Hello OF members.
I eventually pulled the trigger for my very first Constellation, ref 168.018 all stainless steel, no onyx markers, lume plots present on dial, bracelet No.12 - 0168, end links 556 (BOR?), mov serial 26M.
I paid roughly 900 $US for this piece.
Please comment. Thank you.

 

look ok to me

 

Hi River9
I was going to reply to your original thread about the lume and then saw that you'd found it.

I think you have done extremely well.
I've said it before but I'll say it again, these references of watches haven't found their place in the sun yet but they will.
£675 for a Constellation in more than decent condition is a great deal IMHO , especially with a BOR (Beads of Rice) bracelet.

Nice bezel, still well-defined lugs, lovely medallion, great movement.
Great looking dial and hands - don't get too hung up about the onyx, this reference was just beyond the cut off point.

If it hasn't been serviced, make sure you get one done, as the pics of the movt in your original thread show wear on the high points of the rotor
(do you have an image of the inner case-back?)

I'm no bracelet aficionado but I think the 556 end links are meant for an 18mm width lug (which is correct for the 1068 bracelet) but I believe the 168.018 has a 19mm lug spacing?
Perhaps those that know will chime in and confirm/correct this? @Lucasssssss @ConElPueblo

 

Roger that on the 19mm lugs. This model was my first Omega keeper. Every time I wear it I’m impressed with what a handsome design it is, especially on a metal bracelet. Nice shooting.


Correct endlinks are 55/555, I believe.

 

I now notice gaps between lugs-endlinks. Lugs are actually 19mm. So 556s are not legit with this ref 168.018.
Movment and caseback photos: I will provide shortly.

Thanks for info. Yours is with textured dial and Turler wording on it. Very nice

 

Nice piece and good price with the bracelet.....although I personally like these on a leather strap.

 

That is a pretty constellation those models are underappreciated but I think they will rise in value someday.

 

Nothing to add to what has already been said - I agree about the watch; a fine watch at a fair price.

 

Those endlinks wouldn’t keep me up at night. They look fine. I ended up buying and selling a whole other watch to get the right bracelet and endlinks, and then buying yet another watch to go on the incorrect BOR bracelet I began with. If you’re not careful you’ll end up like me, an unintentional collector.

 

Nice watch, good price, correct endlinks are 555, the bracelet I have seen most commonly is the 1037.

I have never seen 55 endlinks, but would be happy to be proven wrong.

 

Sorry, was thinking of 11/511 endlinks being equivalent, but maybe that's wrong too.

 

Hello OF members
Here is caseback and mvt photo.
Thanks for your insight.

 

Thanks @river9
Well, there are feint marks around the outside of the case back but none where I expected to see them around the inner section. (You can see where I thought there was wear on the rotor, adjacent to the ‘Co’)
So, the rub may have been fixed but it is still worth thinking about a service if you intend wearing the watch.

edit
I’m pretty sure you need a new case back gasket anyway.

 

The watch definitely is to be serviced since the calber appears a little dirty. I really want to wear it so I will tell my watchmaker to look at the gasket.
Thanks

 

Now on leather strap...

 

Hello again
Connie is now in watchmaker hands for service. In the meanwhile I would like to glean info on "beads of rice" bracelet for 168.018 ref above.
Through searches here on OF and googling I didn't find "correct" ref measurements for bracelet and endlinks.
My bracelet is 1036 Edit: bracelet No.12 - 1068 mounted on 556 endlinks. The 556 endlinks (supposedly 19mm width between lugs but loose on connie 168.018) don't fit my Seamaster ref 136.020 (18mm lug width).
Is that because the previous owner has trimmed 556 endlinks or something else?
In brief: my 556 endlinks are loose on 168.018 but too big for the 18mm lugs width (Seamaster ref 136.020).
Please enlighten me on this aspect.
Thank you and Merry Christmas

 

I think you will find what you require here
https://omegaforums.net/threads/case-bracelet-endpiece-list.81618/
- end links for 168.018 noted as 555

136.020 Seamaster end links noted as 570s - but I don't know what the difference between 556s and 570s are -most likely the curvature against the watch or length of end link.

 

I have seen at least 3 556's ELs on the 168.018 (including this watch), all of them from the US. I actually bought one a couple of weeks back with the same ref and endlink/bracelet combination. I would be inclined to think these are either US specific, or an alternate endlink combination for the 555s. I also think Omega still stock the 556 endlinks.

I would be surprised if my endlinks did not come with the watch originally, as the spring-bars were completely corroded, and a ton of grime fell out the endlinks when I removed them.

Over an endlinks life, if worn often, they can rub against the case and remove a small amount of material from the endlink. Do you have access to a pair of callipers? Can you measure each endlink and let us know its width.

Alternatively, as these (I think) are still available from Omega, you can order them at an AD.

 

@Lucasssssss @Peemacgee
Thank you all for quick reply
I am pretty sure lug inners on my Connie are in good shape although the endlinks seem a bit worn. I will try to measure endlinks width on caliper when it is available.
Edit: bracelet "No.12 1068" not 1036 as previously stated