Vintage Omega Constellation C case for Kim IL Sung

I have always love watches with historical importance such as this specially made Omega watch commissioned by Kim Il-sung, the founder of North Korea, and its premier from 1948 until his death in 1994. Below is watch presented on his 60th birthday on 1972 to high ranking officials, not many of these examples have surfaced. Many may not like the DPRK regime, but I think the watch should not be the subject of criticism as its just a wristwatch and collecting the watch does not equate to liking the regime.

The reference of the watch is 168.029 - Omega were commissioned to make a special commemorative watch with key changes to the standard cal 751 C-shape dial layout and put Kim Il-Sung's signature to the very top and move the Constellation text to the bottom. This is also the one of the series of Omega with Korean date disc.

The refined impression of the barrel-shaped C-line case, designed by Gerald Genta, was commonly seen around the 1970s. Compared to later models with glass-like domed crystals, the early versions feature a dome-shaped crystal, offering a vintage taste. The finely crafted white gold fluted bezel exudes a strong sense of luxury, embodying the essence of Omega's high-end models. The dial features a subtle sunray finish, avoiding any sense of overdone embellishment. This particular model boasts a special specification with a print of Kim Il-sung instead of the Ω logo. The center positions of the bar indices and pencil hands are coated in black, enhancing readability. The day of the week is indicated in Hangul script. The bracelet is a Ref.1172 with Endlink 515.

The case boasts excellent proportions. The dial unfortunately has some scratches but its all original condition.

The Constellation, symbolizing the stars, is a gem of a model that combines Omega's highest precision with automatic winding. It represents the pinnacle of watchmaking born in an era where "precision is the absolute value" before the development of quartz watches. It has the well liked caliber 751.

There are several versions of the Omega Constellation Photos from the internet

Photos from the Internet 

Besides the constellation series, there are also others starting from The Omega Constellation, Seamaster and Geneva, and the levels decrease in order.