Omega model

Omega Constellation: history, generations and official videos

The Omega Constellation is Omega's chronometer line, introduced in 1952 and recognizable by the star on its dial and the observatory medallion on early casebacks. This page explains its generations, what drives the value of a Constellation and shows the official Omega videos about the model.

Introduced: 1952 (based on the 1948 Centenary)
Early hallmark: Pie-pan dial, observatory caseback
Sizes today: 25 mm to 41 mm
Movements today: Co-Axial Master Chronometer

Experience the Iconic Constellation Collection in Pearl | OMEGA – official video by Omega on YouTube

Where the Constellation comes from

The Constellation goes back to 1948, when Omega marked its 100th anniversary with the Centenary, its first automatic chronometer. In 1952 the Centenary became a permanent catalog model and was renamed Constellation, which Omega's own press called its first modern flagship watch. The name is tied to the caseback medallion: it shows an observatory under eight stars, which commemorate two precision world records and six first places at the Kew-Teddington and Geneva observatory competitions between 1933 and 1952. Early 18K gold models carried this medallion, and on the dial an applied star above 6 o'clock has marked the line ever since.

Generations of the Constellation

The Constellation is a family, not a single watch, and it has changed a lot in seven decades. This table gives the main stages.

Series	Years	References	Case	Movement
Pie-pan era	1952 – 1974	–	12-sided pie-pan dial; early 18K gold watches with engraved observatory caseback	Calibre 351 at launch, a chronometer-certified automatic
Constellation II / III	early 1960s – 1960s	–	Flat dials from the mid-1960s; C-line case from 1964	Thinner 550 series and date-display 560 series
Quartz Constellations	1970 – 1970s	–	Integrated bracelet from 1969; sapphire crystal on the 1972 Megaquartz	Beta 21 (1970), Megaquartz (1972), 1340 series (1977)
Manhattan	1982 – 2014	–	Four-claw bezel; 24, 27, 31 and 35 mm; 50 m water resistance from 1995	Quartz and automatic; calibre 2500 series with co-axial escapement from 2003
Globemaster	since 2015	–	Based on the 1952 design, star at 6 o'clock	First Omega Master Chronometer
Current generation	since 2019 – 2020	–	25 to 41 mm; ceramic bezel inserts	Master Chronometer movements, for example calibre 8800

Two design features help you place a watch quickly. The 12-sided pie-pan dial, named for its resemblance to a pie pan, belongs to the early watches, and the last pie-pan Constellation was made in 1974. The four claws (griffes) on the bezel appeared with the Manhattan in 1982. Omega says the claws no longer serve a practical purpose on the newest generation.

Notable versions and technique

Early gold chronometers: hand-engraved observatory caseback, pie-pan dial, automatic chronometer movement.
Integrated-bracelet models: a model with an integrated bracelet followed in 1969.
Quartz Constellations: from the thick Beta 21 movement of 1970 to the thin 1340 series of 1977.
Manhattan: from 2003 with a co-axial escapement in the calibre 2500 series.
Globemaster: introduced in 2015 and based on the 1952 design, with a star at 6 o'clock.
Meteorite dials: added in 2024.
Constellation Observatory: launched on March 26, 2026 as a two-hand watch with no seconds hand, in 39.4 mm, with Master Chronometer calibre 8914 or 8915, a faceted pie-pan dial and dog-leg lugs.

What is an Omega Constellation worth?

Value depends heavily on which Constellation you have. A gold pie-pan watch with an observatory caseback, a quartz model from the 1970s and a modern steel Master Chronometer are very different pieces. What counts most is the generation, case material, originality of dial and movement, condition, and whether box and papers are present. Watches with a documented story can add a premium. One documented example: Elvis Presley's Constellation sold for $52,500 at Antiquorum in New York in June 2012, described at the time as a world record for the reference. That is an exceptional case, not a guide for an ordinary watch.

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Official Omega Constellation videos

All videos come from the official Omega YouTube channel. They cover the Pearl, Purple and Green collections, the Meteorite dials, the Globemaster and the Constellation Small Seconds.

More Omega videos, sorted by model: all official Omega playlists.

Sources (5)

SwissWatchExperts is not affiliated with Omega. Brand and model names are trademarks of their owners; the videos are embedded from the official Omega YouTube channel.

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Frequently asked questions

When was the Omega Constellation introduced?

Omega introduced the Constellation in 1952. It grew out of the Centenary of 1948, Omega's first automatic chronometer, made for the company's 100th anniversary.

What is the star on the Constellation?

The star on the dial is a hallmark of the line. On early caseback medallions, eight stars sit above an observatory and commemorate two precision world records and six first places in observatory competitions between 1933 and 1952.

What is a pie-pan dial?

A 12-sided dial whose faceted shape resembles a pie pan. It is typical of the early Constellations, and the last pie-pan Constellation was made in 1974.

How big is an Omega Constellation?

It depends on the generation. The Manhattan came in 24, 27, 31 and 35 mm. The current generation spans 25 to 41 mm.

How can I tell a Constellation generation apart?

Look at the dial and bezel. A pie-pan dial points to the early period, a four-claw bezel to the Manhattan from 1982, and a ceramic bezel insert to the generation introduced in 2020.

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