While luxury sports watches have been making a big comeback in style, Omega hasn’t jumped on the trend of the consolidation bandwagon. That’s simply because they’ve been doing it for years with their dark horse collection, the Constellation. Just make the exquisite watch a little bigger – and that’s exactly what Omega has done with the new Constellation Gentlemen’s Collection.
Back in 1952, the Constellation did start out as a men’s watch, but it was a far cry from the watch we have today. That was with a pretty drastic stylistic overhaul in 1982, with the addition of claws on either side of the bezel. The main problem was that while other watches increased in size to suit tastes, the Constellation did not, which made it a bit of a name for itself in the Asian market.
The new collection changes that for the better. The case has been increased to 39mm wide, which while still not huge, feels a bit large with the addition of those iconic claws. The Roman numerals engraved on the bezel carry an explorer’s touch, underscoring the sporty appeal, while the case materials – from steel to yellow and Sedna (Omega’s own rose) gold and every two shades in between – emphasise the luxury.
There are other tweaks, of course; overall, the Constellation has become more elegant, with thinner claws and an emphasis on various brushed and polished surfaces. The same goes for the bracelet, which has very nicely done links and bevelled edges.
Underneath is Omega’s Master Chronometer movement, a major upgrade over previous models. It’s essentially COSC-certified on steroids, making the movement incredibly reliable. The only mechanical downside to the new Constellations is their water resistance. At 50m, you don’t want to get them wet.
Color-wise, the dials are available in black, silver, blue, brown and white, with mottled variants in blue, gold and grey. All told, that means the collection includes 26 new sports pieces. It’s a complete overhaul, that’s for sure – and one that’s long overdue, in our opinion.
Price and specifications:
Model name: Omega Constellation Co-Axial Master Chronometer 39mm
Case/Dial: 39mm diameter, stainless steel, 18k yellow gold, 18k Sedna gold or two-tone steel and gold (yellow and Sedna)
Water resistance: 50m
Movement: OMEGA in-house Co-Axial Master Chronometer Calibre 8800 or 8801, METAS certified
Power reserve: 55 hours
Frequency: 25,200 vph (3.5 Hz)
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds and date
Straps: Metal bracelet (steel, steel and gold, yellow gold, Sedna gold) and leather strap
Price: 4,695 GBP (39mm steel on leather)
4,870 GBP (36mm steel on steel bracelet)
6,000 GBP (39mm steel and Sedna Gold on leather)
£8,520 (39mm steel and gold on steel and gold bracelet)
£25,480 (39mm Sedna gold on Sedna gold bracelet)
£14,960 (39mm Sedna gold/gold on leather)
£6,870 (36mm steel and Sedna gold on Sedna and steel bracelet)
£21,915 (36mm Sedna gold on Sedna gold bracelet; 36mm gold on gold bracelet)
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