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Vintage Omega Constellation - Restoration

Davidt
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Peemacgee Peemacgee
Is servicing that expensive in the States nowadays?
I would have thought a basic service should be $300-$500 - plus any movt. parts of course.

However, the OP will definitely need a new crystal and crown - so that will add a bit.

@elee530 - just instruct your watch maker on 2 things:
Clean the dial with nothing more than an angel’s breath.
No polishing of the case - just a light rub with a jeweller’s cloth at most.

You’re right actually. I’m in the UK and was just converting what I pay in GBP to USD, but I may have been high.
In the UK I’d say I pay around £220-400 for a watchmaker without a parts account where any parts are in addition to the price and often had to find.
For a good watchmaker with a manufacturer parts account, where may parts are included in the price, I’d say it’s around £500-750 at the e top end.
So that’s $300-1000.
 
elee530
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Peemacgee Peemacgee
Is servicing that expensive in the States nowadays?
I would have thought a basic service should be $300-$500 - plus any movt. parts of course.

However, the OP will definitely need a new crystal and crown - so that will add a bit.

@elee530 - just instruct your watch maker on 2 things:
Clean the dial with nothing more than an angel’s breath.
No polishing of the case - just a light rub with a jeweller’s cloth at most.

Peemacgee Peemacgee
This watch is a very poor redial.
If that is the case, wouldn't it be good to just source another dial ? I spoke with a watch store and they said they couldn't clean up the dial. It would need to be replaced if I choose too.
 
SOG53
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I think the redial comment referred to the other watch you showed, not yours.
 
Dan S
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elee530 elee530
If that is the case, wouldn't it be good to just source another dial ? I spoke with a watch store and they said they couldn't clean up the dial. It would need to be replaced if I choose too.
"Just source another dial" ... LOL. Good luck.

Your dial is original, just damaged. The one you posted as a comparison was poorly repainted. Cleaning a dial is generally very risky, repainting doesn't give good results, and finding a good period-correct replacement dial for a pie-pan Constellation is difficult and expensive. My advice is to learn to love it and move on.
 
Danimals
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Peemacgee Peemacgee
Is servicing that expensive in the States nowadays?
I would have thought a basic service should be $300-$500 - plus any movt. parts of course.

However, the OP will definitely need a new crystal and crown - so that will add a bit.

@elee530 - just instruct your watch maker on 2 things:
Clean the dial with nothing more than an angel’s breath.
No polishing of the case - just a light rub with a jeweller’s cloth at most.
Last service I had was $450 in South Carolina
 
elee530
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SOG53 SOG53
I think the redial comment referred to the other watch you showed, not yours.
So I went to a watch store in SoCal. They quoted me 1500. They would fix everything. What do you guys think? Is it worth it? All the parts are from Omega.

1770191908550.webp
 
Peemacgee
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The redial comment was indeed regarding the other watch not yours.

From the scope of work list, are we right in thinking that they intend to replace the dial as well as the other work?
I wasn't aware that replacement dials were available - but if they are, what does the 'pink' refer to? (your watch is yellow gold capped and the current indices are yellow gold.)
Who was it that you went to for the quote?

The dial has a part number - If I could politely page @Archer to see if he knows if dials are available for a 50/60s Constellation and what this dial code refers to.

Each to their own - but I would probably retain the original dial unless you have seen what you will be getting and are happy with it.
 
Dan S
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elee530 elee530
So I went to a watch store in SoCal. They quoted me 1500. They would fix everything. What do you guys think? Is it worth it? All the parts are from Omega.

1770191908550.webp
That's probably about 3x what a basic service should cost, but they are apparently including a dial, which would be nice to have because yours is in bad shape. Make sure that the markers match the case color, and you will also need hands.

Also, I don't know how important the watch is to you, but $1500 is probably more than the value of the watch after restoration.
 
Archer
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elee530 elee530
So I went to a watch store in SoCal. They quoted me 1500. They would fix everything. What do you guys think? Is it worth it? All the parts are from Omega.

1770191908550.webp
If this includes the movement parts that are required, then the price is not out of line at all. The dial alone is a full 1/3 of that price, and I've had watches come close to this number without a new dial.
 
Peemacgee
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Archer Archer
If this includes the movement parts that are required, then the price is not out of line at all. The dial alone is a full 1/3 of that price, and I've had watches come close to this number without a new dial.
Do Omega do (correct) dials for this reference?
 
Archer
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Peemacgee Peemacgee
Do Omega do (correct) dials for this reference?
The dial listed is available, along with 3 others that have different colour combinations.

Whether these are "correct for this reference" would depend entirely on what the reference is. You have stated a reference, but we don't have confirmation that is what this watch actually is from what I can see.

The dial indicated is "correct" for the following 3 case references per the Omega Extranet:

14777
1680001
1680020
 
Peemacgee
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Archer Archer
The dial listed is available, along with 3 others that have different colour combinations.

Whether these are "correct for this reference" would depend entirely on what the reference is. You have stated a reference, but we don't have confirmation that is what this watch actually is from what I can see.

The dial indicated is "correct" for the following 3 case references per the Omega Extranet:

14777
1680001
1680020
You are absolutely correct.
There is a jumbo reference that has the ‘missing text’ dial (14777) so it could be that.

We should give the watchmaker credit that they have actually had the back off and looked at the reference.

Interesting that there are any Omega sourced service dials available at all.

@elee530 would you be so kind as to measure the width of the case excluding the crown please.
 
elee530
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I am going in on Monday to speak with them. I can measure it then. The watch repair said they are certified by Omega. So all the parts are coming directly from the manufacture.
 
Archer
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Peemacgee Peemacgee
but if they are, what does the 'pink' refer to? (your watch is yellow gold capped and the current indices are yellow gold.)
Pink refers to the colour of the indices - so pink gold.

There are two dials available that have yellow gold indices:

064TB0561D290/2 - this has onyx looking inserts in the indices

064TB0561D290/3 - plain gold indices

The last one is:

064TB0561D290/1 - with "grey" indices, meaning silver.

None of these have lume of any sort.
 
Archer
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elee530 elee530
I am going in on Monday to speak with them. I can measure it then. The watch repair said they are certified by Omega. So all the parts are coming directly from the manufacture.
You can also ask to take a photo of the inside of the case back - there will be a case number inside it that will tell us what the watch is.
 
Peemacgee
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Archer Archer
Pink refers to the colour of the indices - so pink gold.
That’s what I was afraid of - as the watch looks to be yellow gold.
 
Peemacgee
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elee530 elee530
I am going in on Monday to speak with them. I can measure it then. The watch repair said they are certified by Omega. So all the parts are coming directly from the manufacture.
You could just use a ruler if you have the watch.
It will be either, approx 35mm or approx 37mm.
 
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