What Constellation?

Hi, I hope someone can help me clarify a couple of things with this Constellation.


Dad's Omega

My dad left me his Omega shortly before he passed away in 2008. To my recollection he purchased this watch in 1980 or 1981; it is possible he purchased it in 1982, but certainly prior to June of that year, as we left the country by that time.

When I was given the watch, it was in pretty bad shape, so I took it to the local Omega dealer requesting a complete restoration, no expenses spared. This meant having the watch sent to Switzerland so they could carry out the request, which took around three-and-a-half months.

When I went to pick it up, they explained everything that was carried out with the restoration, which was exhaustive - and admittedly it looked brand-new. The cost was roughly $2000, invoiced straight from headquarters. I figured it was money well spent, as it was my dad's favorite timepiece, and if he were still alive, he'd have appreciated it.

After I collected the watch, it went into storage, never to have been worn again. (It's not my style - I'm big and bulky and that watch just looks so tiny on me.)

The wristband is original, as it still carries minute scratches from when my dad wore it. I'm sure with a nice non-abrasive polish those blemishes can also be eliminated.

My questions are, if you seasoned experts, connoisseurs and aficionados would be so kind as to entertain:

What is this watch's model name and number?
What was the retail price back in the day?
How much does a brand-new equivalent Omega Constellation retail for today?
How much can this watch reasonably sell for?
What generation or year range does this watch belong to?
Is there any likelihood that this watch gains in collectability or appreciates in value?
Is there anything noteworthy about this model, either good or bad?

I've searched for this model, but most Constellations have the four claw-type clamps on the bezel instead of the flat glass appearance that my dad's Constellation sports. There's a 2020 Constellation similar in design but of course it's over 40 years younger - and I just realized it's lived through four decades; what is the criteria that makes an Omega "vintage" or "collectible?"


The 2020 model

The watch doesn't have any of the original packaging or documentation, nor any certificate of authenticity apart from the actual invoice for the services rendered to the watch. I just don't think anyone would pay whatever the watch is worth taking the restoration cost into consideration, as I have yet to see any Constellation that costs anything near $2000 on eBay. But I (highly unlikely) could be mistaken - hence my plea to those much more qualified to help me out.

This article on the Constellation Collectors blog answers your questions about the reference number and model name. According to your purchase timeframe it should be calibre 1422 in case 398.0864.
https://omega-constellation-collect...omega-constellation-manhattan-design.html?m=1

This article has some good info on these watches as well.
https://www.fratellowatches.com/gold-omega-constellation-manhattan-omani-swords/

I think it is a noteworthy watch because it is the original "Manhattan" style Constellation. Even still, it's unlikely that it will become more collectable or gain much value. They are already not a very desirable model by collectors. Not sure what it would sell for on the open market but nowhere near the $2k you put into it.

I can't tell you what it retailed for exactly but I have a later one that was purchased in 1989 for 1400 Deutsch marks after tax. When I did the math for conversion and inflation it was just about $1000 USD today if I remember correctly. Probably somewhere in the ballpark. You can look up current Constellation prices on Omega's website.

This is because the early ones like yours used the claws to actually hold the crystal in place. The later ones kept the design queue but lost the initial functionality.

Hi Aroxx,

Thanks for your detailed reply.

Actually, I don't plan on selling it, because it was what my dad left me as a sort of inheritance (he passed away when I was striking it on my own halfway across the world and by then I hadn't seen my dad in nearly a decade; I couldn't even make it to his funeral in time because it takes three days just to fly there).

The $2000 was for restoring his favorite timepiece, something he probably would have done had he not spent half a fortune on my education and upbringing. As previously stated, I don't use it under any circumstances and plan to gift this to someone when it's my turn to depart from this mortal coil, as a "passing of the torch" moment.

Interesting that you say it's noteworthy because it's the original Manhattan Constellation, yet not desirable by collectors. Is there any reason why this is the case? I would have thought being an original design, it would have garnered wider appreciation.

The claws are what I find unique about the design: form and function. The later Constellation timepieces don't need the claws, an example of design for design's sake, antithetical to what's considered "good design," but to each their own. (Heh, just read the full-page ad on the blog you linked to after posting my reply and found it amusing that Omega themselves tout the form and function of the claws.)

Appreciate the links; it should keep me busy for some while as I learn more about the marque and what makes it tick (unavoidable pun).

I think it's because it's kind of a funky 80's design that just doesn't resonate with most people. Mine came to me from my grandfather-in-law. Otherwise, I would never seek one out. They are super comfortable on the wrist. A very thin, light watch with a great integrated bracelet. Even still, I don't exactly love the design. I can't believe the design DNA has stuck around for 40 years and I think Omega should redesign the watch. But apparently the modern version is pretty popular in Asian markets so if it ain't broke don't fix it. Omega did give us the Globemaster as an alternative and from my understanding it's not exactly a hot seller.

I would love to see some more pictures of yours if you feel like sharing. Here's one of mine.

It sounds like you don’t need any convincing of this, but fwiw (coming from a total stranger), I’d urge you never to sell this. One of my bigger regrets is that I sold the only watch I ever got from my dad—it was an inexpensive Luminox, I wasn’t a watch guy yet, and it wasn’t my style at all (still isn’t), plus my wife hated it. So off to eBay it went. Years later, once I got into watches, I realized what a mistake I’d made—the couple hundred bucks I got didn’t amount to a fraction of the sentimental value that piece came to have for me. I even tried to track down the buyer to see if I could purchase it back, but no luck.

Your torch-passing plan seems ideal to me, even if no one ever wears it again.

20+ watches on one arm is truly impressive. Maybe they're tracking all of the time zones? 😉