Thoughts on this Constellation ?

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Hi OF,

I'm currently in discussions with the seller regarding this Omega Constellation Pie Pan and wanted to have your opinions on it.

Some info about the watch:
Year : 1963
Caliber : 551
Model ref : 167.005
Rose gold platted and SS (case back has been polished)
Serviced in april 2020
Original box included
Price : EUR 1300

I'll appreciate your help. Thank you in advance for your time.

Here are some photos below. Please note that the photos of the movement are before the service.
 
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I would want better photos before making an evaluation. It looks polished all the way round but it's hard to tell how bad, because the pictures are crap.
 
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What are the first two digits of the serial number? Do you have a photo of the inside of the case back? It should look something like this:

Hard to tell from the photos, but it looks like the dial might have some spotting. Not uncommon for a watch this age. Asking price is in the reasonable range for this reference.
 
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Not just the caseback was polished. A head on, high resolution photo of the dial would be nice to have
 
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This is a tough reference (no date) to find in good original condition because only about 37,000 were made. Here’s mine (1964, all stainless steel) for comparison. I paid about $1,250 USD including the BOR bracelet.
 
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Yes, sorry for the photos. They are not mine.
Let me add some more (and the case back too. The ref seems good to me).

Hope that's help
 
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Dial definitely has spotting, although that wouldn’t be a deal breaker for me. Case looks average and has been polished. If it’s fully original, the price includes a full service of the movement, and the watch is keeping good time, I’d consider it, but you might want to keep looking.
 
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If serviced in April 2020 any respected watchmaker would have changed the case back seal.
The case looks generally worn and polished. Dial looks grubby and has some spotting. Finding a correct rose gold decagonal crown will be almost impossible. Probably easier to get the existing one re-plated.
The crystal retaining ring looks to be silver, you would expect it to be in gold to match.
I think you can do better with €1300.
 
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Price is okay, but not spectacular.... If you set an eBay alert, I'm sure you can find a better constellation for the price.
 
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Thanks ! This is helpful.
The original crown should be rose gold, right ?
The case looks polished to me too (the seller assure me that is not). Maybe a stupid question, but : is that not more complicated to polish a plated gold case ?
 
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Thanks ! This is helpful.
The original crown should be rose gold, right ?
The case looks polished to me too (the seller assure me that is not). Maybe a stupid question, but : is that not more complicated to polish a plated gold case ?
This could be the original crown, just very well worn with use. Originally it would have been rose gold plated to match the case.
Generally you don’t see many sharp gold capped models when compared to solid gold and stainless steel. They do exist and a few OF members have some pristine examples. The capping is only about 200 microns thick so any polishing needs to be done with care.
 
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If serviced in April 2020 any respected watchmaker would have changed the case back seal.

Was my first thought as well but OP wrote that the movement picture was taken before the service 😀
Edited:
 
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Was my first thought as well but OP wrote that the movement picture was taken before the service
Yes, I confirm the picture was taken before the service
 
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Yes, I confirm the picture was taken before the service

Were the head-on photos also taken prior to the service? The way the dial/movement sits in case looks to be way off - look at the uneven gaps between dial and retention ring.


This is a tough reference (no date) to find in good original condition because only about 37,000 were made.

Do you have production numbers for this reference at hand? Or are you taking about the total number of 551s?
 
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Were the head-on photos also taken prior to the service? The way the dial/movement sits in case looks to be way off - look at the uneven gaps between dial and retention ring.

The first set of photos is after service (head only and also with the lezard band).
Photos of the movement are before service, case back too, and also the second set with the brown leather strap.
 
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The first set of photos is after service (head only and also with the lezard band).
Photos of the movement are before service, case back too, and also the second set with the brown leather strap.

...So the photos where there are issues with dial positioning is after service? That's comforting.
 
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Here is another photo of the dial. Sorry for the quality of the photos and thank you all for your feedbacks. It is really appreciable !
 
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Here is another photo of the dial.
Dial will look fine from normal viewing distances, biggest issue here is the case.