Beware! A New Batch of 14K Fake Omega Constellation Cases Surface

It can become tiresome writing, and I’m sure reading, about fake gold Omega cases all the time, however, when a new batch begins to show up in faux 14K gold, it’s in the interests of Connie aficionados to know exactly how to spot them.

Click on this listing and see if you can determine why it can be asserted that this is a fake cased pie pan Constellation.

I raised the issue with the seller, Alex, from sound_of_time. Below is the response I received back from him:

“Hi Desmond, I'm not an expert for Omega watches. I bought this watch as all-authentic and paid pretty big money for that. The case has been tested, and it is solid gold. The difference in hue of the movement parts is a common thing for omega movements, the rotor and the bridges almost always has a little bit different color even in NOS watches, because were coming from different lines of manufacture. Anyway thanks for your notice and willing to help. Alex”

While I am not suggesting that Alex knowingly listed a fake gold-cased Constellation, I am asserting that the case was not sourced by Omega, was not assayed by the Swiss assay office and was not manufactured by any known case manufacturer associated with Omega.

I do assert however that Alex should have cancelled the listing and looked further into this matter when he was alerted to the fact that it may be fake.

Alex’s explanation above is not sufficient to convince us that the watch is genuine. His remarks about different copper hues of parts is totally incorrect. Omega went to great lengths to ensure that parts lots making up chronometers were kept together and electroplated together in specific batches of copper/beryllium so as to ensure that its movements contained parts all of the same hue. So, it is a reasonable conclusion that parts not original to the movement have been employed.

I do not see any evidence of proper gold testing having taken place. There are no tell-tale tiny drill sample marks on the case or specific sample scratchings and so I can only conclude that if Alex had the watch tested, it was probably with a non-invasive portable tester that employs an electromagnetic molecular process using electrically charged metal plates. Unfortunately such methods would not accurately reveal if the watch case was solid gold. For that you would need X-ray fluorescence or traditional sampling and testing methods. So, I am sticking with my assumption that the case contains minimal traces of gold until proven otherwise.

In the interests of providing an educational review of this watch, I have taken pictures of parts of the published listing by eBay. Click here for an analysis of this watch

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