Giving a Prospective Constellation Watch the Big Tick



I receive many emails from collectors and enthusiasts asking about the authenticity of various vintage Constellation models and I'm happy to field questions, time permitting of course.

The information on this site can provide many answers to your general questions about particular models and also the finer distinctions to be made if aiming for originality.

So, please feel free to review the various posts about Constellations, which may answer your specific questions. To make the task easier when determining both originality and condition I have compiled an Authenticity and Condition checklist.

Please click here to download the list

22 comments:

  1. Anonymous7:26 PM

    Hi,
    I am looking at these constellation. what do you think?
    1.http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=270209911587&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=017
    this movement is supposed to be 1022

    2.http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=170191998407&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=007
    3.http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=290203298238&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=019
    Much appreciated, I just found your Site and was absolutely captivated. spent all night reading the various items, i have learnt so much...
    tahnks for a wonderful site for beginers like me, i have always wanted to acquired a constellation..

    ReplyDelete

  2. Hi - thanks for your post.

    I have a bank of emails that Ive not been able to attend to yet.


    I'll try to look at these in the next couple of days.

    regards

    Desmond

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous8:01 PM

    Great work as ever! A checklist to help people gauge the real value of frankenwatches available on the internet can only be viewed as benefical for legit buyers and sellers.

    Jamie

    ReplyDelete

  4. Getting back to the first post:

    1. A franken watch. Forget it and the seller. Most of these watches are shipped from Thailand I believe

    2. Tidy 712 increasing in collectibility

    3. Not a bad example of a cal 505. Would need high res pics of the dial to be confident its not a redial. Has a Seamaster Crown

    Recommend you spend some time boning up on the various models...this will give you the confience to make an astute purchase...........good luck

    ReplyDelete

  5. Desmond, many thanks for you advise..your site certainly helps me learn a lot. much appreciated. I think I shall try the 712.
    Thanks again.
    Bill

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anonymous7:40 PM

    Hi
    I'm looking to buy this watch:
    http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=200209900799&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=010
    and I seek advice as to whether it is authentic.
    The movement number doesn't seem to match the case, the bridge has a different color and the location is, well, not Switzerland.
    Apart from that everything looks fine, but there's surely something I don't know, so any help would be much appreciated!
    Alternatively this one
    http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=330203252714&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=014
    is my second favorite, so you might also help me choose! :)

    Thanks a lot

    L.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Anonymous7:43 PM

    Hi
    I'm looking to buy this watch:
    http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=200209900799&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=010
    and I seek advice as to whether it is authentic.
    The movement number doesn't seem to match the case, the bridge has a different color and the location is, well, not Switzerland.
    Apart from that everything looks fine, but there might be something I don't know, so any help would be much appreciated!
    Alternatively this one
    http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=330203252714&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=014
    is my second favorite, so you might also help me choose! :)

    Thanks a lot

    L.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Anonymous11:37 PM

    Hi,

    I am looking at this watch ...realize the crown and band are not authentic but wonder about the rest?

    Ebay - 250240345402

    Thanks!

    ReplyDelete

  9. Hi,
    I am looking at the following Constellation and need your opinion as to its authenticity. Seller claims it is solid 14k gold, but there appears to be some tarnish on the case. When I questioned the seller, the attributed this to “gold spoor” (never heard of it) from the watch being stored improperly. They said it could be polished off by a jeweler. Also said it could be returned for a full refund if it did not come off.

    Don't know the rep of the seller.
    Fantastic site.

    Thanks!!
    http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=220359790693

    ReplyDelete

  10. Yes and its a simple matter of buffing it off with a jewelers cloth.......usually you dont even need to use a polisher.

    This watch has a refinished dial by the way and the hands, while dauphine in shaps, are not faceted like authentic Connie hands. The seller appears to have a high rep.

    Cheers

    Desmond

    ReplyDelete

  11. Hello,
    I would like to buy this watch:
    http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110441175238&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT
    After I spent one night reading the material on your site (FANTASTIC!) I have some doubts:
    1. the inner case: the pearlage seems not original.
    2. the crown: not 10 facets.
    What do you think? Thank you very much!

    ReplyDelete

  12. Yes, Dan, some of the earlier 551 cases, in this case the 14381, did have perlaged inner case backs.

    So I believe the watch does have an authentic black dial...in fact its one of the rarer dials with a trenched chapter ring (printed minute indices that are in a recess)

    You are right about the crown. The is probably the recommended replacement as Omega do not make the decagonal crowns for 2mm stem pipe size any more.

    Every now and again you may see them come up on eBay.

    So if you are interested in this watch, I wouldnt be stopped by the incorrect crown.

    Cheers

    Desmond

    ReplyDelete

  13. Hi everybody
    Please tell me if this Omega Constellation watch is original.Thank you. Eugen
    http://ceasuridemana.ro/omega-constellation-ceas-original-din-anul-1966_a42690.html

    ReplyDelete

  14. Yes, the watch appears to be ok. It is the hidden crown version. At the price its being offered it is too expensive.

    I would not want to pay more than 700 USD retail for this model.

    Cheers

    Desmond

    ReplyDelete
  15. Guruhe4:12 AM

    Hi, thanks for your blog.

    Maybe you can help me.

    I would like to buy this watch, but I don't know if can be a fake.

    http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/441/img4163c.jpg/
    http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/855/img4162f.jpg/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. I would be wanting to see many more pics before I took the plunge.

      Dial, movement, inner case back etc.

      Due dilligence on gold Omegas is imperative.

      Delete
    2. Guruhe2:45 AM

      I've this other two pics

      http://www.magarcia.es/_relojes/img_1084_resize.jpg
      http://www.magarcia.es/_relojes/img_1077_resize.jpg

      I'll buy the watch in person next Friday. What should I set to avoid a scam?

      Thank you very much

      Delete

    3. The best protection against scams on gold watches is to read my essay on verifying gold Constellations (Click on the essay in the RH column) The pics I have seen are too small for me to make a call. The earlier pics you mention appear to be of a pre- cal 551 model and yet these pics are of a 168.005 case.

      It is imperative that you see the inside of the watch and check the gold marks and ensure that the numbers match up

      Delete
    4. Guruhe9:01 PM

      Finally I have not bought because I thought it was fake. Forgery of 1500 €


      When I opened the bottom of the box was not like in the guide and the crown was far from the case.

      I put more pictures

      http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/6258/img0039em.jpg
      http://img32.imageshack.us/img32/5486/img0040qd.jpg
      http://img259.imageshack.us/img259/6619/img0041gyx.jpg
      http://img408.imageshack.us/img408/7558/img0042xj.jpg

      Delete

    5. Well done!

      Yes, this is a very suspect case with the wrong markings and you are right not to have bought.

      Your experience reinforces the point that one must be very careful with gold cases.

      Regards

      Desmond

      Delete

  16. Hello,

    It seems like you have been offering everyone some invaluable advice! I was hoping you might be able to do the same for me.

    I am looking at two watches at the moment, one of which I personally think seems genuine, and one of which I am not so sure! I'm you will have a better idea than me!

    The first of which is this one:

    http://www.austinkaye.co.uk/Gents-Omega-Constellation-steel-automatic-on-strap-1336-p.aspx

    I am haven't seen many with numbers at 12, 3, 6 and 9 o'clock, is this normal? I haven't seen many constellations with faces like that. Secondly from what I can tell from the Omega website it seems that constellations from 1966 were of a different design than this one. What is your opinion on this.

    The second watch which I am more confident about is this one:

    http://www.tempussuisse.com/807565/omega-seamaster-automatic-gents-vintage-watch-c1965/

    From what I can tell the movement and the case numbers all match up and the pictures of the movement look good.

    Any advice you could give is very much appreciated.

    Thank you very much!

    George.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. Hi George,

      Yes, with the Austin Kaye example, I would be asking for big pics of the dial to ensure it is factory oriiginal and not refinished and I would certainly wish to see a picture of the movement to ensure that all the 'signature' parts are correct. I have to convert the pounds to dollars and the price of that Connie seems high. Given the watch is serviced, I would expect to pay the equivalent of around 900 dollars for a domed dial model.

      The seamaster is a very tidy watch. And has a service guarantee. I take it you are in the UK, and so trhere would be no import duties. Again, a bit pricy for me. For a Seamaster non-chronometer, I would be wanting to pay around 700 - 800 USD for a serviced and guaranteed model at max.

      Delete

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