Omega

Team,

After his disappointment with a gold Constellation - yes, the dial was redone, the same friend was in my house yesterday to upgrade his cameras firmware and he was wearing a steel Constellation.

After the firmware update was done, he told me that his Connie was acquired many years back and he was sure that everything was original.

I made a cursory comment about dishonest vendors that exists since the world started to spin and I asked to take some pictures.

My impression is that the dial was redone, it may be many years back but I never saw a Connie with that dial.

We made a small bet.

Here is the watch:

My point is that the minute markers are on the outside of the "pie" face.

Please, bring the experts. I will be more than happy to NOT collect the bet but ...

Cheers,

Nilo

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But I need a detailed explanation about the points that defined this redial. 

. . . are a dead giveaway, Nilo.  The applied markers also seem odd . . . more like those seen on f300 dials than mechanical C-case Connies.

I knew that it was bad but not that bad. 

. . . but not any pie pan Connies I know of. 

An image of the inner caseback would help nail this one down.

But is a mono bloc styled case. 

...I'm not 100% convinced it is one.  I've seen other dials like that.  Fonts look more or less correct.  Omega used several different dial styles on this reference, most were not cataloged.  Here's mine:

Could also be a service dial.  A closer examination would be needed.

gatorcpa

Monobloc or conventional?

Did you notice the minute marks, pointing to the outside?

Thanks,

Nilo

. . . as do the applied markers, within the context of Constellation dials.  I've seen those markers on f300s, but not on Constellations.   

(The hands look like genuine Omega replacements, btw, just not correct for this model.) 

I would not dismiss this one so quickly.

I have seen these big indexes and outward minute markers on other 168.025 - even with these hands - in "reputable places". I must admit that I thought the combination of hands and dial a bit odd - as if from two different periods, but now that I see one more and your friend is convinced that his watch is correct, maybe it is a legit reference.

I don't have pictures of the watches I saw, but here is what I could find from a simple google search: 

 

Credit: Arrais at Relogiosmecanicos.com.br (your friend's watch?)

 

Hope this helps...

Nikolaj

This message has been edited by nikolaj on 2013-11-18 14:39:10

. . . that Nilo forwarded to me, show starburst patterns; the one Nilo's friend acquired does not.  Also, there's a suspicious bubble in the paint around 11. 

Now that I've seen examples of what look to be truly original dials with those markers, both applied and printed, I'm convinced such models truly exist - many thanks for the diligent detective work, Nikolaj.  I'm still skeptical as to whether Nilo's friend's example has its original finish.

Indebted,

Art

A bubble paint?

It seems to me more like dirty.

"The plot thickens".

Cheers,

Nilo

. . . now, we're down to vertical grain vs starburst pattern.  Could be that both are correct.  Any chance of taking this one to your watchmaker for a closer inspection?

This afternoon I went to my watchmaker to collect (a Zenith, what else?) and we discussed the now famous Constellation of my friend.

1) He and another senior watchmaker of his team are betting that the watch is 100% real.

2) This watch went to a full maintenance one year back and nothing called his attention.

On my research, after Nikolaj pointed the model as 168.025, I was able to locate others with similar characteristics.

My friend may own one of the last pie pan Constellation ever made?

Here is what I go to do:

I go to call my friend and book a visit to my (our in this case) watchmaker.

We go to have this watch opened and take detailed macro shots of everything.

Seems to be a good plan?

Cheers,

Nilo

. . . now, we'll know for sure.

...that title would be reserved for the Ref. 168.0065 from the mid-1970's with cal. 1011: 

 

And of course, the new Sedna Constellation: 

]

 

I knew I had seen that 168.0025 dial pattern before out on the web.  If it has the vertical brushing, it is almost certainly genuine.

Take care,

gatorcpa

In the macro showing the spot on the dial, it seems as if the dial has a vertical brushed finish - like the one gator posted. I agree that the ones I could find pictures of display the sunburst pattern.

Nikolaj

My friend's watch was acquired by him more than 20 years ago, if this helps.

Cheers,

Nilo

Today we went to our watchmaker and cracked the case open.

It's real. Lost a bet. A quid but I'm happy because my friend is happy.

Took many pictures that I go to post as soon I return from a party.

Cheers,

Nilo