June 6, 2025

1970 Omega Constellation 166.059 168.047 125gr. net weight 18kt. $14,500.00 CAD. 510-00148

When this watch was made in 1970 Omega had produced a little over 30 million watches since there inception in 1848. They were producing around 4 million watches annually. Rolex by comparison had produced only around 3 million watch since their founding in 1905 and had annual sales of around 200,000 watches per year. Omega dominated the Swiss made market for the majority of the 20th century. This was the heyday of Swiss watch production. The Swiss had absolute control of the watch industry. Their luxury mechanical watches were eagerly purchased by coming of age baby boomers and their parents. There were lots of great paying jobs and the world economy was booming. As a nod to complete luxury, not only is the case and bracelet made entirely of premium 18 karat gold, so is the dial as indicated by the OM text at the bottom. OM stands for “Or Massif” which translates to solid gold in English. A solid gold gents Omega on bracelet is a very rare find for us. This is one of only a handful of vintage examples to pass through our estate department. The condition looks almost completely original. The 18 karat sold gold dial (not painted) is in very good condition, showing very minor oxidation stains. An integrated link bracelet graduates in width to the fold over snap buckle. An embossed Omega logo on the buckle shows little wear, even the subtle striped pattern is still visible. Tight joints in every link show show a small amount of wear and a touch of stretch in the heavy bracelet. It’s hard to say with 100% certainty but we think the only thing not original is the crown. The gold capped crown is possibly a genuine replacement item as it is signed with the more modern short Omega logo and exhibits the expected degree of wear. There aren’t too many service records etched in the case back and the plastic crystal displays the corporate logo embossed in the center. Housed inside the gold case is a beautiful Omega 20 jewel in house calibre 1001 that is running well and keeping great time. Rose gold plating on the movement still display the type of finish that helped earn Omega great respect among those who serviced them. My father was a watch maker who learned his craft in the late 1940s. I remember him saying how Omega watches were a pleasure not only to look at but to work on too. This slender movement was independently certified to chronometer status making it one of the most accurate wrist watches of its day. To earn certified chronometer status the watch must maintain accurate time keeping of better than 99.99% per day. The movement was overhauled by our master watchmaker in June 2023 and is performing well within certified chronometer levels of accuracy. The timing report shows a gain rate of just 1 second per day, an excellent balance amplitude of 284 degrees, and a perfect beat error of zero milliseconds. Looking for similar watches online lines reveals very few to compare. The case back numbers of 166.059 168.047 doesn’t really help in finding many as nice as this one. I suspect many of these watches were melted down over the years to access the gold value they contain. This watch has a weight similar to that of a solid gold Rolex Day-Date of the era at over 142 grams. Removing the movement and crystal leaves a net weight of 125 grams including the solid gold dial. At the current price of gold ($4,533.00 CAD June 6, 2025) the value of just the gold in this watch is $13,600 This is a good sized watch that wears much larger than its 33mm wide case size suggests. The 18 flexible link bracelet will accommodate a wrist size of over 8 inches. For a 54 year old watch, we’d consider the overall condition to be quite good. Including a complimentary 1-year Bill Le Boeuf Jewellers warranty this cool vintage Omega is estate priced at $14,500.00 CAD. Stock #510-00148.

1969 Tudor Prince OysterDate 9050/0 rare blue dial, 1 owner, 34mm. $3,200.00 CAD. 505-00519

How many consumer products as complicated as an automatic winding wristwatch last over 50 years with only the occasional servicing requirement? Most things purchased today can’t be repaired, aren’t designed to be repaired, or simply are not worth repairing because an equally crappy replacement costs less. The world of Swiss watches have a long history and tradition of high quality that spans generations. It isn’t uncommon for us to service a high quality Swiss watch that has been in the owner’s family for many generations. This Tudor is an excellent example of a watch that served the first and only owner since his father gifted it to him upon his graduation of high school in 1970. He worn it for more than 50 years until recently. It had been serviced several times in the past with cleaning of the movement and perhaps a new crystal. It came to us not running but original right down the the folded link Oyster bracelet and uncommon blue dial. The automatic winding movement only needed routine service and a new mainspring to get it back up and running like new. There is a reasonable chance the mainspring we replaced was original to the watch from 1969. After the August 2024 service by our master watchmaker the watch is running better than expected considering it is powered by a non chronometer rated movement, displaying a perfect beat error of zero milliseconds, and accuracy of only 3 seconds fast per day. To be running this accurately after 50 years is testament to the quality of Rolex’ entry level Tudor brand. The uncommon slightly violet blue dial makes this watch a little more interesting. All the tritium lume plots except at 2:00 o’clock are intact along with the luminous material in the hands. The original 19mm Rolex Oyster bracelet made up of 12 folded links is in good condition showing little sag or stretch. With the occasional service every 5 to 10 years, we believe this little Tudor has another half century of reliable service left in it. We are happy to include a no charge 1-year warranty for the next owner. It does not come with any original packaging or documents but it sure looks good in our blue presentation box. This estate Tudor is priced at $3,200.00 CAD. Stock #505-00519.

June 5, 2025

Antique Art Deco brooch with 0.03ct. diamond, 3.7gr., 14kt. white gold. $780.00 CAD. 161-00369

Brooches are making a comeback on the Hollywood red carpet. They are appearing on the lapels of fashionable women and men too who like to showcase their style. We absolutely love antique Art Deco brooches like this. They really display the exceptional skill of the artists who created them over 100 years ago. The labor involved in producing something this intricate today makes recreating one impossible. Even if we knew someone who could do it, the cost to it would be several multiples of our original example. This one dates from the earliest part of the Art Deco design era in the 1920s, when white gold was still a novel material in jewellery manufacturing. This exceptional example of filigree jewellery design measures 63.3mm in length and 7.3mm tall. There isn’t am empty area lacking the decorative filigree pierced treatment, even the edges have been embellished. The focal point is a small 0.03 carat VS-GH European cut diamond bead set in a geometric diamond shape that is often used in Art Deco jewellery designs. It is secured with a hinged  locking pin on the back. These decorative brooches can serve double duty when worn as a pendant on almost any size of chain or cord necklace. This beautiful antique brooch is estate priced at $780.00 CAD. Stock #161-00369.

On hold for C.G.

June 4, 2025

Tag Heuer Formula 1 quartz WAZ1111 42mm. $1,300.00 CAD. 520-00147

The Tag Heuer Formula 1 line has come a long way since the first versions were introduced in the 1980s. I feel you can credit the F1s as the biggest reason Tag Heuer survived the quartz crisis that put many Swiss manufacturers out of business due to the onslaught of good quality, low-cost quartz watches from Japan. The original Formula 1 models only cost a few hundred dollars and were constructed mostly from composite materials aside from the screw on case-back. Today the Formula 1 is truly a watch worthy of consideration by any watch aficionado. Our latest example is a personal favorite. Under the super tough and durable synthetic sapphire crystal is a beautiful matt finish white dial with applied markers that are super legible under any lighting conditions. The Arabic 12 and 6 remind me of a Rolex Explorer and the classic green/red logo is something most modern Tag Heuers are lacking. At 42mm it isn’t too big and cumbersome and the slightly thinner ratcheting bezel allows more room for a big dial and easy time interpretation making this one of the most purposeful watches around. A threaded crown and case back contribute to a water-resistant rating of 200 meters. Solid construction stainless steel bracelet with diver’s extension and locking buckle allows use in any condition. The watch is in excellent condition, it looks more “shop worn” the preowned. The case edges are sharp and crisp, no dings, dents, or scratches. Only the wide flat buckle displays some minor evidence of use. Comes complete with the original packaging, instruction booklet, and warranty card. The watch is covered by our 1-year complimentary warranty for the next owner. This like-new watch is no longer available, but a similar version with a red minute track is shown on Tag Heuer’s website for $2,350.00 CAD. Our estate price for this like-new example is $1,300.00 CAD. Stock #520-00147.

SOLD

June 3, 2025

1.50ct. Rhodolite garnet & diamond ring 1.18ct. SI-GH, 5.9 grams, 14kt., sz. 7 1/2. $2,400.00 CAD. 206-00615

Halo designs aren’t going anywhere, especially when they look like this.  The 7mm, 1.50 carat pinkish purple rhodolite garnet is about as nice as this variety gets. Perfect clarity and cut exactly the same as a 57 facet round brilliant cut diamond. The naturally high refractive index of garnet in combination with the brilliant cut facet pattern result in a sparkling light show that few coloured gems can compete with at any price point. This is a very high quality ring manufactured by Gabriel & Co. New York. It features 74 bead set round brilliant cut diamonds of SI-GH quality set in a three section forked shank and cushion shaped halo. The are each expertly set with four individual claws for extra security. There has been a lot of labor used in the creation of this beautiful ring. It was cast from 14 karat white gold with a finished weight of close to 6 grams in a finger size 7 1/2. It remains in perfect condition looking unworn. The original bright white rhodium surface plating is fully intact even on the shank bottom. Like new but at roughly half the price. This Gabriel & Co. ring is estate priced at just $2,400.00 CAD. Stock #206-00615.