The Elusive Omega Constellation 14747

If you see an Omega Constellation model 14747 in the wild, stalk and run it down because you'll be one of the few people ever to hold this rare species in captivity.  If you find two, consider a breeding program!  If one happens to be clinging to the wrist of its custodian please use means of persuasion other than homicide to facilitate the separation process - the offering of money suggests itself as a better alternative.

I first stumbled over a pink gold-capped version of the 14747 in the mid-2000s (see picture above). Later, I encountered a stainless steel version with pink gold dial furniture and medallion in June 2008. Since then, I have seen a total of three further examples, two of which were in stainless steel.

    Pie pan  in 14747-1 case with a cal 504 movement, gold dial furniture and hands. Courtesy RonnieS

As the comparatively rare model 2887 is the screw-in case back version of the calibre 505 model 2852, so the 14747 is the screw-in contemporary of the calibre 504 powered 2493. Unlike the 2887 which encases a 29mm dial, the 14747 takes the same dial as the 2943.

I am told that the 14747 came in all metals, and while I have seen pink and yellow gold capped and stainless steel cases I am yet to catch sight of a solid gold version.  

Stainless Steel 14747-1 case with a recently refinished dial by Kirk Rich. Courtesy JohnH 

All non-solid-gold pieces feature a 14 karat gold medallion on the case back. Stainless steel models pick up the colour of the dial furniture. In the case of rhodium plated markers and hands, the medallion is yellow gold.

Only 25,000 pieces of the calibre 504 were made, the vast majority of which appeared in the press-in case back model 2943. It is a testament to the rarity of the 14747 that this model seldom, if ever, finds its way into global internet or physical auction markets. Even a search using that one trick pony, Google, will reveal little of value amongst the standard commercial detritus polluting its pages.  

Omega archives indicate that the 14747 was the replacement for the 14397, and while the 14397 does not appear in the Omega vintage database either, it was powered by the calibre 504 and had a screw-in case back too.  The 14397 pictured below is the first and only example I have seen. Interestingly, case parts (such as case backs and crystals) for the 14397 are interchangeable with case 14393 which housed the first calibre 561 model.

Model 14397 gold capped. Courtesy Hoi

A plausible explanation for the existence of the two calibre 504 screw-in versions may be that when the decision was made to move exclusively to screw-in cases with the new mid-500 series of calibres Omega designated the remaining calibre 504 inventory to be cased in the screw-in cases 14397, and soon after the 14747. 

Hence, it is perfectly acceptable to describe both the 14397 and 14747 as ‘rare’, and I’m hoping that word alone will trigger a wider search for these elusive pieces. They are out there. If you encounter one, please click the ‘About Me’ icon and send an email with pictures!