Questions about my '60s Constellation

[RFP]

I have owned this '60s Constellation for several years, but up until I took my Sea Dweller in for service, it didn't get much (any?) wrist time. Too bad... after wearing it for a few weeks I really, really like it (although it is pretty 'dainty' as compared to the SD).

What I know about the watch isn't much... this is pretty much it:
Stainless case does not appear to have ever been polished, the angles and 'edges' are nice and crisp.
The "Omega" script, the omega symbol, and the little star are all applied on the dial.
The crystal is new... I had Kevin at TimeTech (in Dallas) completely service the watch when I got it)... it has a little "omega" symbol in the center of the crystal.

There's a lot that I don't know, including...
How can I tell if the dial has been refinished?
Does it have the correct crown?
What movement would be in this watch?

I would be most grateful for any 'answers, that anyone could provide!

All the best,

Rob

PS: This thing keeps excellent time!!

[Cicindela]

The watch looks very good. The dial appears to have the original finish. The crown is not the original style, however, the former decagonal crown is not available from Omega anymore, so that is probably the recommended replacement. The original style crowns show up on ebay, etc on occasion, but less frequently each year. Do not confuse them with the old style Constellation crowns ( fatter and for Constellations older then yours) which, oddly are still easy to source. If you open the back you can find the model reference number and the cal number.

[mondodec]

Movement will be a calibre 551 - a stunner.

Case number will either be 14900 or later iteration 167.005.

Agree, dial looks original but would need high res pics to be absolutely sure.

Examples such as yours in similar condition go for quite a premium these days.

Cheers

desmond

http://omega-constellation-collectors.blogspot.com/

[RFP]

Originally Posted by mondodec

Movement will be a calibre 551 - a stunner.

Case number will either be 14900 or later iteration 167.005.

Agree, dial looks original but would need high res pics to be absolutely sure.

Examples such as yours in similar condition go for quite a premium these days.

Cheers

desmond

http://omega-constellation-collectors.blogspot.com/

Thanks, Desmond, for your 'endorsement (!)' of this little Constellation... I appreciate getting 'expert opinions.'

I purchased the watch some years ago from a seller on Time Zone... the dial was represented by the seller to be 'original'... considering the overall condition of the watch, I suspect that it really is.

When I had the watch serviced by Kevin at TimeTech in Dallas, he showed me the movement, and it is quite handsome... he commented that the movement was easily the equal of Rolex movements of the same era... I certainly don't know and thought that perhaps he was 'telling me what he thought I wanted to hear.'

I do know that the watch keeps excellent time!

I had thought that I would offer this watch for sale to help fund the purchase of a GMT 'Pepsi'... now, after wearing is for a month or so, I'm afraid I just won't be able to part with it... I'll bet a lot of TRF members go through these same mental gyrations!

All the best,

Rob

[mondodec]

Yes, from the pics, Rob, I would say the dial is kosher - I always like to look at close-ups before declaring a definitive original - an idiosyncrasy that has served me well at times :)

I would argue that the cal 551/561/564 family are probably the best production movements ever made. This was the series that achieved "above average results" in chronometer testing for a continuous batch of 100 thousand pieces. No other producer has achieved that distinction.

Some time ago I compared a Rolex cal 1570 (from the period) with a cal 561 and in my humble opinion, while the 1570 was a sturdy workhorse with good engineering and excellent functional finish, the cal 561 outdid it.

Generally, amongst collectors there is a sometimes grudging acknowledgement that the Omega calibres of the time were outstanding, and I think that in contemporary horology the emergence of the cal 8500 series might well see a repeat of history.

I wrote an essay on the mid-500 series here, and I'm delighted to hear that you're keeping your pie pan!

Cheers

desmond