The Omega Constellation 123.10.38.21.01.001 is the 38mm steel Constellation with the black sunburst dial. The Constellation is Omega's dress watch line. It has been in production since 1952 and the current generation keeps the defining features: the polished claws at 3 and 9 gripping the bezel, the integrated mono-link bracelet, and the faceted indices. It is not a dive watch. It is not a sports watch. It is the watch you wear when you do not want to wear a Submariner or a Seamaster. VSF Watch Factory got the case finishing and the movement right.
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Factory | VSF Watch Factory |
| Reference | 123.10.38.21.01.001 (Constellation Co-Axial 38mm, steel, black dial) |
| Movement | Dandong 8500 automatic, 1:1 super clone, independent jumping hour hand |
| Case dimensions | 38mm diameter, ~12.5mm thick |
| Material | 316L stainless steel |
| Bezel | Fixed brushed steel with engraved Roman numerals, black enamel fill, polished claws at 3 and 9 |
| Dial | Black sunburst, faceted steel hour markers and dauphine hands with Super-LumiNova, date at 3, applied Constellation star at 6 |
| Bracelet | Integrated stainless steel mono-link with butterfly deployant clasp |
The claws. The Constellation's defining feature is the griffes. Two polished steel claws at 3 and 9 that reach over the bezel and hold it against the case. They serve no functional purpose. They are pure design. The bezel underneath is horizontally brushed with Roman numerals engraved in black enamel. The contrast between the brushed bezel and the polished claws is what gives the Constellation its visual identity. VSF got the claw geometry and the finishing right. The polish on the claws is clean and the brushing on the bezel is even.
The dial. Black sunburst with faceted steel indices and dauphine hands. The sunburst grain is tight and creates grey radial flares when light hits it. The indices are multi-sided and catch light from different angles. The hands have Super-LumiNova fill, though on a dress watch the lume is more for show than for actual dive visibility. The date at 3 has a polished surround. The applied Constellation star sits at 6. The dial is simple and legible. It does not compete with the case design.
The case. 38mm in 316L steel. The case body is barrel-shaped with a mix of brushed and polished surfaces. At 38mm and 12.5mm thick, it wears smaller than any Seamaster or Speedmaster. It disappears under a dress cuff. The crown is a fluted push-pull design. No crown guard. No helium escape valve. This is not a dive watch and it does not pretend to be. VSF's finishing is clean and the transitions between brushed and polished surfaces are sharp.
The movement. Dandong 8500 automatic with the independent jumping hour hand. The 8500 is the same movement family VSF uses in the Aqua Terra. The hour hand jumps in one-hour clicks for time zone changes without stopping the running seconds. The date is linked to the hour hand. The exhibition caseback shows the decorated movement with Geneva wave finishing. Winding is smooth and the date change is clean. The 8500 in a 38mm Constellation is the correct movement configuration.
The bracelet. Integrated stainless steel mono-link with a butterfly deployant clasp. The mono-link design has horizontally brushed bars connected by polished hinge pins. It is the most recognizable bracelet in Omega's catalog. The integrated design means standard strap changes are not possible without custom curved ends. The butterfly clasp opens with a push-button release and sits flush against the wrist. The bracelet is comfortable and the articulation is smooth. VSF got the link geometry and the brushing correct.