flw
··history nerdWell, it's here: Dad's vintage Constellation.
I remember my dad wearing this watch regularly for at least 15 years, maybe 20. He got it in the mid-1970s as one of a matched set (my stepmother wore a ladies' size for many years). By the early or mid '90s he had moved on to other watches (each one more garish than the last), and this one had disappeared. I thought of his watch a lot over the years, and it was the piece that got me interested in getting an Omega of my own (I know what you're all thinking - "AN Omega!? Like anyone can own just one. Ha!") As I embarked on my collection, I acquired a similar Constellation for myself, figuring that his watch was gone.
He passed away at the end of May last year, and I've made several trips to the old family home in Maine to help my sister and stepmother with all of the necessary posthumous arrangements. A few days ago, while looking through a decorative storage box, I removed a tray, and there was Dad's watch. My stepmother readily agreed that it should accompany me back to Michigan, and I've attached a few pictures here.
As you can see, the dial is in good condition. The lume on the tips of the hands still glows, as do small lume pips on the dial at 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, and 11. (I'm not sure if the "OM" on either side of the "SWISS MADE" at the bottom of the dial refers to the lume, or to the gold, or what.) It is (obviously) a steel and yellow gold version of the 168.045 model. I've seen a similar (not identical) model on eBay recently, listed as a 368.845 based on numbers on the inside of the caseback. I haven't opened it to check, so I don't know if it's precisely the same model, nor do I have any papers for it.
The bracelet has a good deal of stretch, and the center links (at least) are hollow:
The movement in my steel one is a 751, for which the date change is performed by pulling out the crown to the furthest position. (The day change is done by advancing the hands 24 hours - very tedious.) I very quickly noticed that the date change function on Dad's watch doesn't work the same way, so I don't know if this is a different caliber or whether Omega modified the 751 at some point. Regardless, I have no idea how long it's been since the watch was serviced, and I didn't try to wind it much.
It has a gold crown, and I always loved the monogram on the clasp:
Here it is with mine:
I'd appreciate any insights from those on the Forum who are more familiar with this particular line of Constellation than I am (please understand that this is a low bar). Any suggestions for what to do (and not do) to get it in wearable order? And if you, like me, are in southeast Michigan, I'd love a suggestion for an independent watchmaker who can do the work at a price that won't break the bank. That said, this is an heirloom, and I want the work done right.
Thanks to all of you for reading this - this watch is very special to me.
I remember my dad wearing this watch regularly for at least 15 years, maybe 20. He got it in the mid-1970s as one of a matched set (my stepmother wore a ladies' size for many years). By the early or mid '90s he had moved on to other watches (each one more garish than the last), and this one had disappeared. I thought of his watch a lot over the years, and it was the piece that got me interested in getting an Omega of my own (I know what you're all thinking - "AN Omega!? Like anyone can own just one. Ha!") As I embarked on my collection, I acquired a similar Constellation for myself, figuring that his watch was gone.
He passed away at the end of May last year, and I've made several trips to the old family home in Maine to help my sister and stepmother with all of the necessary posthumous arrangements. A few days ago, while looking through a decorative storage box, I removed a tray, and there was Dad's watch. My stepmother readily agreed that it should accompany me back to Michigan, and I've attached a few pictures here.
As you can see, the dial is in good condition. The lume on the tips of the hands still glows, as do small lume pips on the dial at 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, and 11. (I'm not sure if the "OM" on either side of the "SWISS MADE" at the bottom of the dial refers to the lume, or to the gold, or what.) It is (obviously) a steel and yellow gold version of the 168.045 model. I've seen a similar (not identical) model on eBay recently, listed as a 368.845 based on numbers on the inside of the caseback. I haven't opened it to check, so I don't know if it's precisely the same model, nor do I have any papers for it.
The bracelet has a good deal of stretch, and the center links (at least) are hollow:
The movement in my steel one is a 751, for which the date change is performed by pulling out the crown to the furthest position. (The day change is done by advancing the hands 24 hours - very tedious.) I very quickly noticed that the date change function on Dad's watch doesn't work the same way, so I don't know if this is a different caliber or whether Omega modified the 751 at some point. Regardless, I have no idea how long it's been since the watch was serviced, and I didn't try to wind it much.
It has a gold crown, and I always loved the monogram on the clasp:
Here it is with mine:
I'd appreciate any insights from those on the Forum who are more familiar with this particular line of Constellation than I am (please understand that this is a low bar). Any suggestions for what to do (and not do) to get it in wearable order? And if you, like me, are in southeast Michigan, I'd love a suggestion for an independent watchmaker who can do the work at a price that won't break the bank. That said, this is an heirloom, and I want the work done right.
Thanks to all of you for reading this - this watch is very special to me.