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sygyzy
·Hi, I am very interested in purchasing an Omega Constellation Pie Pain dial, gold capped. I have been searching on eBay and various forums and have come across examples constantly. However, I noticed two common traits:
1. Most of the examples do not have the ten-sided crowns
2. Many of the dials are full of pockmarks or dimpling.
I understand that these are 60-year-old watches and that patina and metals age over time. But I don't have any experience with these watches.
Crown
For the crown, my understanding is that Omega no longer produces the 10-sided crown, so many of them are replaced. I guess what stands out to me is how many examples of replaced crowns there are. It's more noticeable because the knurled crown looks very different than the decagon shape. Most other vintage watches that have crowns replaced are harder to notice. My question is: do you think Omega Constellation owners serviced their watches more often than owners of other watches? And if so, is there a reason that the crown in particular keeps needing to be replaced? Were the stock crowns wearing out? Is this a known issue with all Constellations - that they'd eventually need a crown replacement?
Interestingly I came across a Constellation with the original crown but the seller said something like "replacement crowns no longer available and seals are not available either, so don't expose to water; this watch has no water resistance". Again, is this a hint at some issue with the crown, crown tube, threads, and o-rings?
Dial
What causes the damage on these dials? Is it exposure to air? Is there a reason that Constellation dials have pimpling rather than patina the way most other dials age? Is it preferable to collectors (ie the way you have tropical Rolex or Omega dials), or is it considered a flaw? I am buying to wear, not to collect. but personally, I think I like the look of a clean case and dial. Should I just accept that most dials will not be flawless?
Thanks for your assistance.
1. Most of the examples do not have the ten-sided crowns
2. Many of the dials are full of pockmarks or dimpling.
I understand that these are 60-year-old watches and that patina and metals age over time. But I don't have any experience with these watches.
Crown
For the crown, my understanding is that Omega no longer produces the 10-sided crown, so many of them are replaced. I guess what stands out to me is how many examples of replaced crowns there are. It's more noticeable because the knurled crown looks very different than the decagon shape. Most other vintage watches that have crowns replaced are harder to notice. My question is: do you think Omega Constellation owners serviced their watches more often than owners of other watches? And if so, is there a reason that the crown in particular keeps needing to be replaced? Were the stock crowns wearing out? Is this a known issue with all Constellations - that they'd eventually need a crown replacement?
Interestingly I came across a Constellation with the original crown but the seller said something like "replacement crowns no longer available and seals are not available either, so don't expose to water; this watch has no water resistance". Again, is this a hint at some issue with the crown, crown tube, threads, and o-rings?
Dial
What causes the damage on these dials? Is it exposure to air? Is there a reason that Constellation dials have pimpling rather than patina the way most other dials age? Is it preferable to collectors (ie the way you have tropical Rolex or Omega dials), or is it considered a flaw? I am buying to wear, not to collect. but personally, I think I like the look of a clean case and dial. Should I just accept that most dials will not be flawless?
Thanks for your assistance.
