Constellation Gilt dial B&P

We are vey excited to offer you guys this gorgeous Omega Constellation with Gilt Crosshair dial from the very first year this model was introduced to the public – 1952. This also means that this vintage Constellation is powered by Omega’s automatic, bumper rotor movement. With these so-called bumper movements, the rotor doesn’t rotate around in a full circle, instead, it strikes bumper springs at either end of its arc, between which the rotor bounces back and forth. These bumper movements have a distinctive feel when the watch is worn on the wrist, and you can actually feel the rotor rebounding.

This particular Constellation doesn’t show us the distinctive faceted convex dial we are used to, often called a “pie-pan dial” by enthusiasts and collectors. Instead, its more of a flat dial design, but the use of those spectaculair gold, Arrow shaped indices with their sharply cut facets, those solid “Dagger” hands, as well as the “Crosshair Dial” aka “Sniper Dial”, are three very distinctive styles for these very early Constellation models – especially in combination with a Gilt dial. That striking black Gilt dial is nothing short of spectacular and really needs to be seen with ones own two eyes! Apart from the known aging of a Gilt dial (a slightly matted surface and marbling around the appliques) this Gilt manufactured dial remains in a very well preserved condition without any cracks or damages, and still showing a wonderful gloss finish when worn on the wrist. Like the dial, the case on our Constellation also remains in very good conditions. Those gracefully designed lugs are razor sharp and really show no signs of polishing. Actually, have a close look at the surface of the bezel and you will see the subtle line running in a circle down the center, is still very much visible to the naked eye – one polish and such a line would disappear all together; I dare to say that this Omega Constellation Gilt dial remains in unpolished conditions.

The case is known as a gold-capped case, meaning that there is a solid gold shell over the  stainless steel case (this also explains the stainless steel case back with such watches). This thick shell was often made of 14k or even 18k gold, and is up to 240 microns thick. With this constellation the gold capping is made from 14k yellow gold. As mentioned, the watch is still accompanied by its original box, original and filled out warranty, original Chronometer certificate, and the original Constellation box card. The watch was originally delivered and sold in Bogota, Columbia which could also very much explain the design of this early Constellation with its non-pie pan dial and the gold-capped case, in combination with a Gilt dial – It is well known that brands like Rolex and Omega used different watch designs and marketing for the South American markets.

To conclude: The Constellation got its name from the emblem on the case back, which showed an observatory with eight stars above it. The eight stars symbolize two chronometer records, and six first-place awards that Omega earned between 1933 and 1952. As you can see in the photo’s, the case back remains in a very good condition with not only the raised observatory very crisp and clear, but also the Constellation name crisp and readable to the naked eye. The automatic bumper movement was fully serviced by our watchmakers and the watch will be delivered with our 24 month warranty.

reference: 2782
case number: 139XXXXX
year of production: 1952
case diameter: 34mm
material: 14k gold-capped case
movement:Omega Bumper automatic, caliber 354
box and papers: yes!

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