Omega Constellation 396.1201 33mm (1998)

The Omega Constellation was released in 1952 and was named after the Lockheed Constellation airliner that was used as military transport during the second world war. Original references featured self-winding bumper movements, which were technologically advanced for the time, and pie-pan shaped dials that gave the watch its characteristic look. The Constellation continued through the 60’s and 70’s with upgraded movements and tweaks to the design, until it was reimagined in the 1980’s as the Constellation Manhattan.

With a quartz movement, metal bracelets and a radical design featuring claws holding the bezel in place, the Manhattan was very much geared toward city slickers and was emblematic of the Wall Street excesses of the time. The Manhattan design evolved into the 90’s and beyond, adding mechanical movements and larger sizes, but retaining the divisive ‘claws’ on the front of the case.