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
Hi,
ReplyDeleteI 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..
Hi - thanks for your post.
ReplyDeleteI 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
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.
ReplyDeleteJamie
Getting back to the first post:
ReplyDelete1. 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
Desmond, many thanks for you advise..your site certainly helps me learn a lot. much appreciated. I think I shall try the 712.
ReplyDeleteThanks again.
Bill
Hi
ReplyDeleteI'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.
Hi
ReplyDeleteI'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.
Hi,
ReplyDeleteI am looking at this watch ...realize the crown and band are not authentic but wonder about the rest?
Ebay - 250240345402
Thanks!
Hi,
ReplyDeleteI 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
Yes and its a simple matter of buffing it off with a jewelers cloth.......usually you dont even need to use a polisher.
ReplyDeleteThis 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
Hello,
ReplyDeleteI 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!
Yes, Dan, some of the earlier 551 cases, in this case the 14381, did have perlaged inner case backs.
ReplyDeleteSo 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
Hi everybody
ReplyDeletePlease tell me if this Omega Constellation watch is original.Thank you. Eugen
http://ceasuridemana.ro/omega-constellation-ceas-original-din-anul-1966_a42690.html
Yes, the watch appears to be ok. It is the hidden crown version. At the price its being offered it is too expensive.
ReplyDeleteI would not want to pay more than 700 USD retail for this model.
Cheers
Desmond
Hi, thanks for your blog.
ReplyDeleteMaybe 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/
I would be wanting to see many more pics before I took the plunge.
DeleteDial, movement, inner case back etc.
Due dilligence on gold Omegas is imperative.
I've this other two pics
Deletehttp://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
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.
DeleteIt is imperative that you see the inside of the watch and check the gold marks and ensure that the numbers match up
Finally I have not bought because I thought it was fake. Forgery of 1500 €
DeleteWhen 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
Well done!
DeleteYes, 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
Hello,
ReplyDeleteIt 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.
Hi George,
DeleteYes, 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.
Hi Desmond
ReplyDeleteYour site is fantastic for a first time buyer of a vintage constellation. I am purchasing a watch for my son's 21st birthday and have been looking at this one. I have read your guide and am worried about the perlage on the case as you seem to say that this is not appropriate on a constellation.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-Super-Mint-Omega-Constellation-Pie-Pan-168-005-18K-Gold-1969-Exceptional-/251971514997?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2047675.l2557&nma=true&si=ybc0MtSySgsqXoX6IqOXnBGTzT8%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc
If you can advise at all it would be most appreciated.
Kind regards.
Mina
Hi Mina
ReplyDeleteSorry about the delay in reply. I note the auction has ended. The gold Constellation in question is a british cased version and in some cases there was perlage on tthe inner case back.. The price, in my opinion, was excessive. The pound figure should have really been converted to US dollars, that is, the watch was worth 3500 - 3600 USD.
Regards
Desmond
Hello Desmond,
ReplyDeleteI'm quite tempted by this model:
https://www.chrono24.com/all/168-005196819707565--id20999478.htm
Model number is already wrong in the item description, should be a 167, and MOY line does not pass straight through the centre of the O.
By the way, I know you get a lot of queries, what about setting up a service where requestors pay a small fee for you to have a look at listings to make this more worth your time?
Thank you and kind regards,
Alex
Hi Alex,
DeleteIt looks quite tidy to me. Agreed that it should be a 167.005 and it would pay asking for a pic of the inner case back so as to be sure it was.
One of the later 167.005s, with a dial with lettering that is an exception to the rule, but in my opinion genuine.
Case has been polished, but you can still detect the lug chamfers. Crown is a replacement for the decagonal crown that is no longer available. Nice bracelet, and worth checking the maximum wrist size it will fit.
It seem to priced competitively, the values of these pie pans still on an upward trajectory.
Re stipulating payment for appraisal, it doesn't kind of fit the ethos of providing free information on the site, and I'd feel a bit of a pillock if I commercialised it. I have a donation button and sometimes people donate to assist in the hosting and storage costs of running the site.
That said, I've often considered avoiding the giving of particular appraisals, because the thankyou rate after having provded one, on the blog or through email is only about fifty percent. Its seems there is some much 'entitlement' in the world today, where some think they're doing me a favour by requesting an assessment of a watch they want to buy :)
Cheers
Desmond
Dear Desmond,
DeleteI really appreciate your detailed answer and insight provided. I will request a picture of the inner caseback. I have tiny wrists so the bracelet size is something I am not concerned about.
I really respect your position on payment for appraisal and you are truly doing the watch community a service with your work here. Unfortunately paypal doesn't seem to allow me to donate from Japan, I'll try again or be in touch otherwise.
It's unfortunate to hear your kind advice sometimes goes unacknowledged for and I agree with your sentiment. Still, I hope it will not dissuade you from continuing.
Again, thank you so much and kind regards,
Alex
Hello Desmond,
ReplyDeleteFirst, thank you for the amazing wealth of information on this blog!
I’ve made use of the checklist and resources on this site to evaluate a Constellation I'd like to purchase.
I’m a new collector of vintage watches and while I wait to see if my offer is accepted, I thought I would get your thoughts on this watch (and check my work 😊).
I initially learned of the watch here (last topic on page) - https://wornandwound.com/ebay-finds-watches-full-kits-pie-pan
Direct link - https://www.ebay.com/itm/125604673528
I literally used your checklist, but here are some highlights from my evaluation:
- Cal. 561, case ref. 168004, with s/n 19m – all seem appropriate for 1962
- MOY – check
- Hour, minute, seconds hands length look right for pie pan
- Looks to have original hidden crown
- Crystal does not appear to be original, but I’m ok with that
- Dial has some speckling/patina – black onyx inserts high on my want list - fonts look right but I'm not 100% sure
Any additional thoughts or misses in my evaluation?
Again, thanks for the amazing blog!
Regards,
Mike
Hi Mike,
DeleteYou have done your due diligence well! Very tidy gold cap model that checks out extremely well.
Dial has a bit of white spot, which I think is more the natural degradation of the lacquer but it still looks good. Big bonus is the hidden crown, an original, and impossible to find these days. So you have the watch as it was designed to look, non hidden crowns disrupting the overall lines of the watch.
The case is sharp, and you can still see the chamfers on the lugs. The movement carries all of its signature parts, and so I think you have acquired a very honest example of this model and pie pan dial to boot!
Congratulations on your acquisition.
Cheers
Desmond
Desmond,
DeleteThank you!
Looking forward to reading more from your site. Unbelievable work you have done here and a true commitment to the Omega watch community.
Best regards,
Mike