60 Seconds | Omega 1960 Constellation Chronometer, Onyx Markers, 14381-10 SC
Measuring Distances in Time.
Still new to watches, my wife and I arranged to meet Derek, a vintage watch dealer, at a Starbucks to look at a selection of his watches. We expected a brief meeting, but when we arrived, Derek was sitting with two customers at a table covered in watches, loupes and coffee.
These were people we’d only just met, yet they casually handed us watches from their personal collections to examine and try on, as naturally as they shared stories about them.
Specifications
- Model: 1960 Constellation Chronometer
- Reference: 14381-10 SC
- Movement: Automatic Caliber 551, chronometer-certified, non-hacking, 24 jewels, 19,800 vph
- Power Reserve: 50 hours
- Dial: Crosshair, applied gold indices, onyx inserts
- Case: 34.5mm, 43.5mm lug-to-lug, signed crown, screw-down caseback with solid gold constellation medallion
- Thickness: 10.5mm
- Crystal: Domed acrylic
- Lug Width: 18mm
- Produced: 1959 to 1961
Acquired: Mar. 2019, through The Omega Enthusiast
.
Why I Got It
As we worked our way through the watches on the table, one Constellation caught my attention. It was the crosshair dial, unusual lugs and thin black onyx set into the gold markers that first drew me to it.
We tried on a number of vintage and modern watches that evening, but when the Constellation went on my wrist, everyone paused. Somehow, it just looked right.
The collectors also pointed out its unpolished condition and explained the history behind the gold observatory medallion on the caseback.
The eight stars on the Constellation’s caseback commemorate two world precision records and six first-place awards earned at observatory trials between 1933 and 1952. The observatory itself recalls an era when astronomical observations were central to measuring accurate time.
When Derek offered lifetime discounted servicing, handled personally, we shook hands on the deal.
By the time we left Starbucks, several hours had passed. We’d listened to stories about their collections and learned about everything from bumper movements and hand-wound calibres to the effects of polishing on collector value. There was even a Grand Seiko, with its Zaratsu polishing becoming another topic of conversation.
.
How it Wears
As a chronometer-certified watch, my Constellation still runs within -4 to +6 seconds per day, matching modern COSC accuracy standards.
The long, tapered lugs give the 34.5mm Constellation an elongated appearance, with a lug-to-lug measurement of 43.5mm. At 10.5mm thick, it fits comfortably beneath almost any shirt cuff.
Though dressy in appearance, its colours give it an earthy feel that works just as well with casual attire.
.
Years Later
My collection has grown considerably since that evening, and many watches have come and gone. I’ve become more discerning and have learned to recognize questionable parts and overlooked details.
Yet this Constellation remains one of my favourites. It still stands out among watches I acquired with far more experience. Looking back, it was an exceptionally good first choice, one I could not have made on my own at the time.
That experience is why I built this site, and I enjoy sharing what I’ve learned with people just starting, much as those collectors did with me.
.
Works Cited
Omega. “For Men who Measure Distances in Time.” Advertisement. TIME, 11 November 1957, p. 16. TIME Digital Archive.
The Omega advertisement was restored from a degraded Eterna-Fanatic.com image, preserving the artwork and copy while replacing the watch with my own Constellation. The unmodified comparison came from TIME’s Digital Archive.
.