This Constellation dial seems to be rare...

RoadRunner73 · Feb 25, 2023

Hello Folks !

I'm after a Connie, Case ref. 14902 SC 61 , so SS, and it is housing a 561 Cal and a silver champagne dial I have hardly seen before on any Connie whatsoever; I am not an expert in playing with copy-paste of pictures, but I managed to find one from another watch from same period ('60-'63), which is identical , but surprisingly (at least for me, the picture below shows a quite different case, the 14393 :

So I am a bit puzzled :
a) it is really a rare dial ?
b) did Omega played with mixing dials and cases without any clear rules ? So then is it likely that the same dial might have been put on different cases ?

I truly love the 6-9-12 dial + date, but I need to know if it is likely that this combination dial/case has been produced by Omega.
Thanks so much for your lights !

cristos71 · Feb 25, 2023

I'm not really sure what you are asking so won't give a reply to that, but I would advise when looking for watches as a guideline and/or as reference material then only use those that are both in excellent condition and known to be completely original. The poor photo you show is of a Connie in very poor condition with at least one replacement and poorly fitted part (crown) so I doubt many will be able to comment based on that.

MtV · Feb 25, 2023

If you’re only referring to the general layout of 12, 6, 9 numerals plus date: Most dogleg Constellations (14902, 168.005 are the date ones) do indeed not have numerals, but indices only.

However, the application of numerals, even of full numeral dials, are far from unheard of. Many of them seem to be coming from the UK, but anyway: numerals on a dogleg Connie doesn’t say anything about it not being legit.

To actually be helpful, we’d need to have good pics of your watch though.

RoadRunner73 · Feb 25, 2023

right, I can understand, so let me try to clarify this;
as indicated, this picture is only for sake of the example of a "6-9-12" dial plus date, which I have hardly come across until now, and my 1st question is whether it is really rarely seen, or if it is only coincidental that I haven't come across it yet because I am still fairly new in the quest of a Connie.
So until now, I have seen this type of dial on several different cases, 14902 (which is the one I'm currently after) and some others, including the 14393 pictured above, and my second question is whether it was normal practice from part of Omega to mix dials and cases like that.

Ultimately, I am trying to ascertain whether a 14902 dated 1962 might have been equipped with this type of dial or not, and whether this combination is as rare as the sellers claims it is.

qazwsx1 · Feb 25, 2023

My black pie-pan with the 3-6-9-12 dial might be more uncommon?😉

MtV · Feb 25, 2023

It might have been, yes - but again, as long as you don’t post any pictures, it’s just a vague guessing game.

By the way, even if the configuration might be uncommon compared to no-numeral-14902, this is not the kind of rarity that creates a large amount of value.

RoadRunner73 · Feb 25, 2023

qazwsx1
My black pie-pan with the 3-6-9-12 dial might be more uncommon?😉

Love this one ! 🥰

RoadRunner73 · Feb 25, 2023

MtV
By the way, even if the configuration might be uncommon compared to no-numeral-14902, this is not the kind of rarity that creates a large amount of value.

OK, fair comment, thanks !

cristos71 · Feb 25, 2023

MtV
..... this is not the kind of rarity that creates a large amount of value.

Or indeed any extra value!

The term 'Rare' when used by seller should generally be taken with a pinch of salt.

MtV · Feb 25, 2023

cristos71
Or indeed any extra value!

The term 'Rare' when used by seller should generally be taken with a pinch of salt.

I don’t know, could see myself bidding 50$ more on a nice full numeral example. 😁

100% agreed on the “seller says it’s rare”-comment by the way.

Pixitfecit · Feb 25, 2023

More rare than a non numeral, but not super rare. Id also bid a bit more on a numeral example, personally i really love those!

RoadRunner73 · Feb 25, 2023

cristos71
Or indeed any extra value!

The term 'Rare' when used by seller should generally be taken with a pinch of salt.

Exactly ! and that's precisely the point of this thread. 😉

RoadRunner73 · Feb 25, 2023

And to put it in a nushell, I've probably come across 10 "numerals", and of which only max 2 with "9-6-12-date", compared with maybe 120-150 "no numerals", but in say 3 months only, not 2 or 3 years, hence my question

MtV · Feb 25, 2023

RoadRunner73
And to put it in a nushell, I've probably come across 10 "numerals", and of which only max 2 with "9-6-12-date", compared with maybe 120-150 "no numerals", but in say 3 months only, not 2 or 3 years, hence my question

Correct. It’s a watch that was produced in vast numbers. Only a portion of them had the numerals - uncommon in comparison to other examples, not particularly uncommon overall, and not really worth more.

RoadRunner73 · Feb 25, 2023

Well, paging Desmond's blog, I have finally caught a picture in his essay on Connie dials (part 1) of a 14902 SC powered by a 561 and exhibiting exactly the same numeral dial "6-9-12- date " ! So in consideration of his vast expertise, this seems to confirm at least that this combination case/dial is legit, and this is already a great move for me.

MtV · Feb 25, 2023

Well, glad this calmed your mind.

RoadRunner73 · Feb 26, 2023

Yes ! Thx to all of you for your inputs !

This Constellation dial seems to be rare...

RoadRunner73

cristos71

MtV

RoadRunner73

qazwsx1

MtV

RoadRunner73

RoadRunner73

cristos71

MtV

Pixitfecit

RoadRunner73

RoadRunner73

MtV

RoadRunner73

MtV

RoadRunner73

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