New to the forum, looking for some advice please

Mar 16, 2023,12:40 PM
 

Hello everyone, I've just come across this forum and must say what a lovely way to pass some time! I've been into watches and watch collecting for a number of years now, ever since my father gifted me an omega constellation on my 21st birthday. All these years later (I'm 55 now) I've decided to investigate the origins of my fathers watch. As a result I opened it up and so far have the following. According to its serial number on the movement its a 1958 caliber 504 movement. It's an 18k watch in a Dennison case. The case back has a hallmark dating it to 1959. Interestingly I was expecting to find the reference number on the case back but instead it has A.L.D. S1240 stamped along with the hallmarks and the omega triangle. The inside of the bezel also has 240 stamped onto it, this tells me the case back (S1240) and case (240) are a matching pair. I'm trying to work out any further details, I've posted a picture of the movement and case back in the hope someone can help me. Thanks all. Gurpreet






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You have a rare British production equivalent of Omega's ref 2943. I can't say for certain . . .

 
 By: Dr No : March 16th, 2023-13:14
. . . whether I've seen another Dennison case '58 Constellation Calendar, and I've been actively collecting Omegas for fifteen years. Chances are the crown has been replaced during service, but can't be certain about that as Dennisons are known to have un...  

 
 By: Gurpreet : March 16th, 2023-15:58
Thank you sir, silver watches are actually my favourite, very nice wrist jewellery!

 
 By: Gurpreet : March 16th, 2023-16:17
Oh, regarding the crown I'm sure that has not been changed as well. Thanks for the information with regards to the reference by the way.

 
 By: Gurpreet : March 17th, 2023-07:59
Actually having looked further into it based on information found at omega-constellation-collectors.blogspot.com l I'm now thinking it would have come with a decagonal crown rather than what looks like a seamaster crown

Right after posting I remembered one of our former community members in the UK . . .

 
 By: Dr No : March 16th, 2023-13:32
. . . had the very same Omega. Unfortunately he used Photobucket for uploading images so only these thumbnails can be captured. The ref 2943 Dennison equivalent is on the left in the lower pic. That one also has an incorrect crown, but the alternate case ...  

'officially certified' on the dials of the gold cased thumbnail photo's-are missing

 
 By: golden hands : March 16th, 2023-14:01
both dials have been restored and not original. the calibre 504 is classed as chronometer and officially certified the steel case photo proves this point.

There was a period of about three years when 'Officially Certified' text . . .

 
 By: Dr No : March 16th, 2023-14:29
. . . was absent from some Constellation references. Here's another image of two of Aroma's [our former community member] Dennison Constellation Calendars. None of these images are clear enough for absolute certainty, but my sense is all of Aroma's Omegas...  

 
 By: Gurpreet : March 16th, 2023-15:56
Such a great response I'm impressed! Thank you for the nice comments and the new information. I have a shot of the dial side, hopefully this will help provide more deails. As far as I know the watch is original and has not been tampered with. The strap is...  

Remarkable that the dial is domed . . .

 
 By: Dr No : March 16th, 2023-16:23
. . . with the longer hands one would expect on a flat dial. Here's my domed dial '58 ref 2852 . . . . . . for comparison. Notice the hands fit the minutes/seconds track. There's a chance the dial of your Constellation was switched out, or possibly all of...  

 
 By: Gurpreet : March 16th, 2023-16:48
Now that's very interesting, I had a jeweler actually mention that the dial was definitely original and it was quite a rare example because of this. The more I find out about my watch the more intrigued I am.

The dial is authentic, but possibly not original to the watch. It may be a service . . .

 
 By: Dr No : March 16th, 2023-17:16
. . . or replacement dial, or, alternately, the hands might have been replaced. I don't believe the hands and dial were issued together, at the very least.

 
 By: Gurpreet : March 16th, 2023-17:49
OK I've just spent some time hunting through some paperwork. I did have it serviced many years ago and it says 'hands upgraded' in the description of the work carried out! Good spot Dr No! So the dial is original, the hands were replaced. OK, so now that ... 

Altered hands would depreciate the value of your watch . . .

 
 By: Dr No : March 16th, 2023-18:08
. . . on the secondary market. The best course to take would be to find a donor Constellation with gold hands that fit the track. If the watchmaker who serviced your Connie is still in business, it's worth a shot contacting him; he might have kept the ori... 

 
 By: Gurpreet : March 16th, 2023-19:02
Thanks for the advice, I'll see if they're still in business. I wore it at a wedding recently, first time in 15 years, it is a great dress watch but to be honest I love my dive watches that I wear every day. My wife says sell it and put the money towards ... 

Dad wore this Seiko daily . . .

 
 By: Dr No : March 16th, 2023-21:45
. . . for almost forty years. You couldn't get me to part with it. 😌 ...  

 
 By: Gurpreet : March 17th, 2023-02:55
Nice clean look, black dial is great

Exactly in honor of Omega

 
 By: Weems@8 : March 16th, 2023-22:10
Good to have a Omega spirit new to the community. Welcome. Nice rotor, great look. Be in it this evening. Maybe hands tomorrow. I look at the 1948 seamaster edition at the Omega site. A plane and a ship hide the rotor a bit, so i am curious when Omega do ... 

 
 By: Gurpreet : March 17th, 2023-02:54
Thanks for the comment, yes sentiment is memory is feelings. What do you chaps think of the bracelet, suitable or is it a better look with a strap?

The bracelet is almost certainly gold, possibly 18 kt . . .

 
 By: Dr No : March 17th, 2023-03:50
. . . and worth a tidy sum. If cashed out you could get a custom strap, Dennison 9 kt gold buckle, and a proper handset with the proceeds. Easier said than done with regards to the hands, but following that course allows you to retain Dad's Omega while re... 

 
 By: Gurpreet : March 17th, 2023-05:05
I've seen similar bracelets but I've never been into this one. I think it would look better with a strap, it's a bit TOO bling for me right now. I'm assuming these came on a leather strap, any suggestions as to where a custom strap should be sourced? If I... 

Be careful everywhere on earth

 
 By: Weems@8 : March 17th, 2023-09:01
I am Dutch so i am always aware of criminals. Rich country, but the government open everything, so you must be careful. The EU opened everything, so tourists with wrong plans walking through the European countries. Amsterdam, Paris, London, is always a ri...  

 
 By: Gurpreet : March 17th, 2023-10:19
Nice looking watch, the rubber strap complements a dive watch. India is ok, not too bad. Major cities always have places you would be silly to go to but I travel to London a lot hence my fear. People attacked in shopping malls with hammers or being drugge... 

Please check your private messages shortly . . .

 
 By: Dr No : March 17th, 2023-14:01
. . . for strap, buckle, and appraisal suggestions. Art