Vintage Constellation case in poor condition

Posts

13

Likes

4

Sosa

·Feb 23, 2021

Hello everyone my name is Cesar and I’m a novice watch collector and have started to collect Omega vintage. I just bought a vintage constellation that needs a little attention. The crystal needs to be replaced and it appears that the case has lost its plating or someone removed it and tried to polish the case. I’m wondering how to open it #1 and next is trying to find another case or re plate the current one. Are these top load watches or a split case any information would help. By finding the case # I can start the search and get my watch going. Hopefully the movement isn’t rusted but I can hear the rotor moving when I shake it. I cleaned the crystal a little and I like the dial so far. I’ll keep you all posted what movement is inside and the condition as I get this watch going. Thanks for any positive advise.

 

Posts

399

Likes

550

Mr.Bliss

·Feb 24, 2021

Hi Cesar, I'd leave it as it is and save my money for my next watch, preferably in much better condition.
The back pops open with the right tool.

 

Posts

7,809

Likes

35,452

cristos71

·Feb 24, 2021

Probably a 2852 with a cal 505, or if a really early one maybe a 501.

I agree with @Mr.Bliss, salvage what you can and move on. If you have to re-gold cap the lugs as well as all the other work then I really don't think this one is worth restoring in either the time or the money

 

Posts

405

Likes

383

malilis

·Feb 24, 2021

Indeed, this watch should not be "restored" in the full meaning of the word ... but if it was a low investment, I believe it would be worth to have it thoroughly cleaned, movement serviced, perhaps a new crystal and no more .. to have on the wrist as a real vintage, in poor but decent shape ...

 

Posts

2,116

Likes

1,304

DON

·Feb 24, 2021

Males me wonder if the lugs were gold cap and somebody removed the gold. Thats why the lugs look the same.

Jeweler could carefully go over the lugs with neoprene rubber wheels to smooth over the lugs and clean them up for polishing

Ultra fine wheels can be used on the gold capped bezel

DON

 

Posts

23,507

Likes

52,270

Dan S

·Feb 24, 2021

Throw it in a drawer and take your lumps. Or if it runs, wear it. Noob-tax. Tuition in the school of watch collecting. If you spend another dime on it, you're being foolish. I know this sounds harsh, but we've all been there. Learn from our mistakes.

 

Posts

6,647

Likes

11,476

MSNWatch

·Feb 25, 2021·Vintage Omega Aficionado

Unless the movement is in half decent shape the most valuable piece of that watch is the bezel. This is how that watch looked many moons ago:

 

Posts

7,809

Likes

35,452

cristos71

·Feb 25, 2021

MSNWatch

Unless the movement is in half decent shape the most valuable piece of that watch is the bezel.

Gotta be cruel to be kind sometimes!

 

H

Posts

3

Likes

0

Huskyivan

·Feb 25, 2021

Hello,

I'm trying to find out if I did a good buy. I have been getting different answers. I paid 850 for this watch. Is that the right price of it? Please help. Thanks

 

Posts

1,175

Likes

2,459

Nepomuceño

·Feb 25, 2021

H Huskyivan

Hello,

I'm trying to find out if I did a good buy. I have been getting different answers. I paid 850 for this watch. Is that the right price of it? Please help. Thanks

You should start a separate thread. More people will be able to see it and respond to it.

 

H

Posts

3

Likes

0

Huskyivan

·Feb 25, 2021

Nepomuceño

You should start a separate thread. More people will be able to see it and respond to it.

I tried but don't see how to. Is there a special link to press or something?

 

Posts

6,077

Likes

9,412

Peemacgee

·Feb 25, 2021·Purrrr-veyor of luxury cat box loungers

H Huskyivan

I tried but don't see how to. Is there a special link to press or something?

if you go to the Vintage Omega forum ‘home page’, to the right hand side of the title block there is a ‘new thread’ button

 

Posts

5,565

Likes

9,381

watchyouwant

·Feb 25, 2021

Open the back and take pics. Without that, everything is a guessing game....for starters: dial looks repainted. No lume on the dial, but lume hands. Center second hand too short. all fixable, but somebody worked on this one.....

 

Posts

6,077

Likes

9,412

Peemacgee

·Feb 26, 2021·Purrrr-veyor of luxury cat box loungers

watchyouwant

Open the back and take pics. Without that, everything is a guessing game....for starters: dial looks repainted. No lume on the dial, but lume hands. Center second hand too short. all fixable, but somebody worked on this one.....

@Huskyivan
Since you aren’t posting in its own separate thread but have posted in another thread
looks like a ref 168.004
Brickwork observatory case back places it post circa ‘66
Shouldn’t have calendar on the dial.
Swiss made should be below the indices
White font but what looks like gold minutes haches. (At least not matching)
Poor photo but the indices look slightly odd too.

Black dials have often been redone.
If it was sold to you as all original then you can choose to return it.
If it wasn’t and you like the watch that is all that matters

 

Posts

7,809

Likes

35,452

cristos71

·Feb 26, 2021

Just to add the above from @Peemacgee, 'chronometre' should be spelled 'chronometer'. The re spelling together with 'calender' on the dial are design attributes from earlier 1950's versions with cal 504