if the dial is also white gold, - are like hen's teeth and very uncommon and very desirable.

The case on yours is in ok condition (sharpness-wise) and I bet it looks much better on the wrist than in the photos.

A 'diamond dial' is a bit marmite to collectors but they do tend to appear on special watches (and it would have been a special order watch)

The dial does appear to have been redone, judging by the quality of the script, and this will hurt the value to collectors but it shouldn't stop you wearing and enjoying it.

Davidt · Aug 1, 2025

Just to clarify what a redial is. It means the original dial was damaged at some point and so the original paint/finish was removed then reapplied to the original dial plate. So, your dial will still have the Omega 18k stamp on the reverse and the actual metal plate is the same, it’s just the finish that has been redone and this ties in with your comment that your father may have had the dial restored.

Unfortunately this significantly affects the collectability and value of the watch. However, as @Peemacgee says, these white gold versions are so rare that it still has considerable value

Knebo · Aug 1, 2025

Peemacgee
A brave decision to call out a very uncommon white gold dogleg dial for your first shout @Knebo -but you are quite right.

It is a special dial (I.e. the diamonds and the indices) but the brushing is too heavy (and irregular) and the fonts are both wrong and badly done.

Thanks! I'm relieved 😅

Peemacgee
but it shouldn't stop you wearing and enjoying it

Absolutely! Enjoy it with the memories of your dad. That value will never go away. That's how he wore it.
Still a special and unusual watch.

roofwater · Aug 1, 2025

Well this seems like an Antiques Roadshow moment. Happily, no harm, no foul here - I didn’t buy it nor have I intended to sell it. I’ll just enjoy it for what it is - a good-looking, rare-as-hens-teeth, and pretty dang accurate watch that I shouldn’t be afraid to wear. No matter what, inheriting it has spurred a burgeoning (potentially expensive) interest in vintage Omegas. Thanks for the input!

Peemacgee · Aug 1, 2025

It really is a splendid watch to own and grail-watch to many Constellation collectors.

(A good white gold dogleg or lyre-lug Constellation might command twice the price of a similar yellow gold watch)

Nobody (other than the WISs here) will even know your watch has been redialled - so you can wear it with absolute impunity.

Opinion on white gold Constellation

roofwater

Knebo

Peemacgee

roofwater

Peemacgee

Davidt

Knebo

roofwater

Peemacgee

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