A Fake Omega 18K Constellation Watch Slips Through at Antiquorum Auction

Caseback of fake 091919 Omega Constellation
Many collectors and neophytes gravitate towards large prestigious watch auction houses because of an expectation that a filtering system exists between seller and buyer to ensure that the house doesn’t allow fakes and seriously suspect pieces to come to market under their banner.

As in the world of art, Auction houses like Sothebys, Antiquorum, Bonhams, Christies and others have experts on hand to review the watches submitted for sale, as much to protect their reputations as reliable and astute sources of quality collectibles as to protect unsuspecting buyers.

Imagine my surprise then when a Frankenfake ‘gold’ Omega Constellation appeared in Antiquorum’s June 11 New York catalogue. This auction was billed as an "Important Collectors' Wristwatches, Pocket Watches & Clocks Sale”, and according to the advertising hype “An exciting selection of watches owned by 20th century icons, including two watches owned by Steve McQueen (the Heuer Monaco worn in the movie ‘Le Mans’, and a Rolex Submariner, Ref. 5512), Franklin D. Roosevelt's Tiffany & Co.-branded Movado triple-date calendar, and an 18 karat yellow gold Cartier Pasha given to Sammy Davis Jr. by Frank Sinatra.”

Amongst this “exciting selection of watches” at the July 11 auction was Lot 158 describing, and I quote, a “Yellow Gold Constellation Omega, Automatic, Chronometer, Officially Certified, No. 33087860, Ref. 091919. Made in the 1970s. Fine, center seconds, self-winding, water-resistant, 18K yellow gold wristwatch with date and a gold Omega buckle”. The listing (click here) went on to describe the technical features of the watch and identified the movement as a calibre 565.

Without looking at the watch itself, any expert worth his or her salt should have smelled a rat immediately simply by reviewing the description. It is common knowledge amongst experts in vintage watches that the reference 091919 is a Vietnamese faked case purporting to look like an Omega Constellation case number 168.005. A number of these 091919 cases have been tested and have shown little gold content at all, and in this instance the unusual tarnishing and surface condition of the watch case should have alerted the ‘expert’ who examined this watch that something was decidedly wrong. The expert would have also noticed upon examining the inner case that something was awry and that the hermetic sealing system at the crown was non-existent.

In the written expert’s “Overall Opinion” the watch was described as “Good”. My question is, good for what? Had the so-called expert consulted readily available data on Omega Constellations of the period he would have discovered that calibre 565 never powered Omega Constellations. Had he looked at the inner case back (see example above) of this watch he would have discovered crude stampings of responsibility marks and purity declarations. He would have further discovered that the coarse rendition of the Helvetia stamp did not include the assay office code at the base of the mark, and he would have discovered that the case makers mark indicated a maker’s code that never produced cases for Omega.

Had the so-called expert looked closely at the dial, he would have noticed that it was a fake dial, and not manufactured by Omega. He would have spotted: (1) the lack of correct facets on the applied chronometer star,(2) incorrect styling of the date surround, (3) the poorly cast Omega symbol and logo, (4) the wrongly labelled ‘T Swiss T’ printing at the base of the dial which indicates that both markers and hands should be luminescent, (5) the incorrect upper-case poorly printed lettering lacking in serifs that fails the standard MOY test, (6) the incorrect rendition of the ‘Constellation’ lettering, (7) the wrong hands (the minute hand is too short) despite the ‘expert’s claim that they were “original” and (8) incorrect arrowhead markers that were phased out by Omega in around 1960 on a watch that had a serial number that indicated movement production in 1971.

The real tragedy arising from this seemingly negligent, or at least gormless, appraisal as it appeared in the Antiquorum catalogue description is that someone believed it and paid US$ 3,600.00 including buyer’s premium. All the expert had to do was a contrastive analysis with a real gold Constellation in lot 155 of the same auction and this embarrassment would have been avoided!

The argument that signficiant details of the watch were revealed in the listing that would allow an expert to determine that it was a Frankenfake doesn’t even hold water on eBay and most certainly should never be offered in mitigation by a well-known auction house, so let’s hope we don’t hear that excuse trotted out.

This watch should never have appeared in an “important collectors” Antiquorum catalogue. It is not even a clever fake, with at least 15 flags to its non-authenticity. The so-called ‘expert’ who appraised this watch and described it as good overall should be pensioned off because s/he has compromised the fragile integrity under which all auction houses operate.

I have emailed Antiquorum in New York advising them of my intention to post a critique of Lot 158 and offering the organisation the opportunity to respond to the points made. It is customary for reputable auction houses, such as Antiquorum, upon discovering having sold a fake during an auction to approach the buyer and offer a full refund. I hope to hear from them that they have done just that.
For a comprehensive essay on authenticating solid gold Omega Constellations please click here
POSTSCRIPT

I received an email from Julian Scharer at Antiquorum, offering thanks for pointing out the status of the watch and advising that the sale has been cancelled and the watch returned to the consignor.

This is a good result and Antiquorum deserves praise for its quick resolution to the issue. Now, about that expert? :)

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10 comments:

  1. Anonymous5:18 am

    Returned? Shouldn't it have been confiscated?

    ReplyDelete
  2. yes indeed

    I think it should have gone through the crusher and then returned.

    It's still out there! Unfortunately

    Cheers

    Desmond

    ReplyDelete
  3. http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=300344913028&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT

    Hi
    ive just won this watch on a ebay auction,after reading your blog im concerned i could have been conned.how can i tell from just looking at these pics?

    thanks jim

    ReplyDelete
  4. Jim it seems to be ok - its a gold capped 168.0010 and the dial looks original.

    The outer case back has a worn medallion but the movement seem to specifications. Could have had the rotor bridge replaced but it still meets the criteria.

    Ive had a run in with this dealer when he sold a real frankenwatch but each watch needs to be assessed on its merits and I think you havnt been diddled here.

    Desmond

    ReplyDelete
  5. Desmond

    Thanks for taking the time to have a look and respond,ive been after a pie pan for a while now and thought it would just be my look to buy a fake.thanks for your help
    jim

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anonymous5:31 am

    I am sorry for the multiple posts. Let me explain since I can not post a picture. womens constellation gold, oval shape, roman numerals, mesh band. Maybe from the 1980's, hardly worn, mechanical wind, working condition, original band very shiny and clean. jeweler says it is a find. we would like to sell it. any suggestions on where to sell?

    ReplyDelete
  7. Probably the best places to sell would be the sales corners on watchuseek, timezone or puristpro.

    Cheers
    desmond

    ReplyDelete
  8. Anonymous1:40 am

    Hi,

    if you could have a look on the attached link and give me your opinion I would be very hayppy.

    http://www.chrono24.com/en/omega/18k-vintage-constellation-cal-504-automatic--id1601948.htm?comingFromRewrite=1&id=1601948&picnum=1&tab=pics


    thank you in advance,

    Josef

    ReplyDelete
  9. Another fake Pie Pan 091919 on eBay here: http://cgi.ebay.de/18-Karat-Gold-Pie-Pan-Constellation-schwarzesZB-C562-/300558723832

    ReplyDelete
  10. good spot!

    Cheers

    Desmond

    ReplyDelete