OMEGA CONSTELLATION AUTOMATIC, STEEL YEAR 1962

The history of the Omega Constellation is a tale of precision, elegance, and constant evolution spanning over seven decades. Originally conceived to celebrate Omega’s timing records, the Constellation line quickly became the manufacturer’s flagship, representing the pinnacle of technical excellence and refined design. Throughout its generations, the Constellation has adapted to changes in style and technology without ever losing its essence: being the watch of achievements and serene beauty.

Origins: The Centenary and the Birth of a Legend

The seed of the Omega Constellation was planted in 1948, when the brand celebrated its centenary with a limited edition watch called Centenary. This model, designed by René Banwart, featured an automatic movement with a 360-degree rotor and a case back medallion depicting an astronomical observatory. The success of the Centenary was such that Omega decided to make it a permanent collection.

Thus, in 1952, the Constellation was officially born. Its name referred to the eight stars that adorned the case back medallion, symbolizing the six first prizes and two world precision records that Omega had obtained at the Kew-Teddington observatories between 1933 and 1936. From its debut, the Constellation was conceived as a certified chronometer, a guarantee of the highest accuracy.

The Golden Age: The Pie Pan and Chronometric Excellence

The first generation of the Constellation, produced between 1952 and the late sixties, is known to collectors as the “Pie Pan” era, due to the characteristic concave shape of its dial, with 12 facets creating a unique play of light and depth. These dials, available in colors such as silver, gold, black, and white, featured applied markers, dauphine or arrowhead hands, and the iconic star logo at 6:00.

The early Constellation models used “bumper” automatic movements (calibers 351, 352, and 354) that oscillated in a 120-degree arc, producing a characteristic feel on the wrist. Starting in 1955, they were replaced by the full-rotor calibers from the 500 and 560 series, among which the famous <str