Omega 168010/11 white gold Constellation with diamond indexes Cal 564 (1966)

Omega 168010/11 white gold Constellation with diamond indexes, 24 jewels Cal 564 from the year 1966. This is a deluxe version of case 168.010 with triple diamonds on three of the quarter hours and one diamond neatly integrated into the date quarter hour. 

I have been a look out for white gold Constellation. Previously, I have found a white gold Omega Constellation and but I have decided to return it owing to the redial. This time, I am fortunate to find another white gold constellation. I have to trade away a Rolex automatic date plus cash top up for this Omega with "hidden crown". The case size is only slightly larger than the traditional Connie at 35mm but with the lug width at 19mm and a smaller bezel, it has given the perception of  a larger dial area on display and the watch will appear larger on the wrist.

I am slowly growing and tightening my Vintage Omega collection focusing on precious metal like the solid Pink, white gold series, and Constellation series if possible or else the focus of collection will be very wide. The only exception is the Omega Seamaster 300 and some with rare Middle East dials (the the watch made for Kim Il Sung)  where the watches are in stainless steel 

https://jackmond.com/products/omega-1966-constellation-18kt-white-gold-vintage-watch

http://download1075.mediafire.com/o41ayiv0yqvg/tb2peef1bb4b23n/Omegadiamond.pdf

Rolex ref 6144 (from 1952) Royal

This is a Rolex Royal ref 6144 with subsidiaries seconds hands. It has a nice protruding Rolex Crown and 2,4,8,10 numerals on the dial. The watch is from the year 1952. I was not expecting to get any watch today from Mr. Wong but this beauty is too good to miss as not everyday can we find Rolex with subsidiary seconds hand.

The Rolex Oyster Royal is a stainless steel Rolex series made in the 1950s and 1960s. It used at least two different mechanisms, the 700 and the 710. The 700 models use a sub-second hand and the 710 models use a center-second hand.

Mechanism: 

The 700 series represents the fourth iteration of the Aegler Hunter 10 1/2 movement made for Rolex. This final version used the same simplified balance wheel as its predecessor the 'Superbalance Precision' but only used 15 jewels. The mechanisms are usually stamped with 'Rolex 15 Jewels Swiss Made' as well as 'Rolex Patent 10 1/2" H'.

The 710 is closely related to the Aegler 700. The primary difference is the position of the second hand. The 700 is "sub second", whereas the 710 is "center second". 

Reference https://www.trovestar.com/generic/zoom.php?id=148736

Rolex Prince jump hour versus Gruen Doctor’s watch

The Rolex jumping hours complication in an art deco–inspired stepped rectangular case does not exactly scream Rolex, but that is exactly the charm of the Railway Prince (ref. 1571).Rolex Prince jump hour versus Gruen Doctor’s watch.

Besides Rolex, Alpina Gruen and Gruen have also produced the Jump Hour Doctors' watches

Omega Seamaster 300 & its Variations

There are several broad variations for the Omega Seamaster 300 from the 1960s. One is the 165.024 no date version and the 166.024 date version. Another important one is the Big Triangular with fixed lugs made for the military use.

For the Omega civilian versions, there were some differences in the Omega Seamaster 300 165.024 as well namely:

1. Cases were made by Huguenin Freres (HF) and Centrale Boites (CB

2 Baton hands versus Sword hands

3. Naiad non screw down crown versus deep screw down crown.

4. Big triangle vs small on dial. The Big triangle version commands a premium over the smaller one as it was earlier and much rarer.

5. Movement ; There are two movements for the Non date version (Cal 550 for the US market, and the 552 for the European markets and Asia. For the Date version, the movement should be Caliber 565. There are two dates colours namely white and Black.

6. Watchco version : This is a version NOT original factory manufactured or assembled but being assembled using Omega Original parts for the Omega Seamaster 300 plus using the Movement 550, 552 and other movements from other Omega watches. The prices of these are almost half of the original so collectors will need to be careful in their hunt as most vintage watch collectors will avoid collecting these.

Like any watches that were produced for several years, there were also versions using the cross over parts. For example, there were examples where the hands were the earlier baton hands versus the later swords hands. There are also variations in the bezel's fonts.

 

January 2021 : Omega Seamaster

Welcome to the year 2021! Start the year with a nice vintage Omega Seamaster calendar in solid rose gold. Luckily, I am able to trade in my Avia jumping seconds for this beautiful watch. By doing this have helped to control my number of watches plus tightening my collection theme. 

I remembered during the year 1988 when I start to collect vintage watches, I have bought a rose gold filled Omega Seamaster in black dial from Antique watch comer at Lucky Plaza. I have returned the watch as it was a retail. Since then, I have not come across any Rose gold Seamaster until this afternoon when Mr. Wong showed me his.

My small collection of Vintage Solid gold Omega

Made for Thailand limited edition watches

During my stay in Thailand from 2014-2017, I have the opportunities to travel across Thailand covering many outskirts provinces. One of the advantage was the ability to visits the many provinces watch shops and there were some new old stocks watches seating at the shelf. The following are some new watches that I have bought that were made for Thailand edition:

1. Orient watch 100th anniversary for the Thai Sanam Chandra Palace in Nakhon Pathom. Bought July 2015, when I was working in Thailand

2. Limited Edition in celebration of the 80th Birthday of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand (5th December 2007). Thai numbers and wordings for the date and the outer GMT scale as are the 8, 9 and 10 numerals on the dial. Bought Sept 2015.

3. Limited edition Orient watch issued to celebrate King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand's birthday