[ updated with pictures] Deal of the Day: Gerald Genta C case reference 168.0057

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-Added this amazing ref 168.0057 to my collection.-

I had my previous omega vintage television styled case stolen and as such was looking for a new watch. I chanced upon this watch within a week and bargained for it. After a bargain, it costed me $500 SGD or USD376, including its bracelet. Some appraisal websites appraise it to be USD$1600 due to its collectability

Fascinated by the day date complication, i studied it in detail and found it to be a 1972 model with a gold cap crown and case back.

From my notes
1.Caliber 1021 movement (28800bph)
2. 1970-1972 C case designed by Gerald Genta in 1964
3. 18k solid gold case and back ? Clarified it was Stainless Steel
4. Ref. 1680057
5. Champagne gold dial with gold markers
6. Stainless Steel metal strap?
7. Last in house calibre?
8. Mineral crystal

It appears to be quite similar to Globemaster annual calander and its quite a steal, considering the price of new omegas! Day-Dates complications are increasingly rare for Omega and I think I'm quite bless to own this piece. My next Grail watch will be a Speedmaster Day-Date!

I'm considering to have the bracelet replaced for genuine leather soon, just like the globemaster.

I found this while researching and I quote:

"Truly an exceptional beautiful beast you got there! It's a full gold version which you guesses right, it got cal 1021. It came around 1972, early 70s if I recall, designed for Omega by Gerald Genta. Finding one is rare enough. And seems that yours "suffered" an over polished case which the satin finish is almost gone I think.... You could give it to a watchmaker nearby you to make it how it should be. Supposed to be he flagship of Omega at the time given by its first high frequency calibre that runs at rate 28800 bph or 4Hz, which in its time was regarded as the fast beat calibre. And its movement is pretty thin too, around 3-4 mm in height, including the oscillating weight which is pretty cool to have. But I still don't know why most collectors does not consider these hidden jewels from Omega. The problem is the thin movement. It's thin enough, that some times the reverser wheel would break easily. And yeah, finishing wise... It's not as stunning as the three digits calibres. And sadly for manufacturing sake, the finishing are left behind for its effectiveness during manufacturing process. Don't worry it's still got a very nice finishing but not as elaborate as the three digit calibres, which is why most collectors have less regard. Pretty sad because this one deserves more attention, as without this, Omega would've never been as it is today.... It is supposed to be a historical piece. It opened up the opportunity of Omega to do some futuristic approach in watchmaking, with it's first and the last in-house high frequency Omega calibres. I would say congratulation to you and your piece. What you got there is an historically important piece for omega, a hidden jewel that went under the radar for the most of the connoisseurs."

1680057


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Update 24 April

I had my watch seen and serviced in ChinaTown Singapore by a local watchrepairer
Location:

C.W.P. Clock & Parts
#03-172, 34 Upper Cross St, 058340
https://maps.app.goo.gl/b96i1dxws7NacD8f8

The watch was regulated and oiled

Edited:
 
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Better pictures would help us evaluate this

crown looks stainless to me, and not gold cap.
 
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Welcome Ijtan and thanks for the presentation. May I be curious what makes you think that this is an 18k case? In the pictures, everything looks stainless steel to me, with the exception of the flutzed bezel, which was, indeed, 18k white gold on those.

Anyway, enjoy your timepiece 😀
 
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MtV MtV
Welcome Ijtan and thanks for the presentation. May I be curious what makes you think that this is an 18k case? In the pictures, everything looks stainless steel to me, with the exception of the flutzed bezel, which was, indeed, 18k white gold on those.

Anyway, enjoy your timepiece 😀

Thank you for clarification. I thought it was 18K white gold LOL
 
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If it is indeed an 18K WG case, and I see nothing to suggest it is, you scored big. If as it looks it is a slightly worn steel case then you did Ok but not spectacularly. That realistically needs a new dial and a case refinish might bring back some of the sunburst. And a service of course You may have to put maybe $500-600 USD into it and will then have a piece which is worth around your total outlay.

I may be being a little harsh, the case isn't all that bad so perhaps just a dial swap and service will do it. The appraisal above, with all its 'historically important piece' and "truly exceptional beast' are impressive pieces of creative writing alright! This is a Genta piece but it is at the bottom of the pecking order in both case and movement desirability in the Connie hall of fame.
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Is it allowed to ask a question:
Are the hands original to this reference?
 
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Is it allowed to ask a question:
Are the hands original to this reference?
No. I don’t think so. I think the hands were taken from a contemporary Seamaster model with a similar movement.

I also question whether the bezel is original. It looks too thin from the photos. If not original, then it is doubtful to be 18K gold.

Here is an old auction listing for a new-old stock Ref. 168.0057 for comparison purposes.


https://www.bukowskis.com/en/lots/1136504-omega-constellation-nos-chronometer-wristwatch-35-mm

I’m afraid that our OP has purchased a case, movement and bracelet and not much else. The cost of restoration will likely be prohibitive.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.
gatorcpa
 
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@Ijtan While this is a 168.0064, not a 168.0057, take this as an example how the brushing of the case was originally, so you get an idea of the difference and what the goal for a restoration might be:



Note the brushed top and side with a small, polished chamfer in between.
 
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For full service I suggest Omega HQ in Biehl/Bienne Switzerland afterwards the watch is like new.
 
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Thanks for all your comments! Appreciate your thoughts to my watch appraisal! I'd give this a service, Polish, and wear it in good health!

However I always wondered, isn't the complications the more desirable? For example triple date > day date> date. > No date?
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isn't the complications the more desirable? For example triple date > day date> date. > No date?

Sometimes, but not always. I've personally seen little to no difference in value/desirability between the day-date, date, and no date models of this era (when generally comparing the same model). I think it mostly comes down to personal preference and aesthetics. I personally prefer watches that are date only and think that many of the Omega day-date watches of this era have a dated design.
 
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However I always wondered, isn't the complications the more desirable?
As a collector, I’d have to say no. If anything, it is less desirable, especially with Omega. I find that the day/date detracts from the original design.

I’m not familiar with how the day setting works on the later 10XX movements like yours, but setting the day on a older cal. 75X movement is a royal pain.
gatorcpa
 
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As a collector, I’d have to say no. If anything, it is less desirable, especially with Omega. I find that the day/date detracts from the original design.

I’m not familiar with how the day setting works on the later 10XX movements like yours, but setting the day on a older cal. 75X movement is a royal pain.
gatorcpa

Much easier, just set the time backwards and the day disk jumps over (it does so in the forward direction, though - always feels weird to me).
 
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I’m with the crocodile. Desirability is actually no date first, ‘date only’ a close second and ‘day-date’ quite far back. It’s the dial real estate that the day robs which is the drawback. The date is bad enough but when half the dial is blighted it gets a bit too much. I’ve had DD Omegas that l loved but the market seems to think that less date the better. The no date Connies are much rarer too.

I really value a date feature personally.
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MtV MtV
Much easier, just set the time backwards and the day disk jumps over (it does so in the forward direction, though - always feels weird to me).
That’s what you do with the 751. If it’s Monday and the watch says Sunday, you still have to go backwards 6 days.

Seiko has (and had back then) a far more elegant solution, pull crown out one click, set the time. Pull it out a second click, turning the crown clockwise sets the date, counter-clockwise sets the day.

What was Omega thinking?
gatorcpa
 
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That’s what you do with the 751. If it’s Monday and the watch says Sunday, you still have to go backwards 6 days.

Seiko has (and had back then) a far more elegant solution, pull crown out one click, set the time. Pull it out a second click, turning the crown clockwise sets the date, counter-clockwise sets the day.

What was Omega thinking?
gatorcpa

I either confuse this entirely or didn’t make myself clear, English not being my first language.
On a cal 751, there’s no quickset for the day I thought. On a cal 1021, going backwards with the hands in the same crown position you use to set the time (forward), the day disk jumps forwards. Not every 24h, but constantly every few minutes you set it back. But please, do correct me if I’m wrong.

But I agree completely, the Seiko solution is much more comfortable.
 
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MtV MtV
On a cal 1021, going backwards with the hands in the same crown position you use to set the time (forward), the day disk jumps forwards. Not every 24h, but constantly every few minutes you set it back.
That makes more sense. I have a cal. 1011 date only and it is totally quickset at 2nd click like Seiko.
gatorcpa
 
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MtV MtV
I either confuse this entirely or didn’t make myself clear, English not being my first language.
On a cal 751, there’s no quickset for the day I thought. On a cal 1021, going backwards with the hands in the same crown position you use to set the time (forward), the day disk jumps forwards. Not every 24h, but constantly every few minutes you set it back. But please, do correct me if I’m wrong.

But I agree completely, the Seiko solution is much more comfortable.
Don’t worry. Many here are Aussie. English isn’t their first language either 😉
 
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Updated: i had my watched serviced by a local watchmaker.
Update with pictures above, a unique heritage/shop in a quaint location
Edited:
 
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Updated: i had my watched serviced by a local watchmaker.
Update with pictures above, a unique heritage/shop in a quaint location
Hopefully they do a job like this:



I had mine at Omega HQ serviced and they did an amazing job.