Some Signs To Look For When Spotting A Fake
There is the Swiss solid gold Omega Constellations, plus there are also other Constellations that have been made someplace else other than Switzerland. Every now and then, you may find South American and British sold gold Omega Constellations from the 1950’s and the 1960’s. Nowadays, you’ll also find Chinese and Vietnamese counterfeits of the Omega Constellations. There are numerous variables ranging from questions of identity of non-Swiss watches.
All solid gold Omega Constellations that were encased in Switzerland from 1952 until the last one carries numerous identity markings. The marks vary between the 18 karat and the 14 karat. They always show an stylish Omega trademark, also display marks which will confirm the case was assayed at the right gold content, it will also provide the information of where the assay took place, which will show a code.
The Omega Constellation also has something that they call the Responsibility mark, which is a legal signature that guarantees the quality of the case maker. This mark is a traceable way of bringing the case maker accountable if the watch isn’t as stated on the watch. There is a list of all the maker numbers and marks which is available to the public in Switzerland.
The case makers who belong to the USH have six registered marks, which a number is placed that identify the manufacturer. The USH now has fifty members. Ten companies account for close to 90% of the Swiss watch productions.
It’s very common for the Omega Constellation watches to be 18 karat gold, except the U.S. market where they have both 14 karat and 18 karat gold watches.
In Switzerland, it is a legal requirement that every case maker stamps their claim of fineness on the case. If the case maker stamps it on the inner case, the law requires that it’s also stamped on the outer case. When looking for the stamp on an Omega Constellation, you will find the stamp on the bottom side of at least two diagonal lugs.
In places where 14 karat gold is the standard, both the 14k mark and also the percentage of gold will be shown. Unlike the English watches, the Swiss don’t apply marks in the watchcases that tell you the e year of the manufacture. The three marks that are applied by the Swiss are the common marks, which is the Assay Mark and the makers’ mark. In every 18-karat Omega Constellation cases from 1952 until the end of the creation of the watch, the ladies head or the Helvetia will be there.