Thoughts on this Constellation 168.005

MightyMido · Wed. 11:58pm

Hi All,

I’m a longtime lurker but first time poster to this forum. For a while now, I’ve been keeping my eyes out for a vintage Constellation specifically a 168.005 with onyx inserts in stainless steel and with a 7-grain BOR bracelet. I’ve recently found one on eBay that seems like it could be a decent purchase with a few caveats. It’s clear that this would need a service and cleaning of the watch as well as the crystal. And I think that this is an aftermarket Omega crown (I believe the right one for this model is an octagonal crown). The end links to the bracelet don’t seem to be original and there may be a couple repairs needed, but the bracelet itself and the deployment seem correct. I am struggling to tell if this dial is original or a redial. What are your thoughts on this watch?

I appreciate any advice or feedback!

Best,
Brock

stormysky10 · Thurs. 1:26am

The dial I think looks OK.

But cal 564 with serial that looks like either 26x/28x gives me pause. The switchover from onyx to painted markers was done in the 24x range (https://omegaforums.net/threads/onyx-or-black-paint-markers-on-vintage-constellations.31354/) so we wouldn't expect a movement this late to be connected to an onyx dial.

stormysky10 · Thurs. 1:28am

BTW, it might be more appropriate for this thread to have been created in the Vintage subforum:

https://omegaforums.net/forums/vintage-omega-watches-help-discussion-and-advice.23/

Peemacgee · Thurs. 3:36am

Welcome @MightyMido

I agree with @stormsky that the dial looks ok.
Case has lost some of its definition but will probably look much better in real life than in macro pictures.
The watch has had a life - with a few dings and scratches and has enough human detritus on there to build a new friend from the DNA.

Crystal is a modern-ish replacement and crown is a replacement also (the original would be decagonal, not octagonal)

I also had immediate pause for thought regarding the movt serial but then I remembered that the 24m/onyx theory had been debunked when a number of later (assumed correct) doglegs turned up with onyx inserts.
It could be, like the correct later movt classic doglegs that turned up, they were produced for the far east market.

It would be useful to know what the movt serial actually is on this watch.

(and I also agree that this post should be in the vintage section)

Passover · Thurs. 4:34am

M MightyMido
And I think that this is an aftermarket Omega crown (I believe the right one for this model is an octagonal crown). The end links to the bracelet don’t seem to be original and there may be a couple repairs needed, but the bracelet itself and the deployment seem correct.

You did your 'homework', nice first post!

Passover · Thurs. 5:16am

Bracelt looks tired (stretched) too, seller mentions two links are damaged.

Very hard to confirm it's length. Plus the wrong end links

jffoo · Thurs. 9:21pm

Dial looks in good condition which is most important, with a new crystal and clean off the dirt on the case/bracelet it will look great wearing. If price accounts for the bracelet condition, wrong endlinks and crown, I think it could be a good buy.

Waltesefalcon · Thurs. 9:34pm

It looks good to me. I personally prefer the replacement crowns on these. My 168.005 had the correct decagonal crown and winding it and setting it were a pain. When I got my 14381 it had a replacement crown, like yours, and I started looking for the correct crown. About the second or third time I wound it and set it I quit looking for a correct crown and eight years later I'm still happy with that choice.

MightyMido · Thurs. 11:33pm

This is all great information! Thanks everyone for the advice and feedback on this.

Thoughts on this Constellation 168.005

MightyMido

stormysky10

stormysky10

Peemacgee

Passover

Passover

jffoo

Waltesefalcon

MightyMido

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