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Should I buy this watch

usmc323nova
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Looking at a 1963. 168.004. Dual metal constellation pie pan with cross hairs. Hidden crown. Movement is 561 chron. The movement dates to 1963. The issue is the caseback although it has the correct model number. The date is 1962 and per reference check states non chron.

Everything else seems to check out. Your thoughts? $1,200.

IMG_1315.webp IMG_1316.webp IMG_1318.webp IMG_1317.webp
 
Dan S
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Not sure what you are saying about the case-back. It says 168, which is a chronometer prefix.
 
usmc323nova
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When I looked it up it came up as
Year 1962. Men’s leather strap. Movement type non chronograph . Functions chronometer. Should I be concerned over the year difference in movement and case?
 
BlackTalon
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usmc323nova usmc323nova
Should I be concerned over the year difference in movement and case?
No need to be concerned. They had piles of movements, so not uncommon for a movement to be a year or two older than the model year indicated on the case back.
 
padders
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usmc323nova usmc323nova
When I looked it up it came up as
Year 1962. Men’s leather strap. Movement type non chronograph . Functions chronometer. Should I be concerned over the year difference in movement and case?
You are confusing chronograph and chronometer. it is the latter, not the former which is basically a stopwatch function.

The watch looks fine. It probably needs a service since there is no caseback gasket so factor that in but the price isn't silly if you ignore that variable.
 
Peemacgee
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I’m not quite sure what you are referring to @usmc323nova.

This is an early version of the 168.004 reference.

the ‘62’ references the year of first release of this iteration of the watch reference.
Omega dropped the use of the year of release around this time and just used the reference number.

There doesn’t appear to be anything amiss but I would like to see much better pics of the case - especially the lugs - before judging the value of the watch.
 
JimInOz
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usmc323nova usmc323nova
Should I be concerned over the year difference in movement and case?
No. The case was not made by Omega, so the time between its production and receipt by Omega and subsequent assembly of the watch couls be as simple as a late 62 production case and an early 63 movement coming together.
 
dsio
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It’s a nice looking Piepan and the price is reasonable imo, most people asking if a watch is any good are posting something decent but expensive or reasonable price but trashed, this is a solid purchase.
 
usmc323nova
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Peemacgee Peemacgee
I’m not quite sure what you are referring to @usmc323nova.

This is an early version of the 168.004 reference.

the ‘62’ references the year of first release of this iteration of the watch reference.
Omega dropped the use of the year of release around this time and just used the reference number.

There doesn’t appear to be anything amiss but I would like to see much better pics of the case - especially the lugs - before judging the value of the watch.
that’s all I was sent. I will pick up tomorrow. I looked up values. It’s below what they are selling for
 
usmc323nova
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dsio dsio
It’s a nice looking Piepan and the price is reasonable imo, most people asking if a watch is any good are posting something decent but expensive or reasonable price but trashed, this is a solid purchase.
Thanks. Wow I really appreciate the responses. Solid across the board.
 
usmc323nova
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The top is 14k gold not plated per seller. I’ll verify tomorrow. Loop in hand. My jeweler will clean it. He’s currently working on my 18k 168.009 constellation. I have 4 Omegas now. This is becoming an obsession
 
usmc323nova
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Peemacgee Peemacgee
HeaI’m not quite sure what you are referring to @usmc323nova.

This is an early version of the 168.004 reference.

the ‘62’ references the year of first release of this iteration of the watch reference.
Omega dropped the use of the year of release around this time and just used the reference number.

There doesn’t appear to be anything amiss but I would like to see much better pics of the case - especially the lugs - before judging the value of the watch.
 
dsio
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usmc323nova usmc323nova
Here is another pic

IMG_1319.webp
Lugs are a bit more worn, but still not an unreasonable watch for the price
 
Dan S
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usmc323nova usmc323nova
When I looked it up it came up as
Year 1962. Men’s leather strap. Movement type non chronograph . Functions chronometer. Should I be concerned over the year difference in movement and case?
Sorry, I still don't see what your concern is. Are you confusing the terms chronograph and chronometer? I would not personally pay $1200 for a gold-capped hidden-crown Constellation in this condition, but you may not have better options and the asking price isn't as crazy as we sometimes see from dealers. Figure an additional $300-$500 for a service.
Edited:
 
ErichKeane
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usmc323nova usmc323nova
The top is 14k gold not plated per seller. I’ll verify tomorrow. Loop in hand. My jeweler will clean it. He’s currently working on my 18k 168.009 constellation. I have 4 Omegas now. This is becoming an obsession
I mean, it very clearly IS plated/filled/etc. IN that the case is not solid gold.
 
Dan S
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ErichKeane ErichKeane
I mean, it very clearly IS plated/filled/etc. IN that the case is not solid gold.
The mid-case appears to be gold-capped. The bezel may be gold, but the OP will have no way to determine that.
 
ErichKeane
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Dan S Dan S
The mid-case appears to be gold-capped. The bezel may be gold, but the OP will have no way to determine that.
AH! Thats what they meant by 'the top is...'. Even so, a solid-gold bezel would be non-original, right? So probably not a good thing.
 
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