I am a big fan of Omega, this relates to not only their current range of timepieces but their legacy range as well. Of their current range, the Constellation is viewed as their dress watch along with the De Ville. Both the Seamaster and Speedmaster are functional tool watches with specific roles, the Constellation is an elegant variant of their range. With George Clooney product ambassador for the Speedmaster, the Constellation is left to the elegance of Nicole Kidman to promote.  

The design hails back to the 1950s, this is a pretty decent era of style, some may argue timeless. The Speedmaster was released in 1957, the Seamaster nearly a decade earlier in 1948 with the Constellation released in 1952 as Omega’s first chronometer. On my then regular trips overseas, I frequented Omega boutiques allowing me to be given their catalog booklets. This allows me to research posts via officially published material, what is also interesting is the Omega museum and registering timepieces online at Omega.

What immediately stands out for me on the reference 2852/2853 Constellation series is the chamfered dial, sometimes known as the pie-pan dial with diamond index markers and star symbol in the lower face below the hand pivot. The Constellation was released with an automatic movement certified as a chronometer, the Manhattan style with claws on the bezel. During the quartz crisis of the 1970s to 1980s, the range was fitted with a quartz movement later reverted back to chronometer certified automatic movements.

For me, Nicole Kidman is the ultimate range ambassador and although the range has evolved over the decade, the Manhattan series with the single link stainless steel band with gold intermediate sections epitomises the modern Constellation. Significant updates included straight index markers on the dial with Roman numerals on the bezel. Whilst I won’t be purchasing the Constellation myself, I can certainly admire this timepiece for its style even if it doesn’t suit mine.