Weird Onyx index on Constellation Deluxe

Gui13250 · May 15, 2022

Hi all,

I’m about to pull the trigger on a nice Constellation Deluxe.

The only thing that make me wondering are the black Onyx index.

Indeed, even if hard to see on pics, the 10 hour index seems almost translucide and Orange when reflecting the sun.
I also have a video on which the left twelve hour marker has the same reflect.

I’ve read that Onyx natural may be translucide and even brownish / Orange, but have never seen this on a Constellation.

is there something wrong here, or maybe just a factory original issue in the process?

Thanks for your help

Davidt · May 15, 2022

No idea but is the bezel cracked at 8:30?

peterkirk01 · May 15, 2022

Looks really nice to me.

Gui13250 · May 15, 2022

Davidt
No idea but is the bezel cracked at 8:30?

Hi,
Thanks but not a crack, just a scratch.

here is a better pics of that

Gui13250 · May 15, 2022

Actually it seems that all index have this translucide brownish variation according to the sun reflection.
Here is the one of 4.

No red flag here ?

cristos71 · May 15, 2022

Tropical onyx...shsshh, it's the next big thing 😉

Gui13250 · May 15, 2022

cristos71
Tropical onyx...shsshh, it's the next big thing 😉

Nothing wrong there for you? Or something weird enough to break the deal?

Peemacgee · May 15, 2022

Full disclosure, G and I have been discussing this watch, it is really rather nice but I was at a loss regarding the brownish inserts, since I'd never seen this occurrence before

My question would be, has anyone seen anything other than pure black inserts on a Constellation?
Did omega always use black onyx or did they employ a colouring process?
This is a deluxe watch, i.e. top of the top of the range, would Omega's QC allow an imperfect insert on one of these watches?

@cristos71 is already in the conversation, time to tag one or two other knowledgeable members, for their opinion.
@mondodec @gatorcpa @MSNWatch @ConElPueblo @dsio @hoipolloi

cristos71 · May 15, 2022

Gui13250
Nothing wrong there for you? Or something weird enough to break the deal?

I rarely comment when the pictures aren't clear enough for me to give an opinion and this is one of those cases. What I can say is that I've had numerous onyx Constellations but have never noticed any translucency, although I must add I've never specifically looked for it either.

Davidt · May 15, 2022

Onyx is a translucent stone despite the fact most examples appear solid black, unless backlit.
It can also have hues of brown or red in it.

Its also relatively cheap, especially in the sizes used for hour indices.

I can’t see this being anything other than natural variation in the stone used at the factory during manufacture. The effort and cost involved in getting someone to cut glass or onyx to fit the hour markers would be prohibitive to the cost of restoring the dial.

watchyouwant · May 15, 2022

I saw that before . To me it was always a sign, that the natural material was original. Is there a chance, to take the movement out of the case?

Gui13250 · May 15, 2022

To take the mouvement out of the case?
what do you mean?

here is a pics

watchyouwant · May 15, 2022

Removing the back is step one. Now, remove the stem from the Mvmt., Remove both case clamps . Now lay the case back on the case only, not tightening. Turn over the watch and the movement incl. Dial rest on the back case now turn over again and have a close look at the dial/ onyx without distortion of the crystal. Take a better picture. And then reverse the procedure without ever touching the dial. Place the Case middle over the mvmt. Again, center the crown tube at 3 o'clock, turn over the case again, insert the stem and the loosely put back the clamps and their screws. The insert the at centered, press down the release button for the stem until it clicks in. Then tighten the case clamp screws and the back fitted right. Need one fitting screw driver for the case screws and a pin to press down the release pin for the stem. Viola! Then you know for certain. Good luck!

ConElPueblo · May 15, 2022

Peemacgee
...time to tag one or two other knowledgeable members, for their opinion.
@mondodec @gatorcpa @MSNWatch @ConElPueblo @dsio @hoipolloi

I am no well-versed in these details, but when considering the overall presentation, I see no red flags. Very beautiful watch.

Gui13250 · May 15, 2022

watchyouwant
Removing the back is step one. Now, remove the stem from the Mvmt., Remove both case clamps . Now lay the case back on the case only, not tightening. Turn over the watch and the movement incl. Dial rest on the back case now turn over again and have a close look at the dial/ onyx without distortion of the crystal. Take a better picture. And then reverse the procedure without ever touching the dial. Place the Case middle over the mvmt. Again, center the crown tube at 3 o'clock, turn over the case again, insert the stem and the loosely put back the clamps and their screws. The insert the at centered, press down the release button for the stem until it clicks in. Then tighten the case clamp screws and the back fitted right. Need one fitting screw driver for the case screws and a pin to press down the release pin for the stem. Viola! Then you know for certain. Good luck!

i won’t be able to do that before buying it, but if you have already seen this, I guess it should be 99% all right, don’t you think?

watchyouwant · May 15, 2022

Gui13250
i won’t be able to do that before buying it, but if you have already seen this, I guess it should be 99% all right, don’t you think?

I hope. Without having the facts. But if you ask about my personal choice ? Yes, I'd buy it if the price is ok for you.

Waltesefalcon · May 15, 2022

I'd but this one. The inserts do not bother me, just because this isn't often seen doesn't make it wrong.

Gui13250 · May 15, 2022

Here is one more pics I had when seller was showing scratch on bezel.
we can see what should be black onyx from side

hoipolloi · May 15, 2022

Last week, there was a 168.006 sold on eBay. That one has a defect 6 o'clock hour marker and looks like it was missing the black stuff called onyx insert.
Maybe your watch had same problem and they tried to fill it with not-so- black stuff.
If you can, please post better photos.

Hoi

Peemacgee · May 15, 2022

hoipolloi

Last week, there was a 168.006 sold on eBay. That one has a defect 6 o'clock hour marker and looks like it was missing the black stuff called onyx insert.
Maybe your watch had same problem and they tried to fill it with not-so- black stuff.
If you can, please post better photos.

Hoi

this .006 looks like it has had a ‘fat, flat ‘ deluxe onyx insert index replaced with a chamfered ‘full-fill’ lume insert index.

Weird Onyx index on Constellation Deluxe

Gui13250

Davidt

peterkirk01

Gui13250

Gui13250

cristos71

Gui13250

Peemacgee

cristos71

Davidt

watchyouwant

Gui13250

watchyouwant

ConElPueblo

Gui13250

watchyouwant

Waltesefalcon

Gui13250

hoipolloi

Peemacgee

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