Question about 168.045 Constellation dial

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ianmarsh

·Mar 11, 2022

Hello everyone,
Complete newbie here looking for a 21st birthday present for my son. He would like something from the Constellation range. I've come across a 168.045 on a well-known auction site (UK version). I am dubious about the dial which reads (from top to bottom):
Omega logo
Constellation
Then below the centre:
OMEGA
AUTOMATIC
CHRONOMETER
OFFICIALLY CERTIFIED

Every picture I can find of this watch has AUTOMATIC beneath Constellation at the top of the dial. I am assuming I am looking at a redialled watch but are rediallers so daft as to put the words in the wrong place?? Or are there different layouts? Any help appreciated.

 

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Nepomuceño

·Mar 11, 2022

Pictures will help us help you.

 

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ianmarsh

·Mar 11, 2022

Nepomuceño

Pictures will help us help you.

Yup, struggling to post pics while on my phone. Will try again when I get to a computer

 

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Nepomuceño

·Mar 11, 2022

I ianmarsh

Yup, struggling to post pics while on my phone. Will try again when I get to a computer

I'm gonna assume it looks something like this?

 

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ConElPueblo

·Mar 11, 2022

I ianmarsh

Hello everyone,
Complete newbie here looking for a 21st birthday present for my son. He would like something from the Constellation range. I've come across a 168.045 on a well-known auction site (UK version). I am dubious about the dial which reads (from top to bottom):
Omega logo
Constellation
Then below the centre:
OMEGA
AUTOMATIC
CHRONOMETER
OFFICIALLY CERTIFIED

Every picture I can find of this watch has AUTOMATIC beneath Constellation at the top of the dial. I am assuming I am looking at a redialled watch but are rediallers so daft as to put the words in the wrong place?? Or are there different layouts? Any help appreciated.

There are different layouts, but there may be other issues.

Is it this one?

This one on eBay.co.uk has a repainted dial.

 

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ianmarsh

·Mar 11, 2022

Yes, that's the one. So it is repainted, thanks for confirming. That's a shame as it is a very attractive watch. I'll have to keep looking

 

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Peemacgee

·Mar 11, 2022

I ianmarsh

Hello everyone,
Complete newbie here looking for a 21st birthday present for my son. He would like something from the Constellation range.

Welcome @ianmarsh
The ‘constellation range’ is a very broad church.
The integrated bracelet version you show is a very particular taste - and appeals to relatively small demographic- do you know that this is the style that your son is after?

 

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ianmarsh

·Mar 12, 2022

He really likes the pie pan but that is out of budget. But he is more into starting a (small) collection of high quality watches rather than getting "the one". So I'd like to get him something striking

 

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TIMElyBehaviour

·Mar 12, 2022

What about a C shape? Something like one of these?

 

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ianmarsh

·Mar 12, 2022

I've my eye on one of those but that would be for me! The one I like looks to have odd hands but I like the look and I'm not so fussy about things being 100% original (and the seller insists it is all legit and knows more about this than me).

 

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Peemacgee

·Mar 12, 2022

I ianmarsh

I've my eye on one of those but that would be for me! The one I like looks to have odd hands but I like the look and I'm not so fussy about things being 100% original (and the seller insists it is all legit and knows more about this than me).

there is an easy fix for that.
Post your target watch in its own thread and you’ll get comments from members.

 

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ianmarsh

·Mar 12, 2022

Nah, they'll tell me it is iffy and put me off! I'm buying (possibly) it for its looks, not the originality.

 

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MtV

·Mar 12, 2022

I ianmarsh

Nah, they'll tell me it is iffy and put me off! I'm buying (possibly) it for its looks, not the originality.

If your son looks at collecting watches the same way, where’s the worry?

 

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Peemacgee

·Mar 12, 2022

I ianmarsh

Nah, they'll tell me it is iffy and put me off! I'm buying (possibly) it for its looks, not the originality.

thats fine - but you don’t want to over pay for something that might be priced as original if it isn’t.

 

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Dan S

·Mar 12, 2022

If your son's taste tends towards the more classic style Constellation (e.g. pie-pan) from Omega's golden age, I don't know if the late model with integrated bracelet would be a good fit. If the pie-pan is not in the budget, perhaps a classic 1950s or 1960s Geneve or Seamaster.

 

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Davidt

·Mar 12, 2022

Dan S

If your son's taste tends towards the more classic style Constellation (e.g. pie-pan) from Omega's golden age, I don't know if the late model with integrated bracelet would be a good fit. If the pie-pan is not in the budget, perhaps a classic 1950s or 1960s Geneve or Seamaster.

I was going to say the exact same. There are plenty of classic 50’s/60’s style Seamasters that would likely bro within budget and if the watch were for me, I’d prefer those to a later style 70’s Constellation

 

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bama2141

·Mar 12, 2022

That Constellation was my first good watch. Purchased as a graduation gift to myself in 1970. I know the style is not for everyone, but it was a major design departure in it’s day. I wore it daily until I bought the Bond Seamaster in the mid 1990s and it still gets some wrist time now.

 

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ianmarsh

·Mar 12, 2022

MtV

If your son looks at collecting watches the same way, where’s the worry?

He is more fussy. He would want things to be correct (as would I for a 21st present).

 

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TIMElyBehaviour

·Mar 12, 2022

Maybe consider an old seamaster. This isn’t a pie pan but it certainly has a 2 section step and is beautiful. I picked it up for $300 aud in an auction and spent $250 on parts and service. Runs perfectly now.

look for something like it.

 

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Sherbie

·Mar 13, 2022

Integrated bracelet watches are all the rage at the moment, and these constellations were the first ever integrated bracelet watches apparently, launched around 1968/9

Thats way before the APRO Or the PPN

Just sayin ……….

here is mine