Omega Constellation 'C-Shape'

By the late 1960s, Omega faced an enviable challenge: how do you modernize one of the most successful chronometer wristwatches ever produced? The answer came in the form of the Constellation "C-Shape," a bold redesign that carried the collection into a new era while preserving everything that had made it famous. Designed by Gérald Genta in 1964, the distinctive case marked a departure from the earlier Pie-Pan Constellations, embracing the sleek, integrated forms that would come to define watch design in the years that followed. This Constellation Ref. 168.017 SP is a particularly handsome example. Its stainless-steel 'C-Shape' case measures 35mm in diameter and wears larger than the numbers suggest thanks to its flowing tonneau profile and broad brushed surfaces. The silver sunburst dial is beautifully restrained, allowing the applied baton markers and faceted hands to take center stage. A framed date aperture at three o'clock provides useful functionality without disturbing the dial's symmetry, while the applied Constellation star above six serves as a reminder of the model's chronometric pedigree. Powering the watch is Omega's celebrated Calibre 564, one of the finest automatic chronometer movements of its era. Finished in Omega's signature copper-colored plating, the movement features an unusual quick-set date mechanism operated by repeatedly pulling the crown in and out—a delightfully mechanical solution from a period when brands were still experimenting with the best ways to improve everyday usability. Turn the watch over, and you'll find the famous Constellation observatory medallion engraved into the screw-down caseback, a symbol that has represented Omega's chronometer achievements since the collection's introduction in 1952. The watch is fitted to a grey leather strap with contrasting white topstitching and a stainless-steel pin buckle, a pairing that complements the cool tones of the steel case and dial while maintaining the watch's versatile, everyday appeal. Today, the C-Shape Constellation occupies a sweet spot in vintage collecting. It offers Gérald Genta design, a chronometer-certified Calibre 564, and some of Omega's most sophisticated casework of the era—all wrapped in a watch that remains as elegant and wearable today as it was more than 50 years ago.