| Brand: | Omega |
| Model: | Constellation |
| Reference: | 14381 10 SC |
| Gender: | Uni-sex |
| Year: | 1959 |
| Material: | stainless steel |
| Dial Color: | silver |
| Dimensions: | 34 mm |
| Watch Movement: | automatic |
| Bracelet/Strap: | lizard |
| Box/Paper: | Handmade Leather Travel Pouch |
| Condition: | Excellent |
This is a rare opportunity to purchase a perfect example of an Omega Constellation stainless steel with a very nice pie pan dial. These ones are becoming more and more difficult to get your hands on, especially in these kind of conditions.
In 1948 Omega introduced the Centenary, an automatic wristwatch chronometer to celebrate Omega’s one-hundredth anniversary. The original Centenary was produced in limited quantities (6000 in total, 2000 using the caliber 28.10mm movement and 4000 using the caliber 30.10mm). However, according to Omega, the Centenary was so successful that they started developing a successor that would be produced in large quantities and become a collection on its own.. The Constellations were introduced as a new line-up of watches with chronometer movements to be produced in series.
The Constellation was originally introduced in 1952 and quickly became a best-seller for Omega. Omega Constellation have always been a symbol of luxury. The Constellation has a high performance automatic movement combined with an elegant and a refined exterior. On the dial: the name Constellation, highlighted by an applied gold star. On the case back: the famous medallion featuring anobservatory crowned by a constellation of eight stars, evoking the numerous exploits of Omega in world chronometer competition.
The dial and the case of the Omega Constellation 14900 were designed by Gérald Genta. The applied markers with the “index in ebony” (We know them as Onyx inserts) was an original Genta idea.
There is an article by Desmond Guilfoyle about the design work that Genta did for Omega in the 1960s. You can read in several magazines and websites that Genta was responsible for some of the Omega Seamaster and Omega Constellation designs, but never knew which ones exactly.
Osvaldo Patrizzi, former CEO of Antiquorum, in sharing some remarks at an Omegamania launch in 2007, made reference to Genta’s Contribution to Omega, saying “"I would like to share a comment made by Gérald Genta, an icon in the horological world, made to me when I mentioned the Omega project. He reflected for a moment and said, “In the early 60’s I designed many models for Omega, very discreetly; I felt very connected to this company. Everything that Omega produced was copied by all the others – they were the best!"” The reference to discretion explains the practice of watch manufacturers giving the ‘brand name’ primacy over all who had contributed to the production of various models. The“cult of the designer” was unheard of in the 1950s and early 1960s (In watch design, Genta was the first) Watch companies did not advertise the names of designers or suppliers of cases, dials and bracelets – a practice the big brands continue to this day.
This reference has a 14-jewel caliber 551 automatic movement adjusted to 5 positions and temperature. This Constellation has a sunburst silvered pie-pan dial with applied black accented gilt baton hour markers, black inner minute divisions with five minute markers, gilt lance hands with black inserts and center seconds, date aperture at 3. It has a polished round stainless steel case with screw down back, fitted fitted on an original stainless steel bracelet with an Omega signed buckle. The case, crown, dial, movement and bracelet are all Omega signed.
This specific watch is an stainless steel bracelet Omega Constellation, Ref: 14381/10 SC, the movement has engraved the number 177333xx. This movement number dates this watch back to circa 1959. This particular Omega Constellation has just undergone a full service. This work was carried out by our watchmaker using original parts.
As with all of our pre-owned watches this watch comes with a full 12 month WRIST ICONS warranty that will be invoked from the day of purchase.