Although it doesn’t have the cachet of a Speedmaster with its legendary Moon landing or a Seamaster worn in an action-packed James Bond episode, the Omega Constellation is one of the brand’s oldest and most enduring collections that started life in 1952 as a precision chronometer wristwatch. Revisited over the years, the transformation that most influenced the contemporary look of the Constellation took place in 1982, the year the watch got its claws. Following the update to the 29mm Constellation Manhattan ladies’ model?in 2019, the gent’s 39mm and 41mm were also upgraded in 2020 and equipped with Master Chronometer calibre 8800. The time-and-date watch we are looking at today is the handsome 41mm steel version with a black dial and integrated strap. Although we have often referred to it as a luxury sports watch – given its shaped case, raised bezel and integrated bracelet – having handled the sleek black dial and bezel version, I am tempted to relabel it as a very dressy watch in a refined yet sporty case.Brief backgroundThe Omega Constellation collection was the sequel of Omega’s Centenary, an automatic, chronometer-certified wristwatch launched in 1948 to celebrate the brand’s 100th anniversary. Gauging the interest taken in the limited-edition Centenary, Omega decided to produce an automatic wristwatch line with chronometry status. Equipped with calibres 351, 352 and 354 with bumper rotors, the first Omega Constellation appeared in 1952 and featured a star above the 6 o’clock marker and a sealed caseback with a medallion of the Observatory of Geneva crowned with a constellation of eight stars. The observatory referenced Omega’s exploits in chronometry and its world precision records set in 1933 and 1936 at Kew-Teddington.The first Omega Constellation, the 1952 “Pie-Pan” watchFollowing a decade or so marked by pie-pan dials and straightforward round cases, by the mid-1960s, the pie-pan dials had given way to flat dials and more elaborate case shapes, leading to the integrated bracelet models of 1969. Omega embraced the arrival of quartz technology and its potential for ultra-thin watches and, as you can see in the images of this in-depth history of the Constellation article, produced some pretty funky Constellations during this period. Ad - Scroll to continue with article However, the ‘big’ design moment of the Constellation was in 1982 when the Omega Constellation Manhattan family got its claws. The four screwed claws that would become the hallmark feature of the Manhattan, extending from the case over the dial at 3 and 9 o’clock, were not just a design detail but held the sapphire crystal and gasket firmly against the case to ensure the water-resistance. In keeping with the mood of the 1980s, the cushion-shaped case was smoothed out and rounded with scalloped half-moon facets at either end of the case and an integrated bracelet with hinged links. The overall impression was of smooth surfaces and a continuous design that flowed from the case to the metal bracelet. Other design cues associated with the Constellation Manhattan were the Roman numerals on the bezel, two-tone metal combinations and an integrated bracelet with hinged links.An example of the 2020 Omega Constellation Co-Axial Master Chronometer 41mm, here with a grey textured dial.Omega’s impressive Master Chronometer-certified movements made their debut inside the Globemaster in 2015, a watch that heralded the return of the retro pie-pan dials in the Constellation family. In January 2020, Omega introduced its revisited Constellation in 39mm followed by a larger 41mm version about six months later, both equipped with the brand’s latest Master Chronometer calibres.The Signature Omega?Constellation caseThe hallmark barrel-shaped case with faceted half-moons and claws relies on a dynamic combination of brushed and polished surfaces to highlight its architecture. The case displays radial and straight-brushed surfaces, while the polished claws and bevels attract the light. With sapphire crystals front and back, the water-resistance is 50 metres – not a colossal amount for a luxury sports watch but enough to get by.The new 41mm case size introduced two years ago is a more contemporary diameter. Still, it’s always good to know that a 39mm model with practically the same specifications for men with smaller wrists is available. The height, at about 13.5mm, is on the thick side for the genre, and if it remains highly comfortable, a bit more thinness would have been welcome. But we know that this isn’t the speciality of Omega, which has a tendency to favour robustness of the movements over slenderness.Another element that attracts and plays with the light is the polished black ceramic bezel with Roman numerals in Liquidmetal. The idea behind using polished ceramic bezels was to capture the look of the original Constellation Manhattan of 1982 that had a shiny sapphire glass. Combined with the polished claws, the glossy black ceramic of the bezel adds a luxurious, elegant touch to the watch. Overall, and despite the monochromatic look of the watch, there are a lot of element to catch the eye, many surfaces, textures and details to animate this watch – it is far more lively in the metal than on the brand’s official photos. Discreet, modernized dialThe black dial has a silky sun-brushed finish that plays with the light in a far more subtle way; a domed sapphire crystal protects the dial with anti-reflective treatment on both sides to avoid any unwanted reflections. The thin triangular hour markers are faceted and display brushed surfaces and polished edges. Harking back to the star featured on the dial of the first Constellations, you can see a rhodium-plated start placed just above the date aperture at 6 o’clock. Although it’s hard to discern in our photographs, the sun-brushed pattern on the dial emanates from the centre of the star. The only trace of lume on the Constellation is on the slim central hour and minute hands.The ultra-precise Omega Calibre 8900Like the original models of 1952 that flaunted their impeccable chronometry, the Constellation 41mm collection is equipped with Omega’s in-house Co-Axial Master Chronometer calibre 8900. A more powerful movement than the calibre 8800 inside the 39mm, the large rhodium-plated rotor of the automatic movement delivers power to the twin barrels offering 60 hours of power reserve. As you would expect from its Master Chronometer certification, the movement is equipped with Omega’s latest technology, meaning a co-axial escapement, silicon parts and an impressive resistance to magnetic fields of up to 15,000 gauss. Visible through the caseback, the movement is decorated with arabesque Geneva waves and blackened screws. ThoughtsOf the eight Constellation 41mm currently in the collection, some with flashier two-tone cases and textured dials, this steel model with a black dial and bezel is the most elegant. Although it does have the attributes of a luxury sports watch – shaped case, raised bezel, integrated bracelet – it has a dressier appeal despite a case thicker than we’d like. The water-resistance is low, and the scarcity of lume disqualify it as a sports watch, and its 41mm diameter disqualify it as a dress watch. At the end of the day, categories are limiting. The Constellation 41mm is a handsome, well-built precision chronometer that will look good in just about any situation.Availability & PriceThe presented edition of the Omega Constellation Co-Axial Master Chronometer 41mm (ref. 131.33.41.21.01.001) comes on an integrated black leather strap with a decorative metallic link connecting each side of the strap to the case. The watch is now available from boutiques, retailers and online from Omega’s website, and is part of the permanent collection. It is priced at?EUR 6,400 (incl. VAT).More information at Omegawatches.com.