Vintage Omega Constellation Authenticity Check

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TheBigBird

·Wed. 10:32pm

Hi everyone! I’m relatively new to vintage watches, but I’ve completely fallen in love with the design of the Constellation. I’m currently looking at this piece and would love to get your expert eyes on whether it’s authentic and fairly priced.

The seller is asking around $2K. I've done some initial research, but given how common redials and swapped parts can be, especially with black-dial Constellations, I wanted to make sure I'm not walking into a trap.

I've attached/linked photos of the dial, caseback, and movement below. What are your thoughts on condition, originality, and value at this price point?

Would deeply appreciate any insights or guidance. Thanks in advance!

 

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AG77

·Wed. 11:34pm

That applied OMEGA logo doesn't look right to me at all.

 

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TheBigBird

·Wed. 11:56pm

AG77

That applied OMEGA logo doesn't look right to me at all.

Thanks! What makes you say that? I thought there were other black dial constellations that looked similar, like this one here.

 

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AG77

·Thurs. 12:04am

In "OMEGA" your A is pointed, and the E and G are not connected at the bottom but, rather oddly, in the middle (as are the O and M). Doesn't look correct to me.

 

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HadgeBadge

·Thurs. 1:32am

I am far from an expert, but in my opinion the case is overpolished with significant loss of definition on the dogleg lugs, however more concerning the watch looks like a franken to me. The dial looks like it comes from a 168.0065, which was a Constellation produced for the Asian market, which has been redone to resemble a 168.005.

A 168.005 shouldn't have that boxy date surround, it should be more chamfered. The seconds hand also looks incorrect, and there is something going on with the six o'clock index. The Omega logo also looks like it has been relocated from a 168.0065.

Movement is correct for a 168.005 however.

I am sure some knowledgeable members will be along to comment, but I wouldn't buy that watch at any price.

 

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Peemacgee

·Thurs. 1:43am·Purrrr-veyor of luxury cat box loungers

Well, I think the answer is a lot simpler than that.
The dial is fake, not a repurposed later dial.
I suspect the case is fake as well - do you have a pic of the medallion?
There are even issues regarding the stamping on the movt which makes me suspicious of that too.

 

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HadgeBadge

·Thurs. 2:21am

Peemacgee

Well, I think the answer is a lot simpler than that.
The dial is fake, not a repurposed later dial.
I suspect the case is fake as well - do you have a pic of the medallion?
There are even issues regarding the stamping on the movt which makes me suspicious of that too.

I think you're right. The simplest explanation is most often the best.

Looking again, the engraving on the inside of the caseback points towards a fake case.

 

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cristos71

·Thurs. 3:27am

Peemacgee

Well, I think the answer is a lot simpler than that.
The dial is fake, not a repurposed later dial.
I suspect the case is fake as well - do you have a pic of the medallion?
There are even issues regarding the stamping on the movt which makes me suspicious of that too.

There's quite some corrosion on the inside case back in the movement shot, not what I'd expect from a modern fake case.

 

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Peemacgee

·Thurs. 3:47am·Purrrr-veyor of luxury cat box loungers

cristos71

There's quite some corrosion on the inside case back in the movement shot, not what I'd expect from a modern fake case.

A lot of these fakes have been around for almost as long as the real things - and the details of the dial are so bad that I can't believe current fakers are still using this design.
I'd like to see a side-on pic to look at the shape of the mid case but I still have concerns about the case back, after a quick trawl, this is an SGR caseback contemporaneous with the serial (20,05m) of the OP's watch.

Edited: Thurs. 3:57am

 

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Peemacgee

·Thurs. 3:56am·Purrrr-veyor of luxury cat box loungers

However, I'm glad that you sent me on a hunt, because, as I said, I had a problem with the stamping on the movement.

The movt serial numbers aren't sharply stamped and look too 'rounded' but what was bothering me was the position of the '564' right on the edge of the movt.
Then it dawned on me......🤦

A cal 564 movement with a 20,03m serial ? - that just isn't going to happen for around 3 years later than the movt number suggests.

Or it must be that Omega were sending prototypes to the USA at that time (the OXG stamp) 😉