It is 1986 when this Omega Constellation Day-Date "Manhattan" leaves the factory in Switzerland, born with a striking and rare design choice: a stainless steel bezel inlaid with Roman numerals filled in deep, royal purple lacquer. From day one that purple flourish posed a bold, artistic contrast to the clean, silver-gray dial and the refined gold-toned hands, which sit in perfect harmony above the restrained, “Japanese-style” subdials. The reliable quartz caliber 1444 quietly keeps the pulse of the watch steady through the years, while the purple numerals retain their singular personality and unapologetic 1980s flair treasured by an owner who knew he wore something exceptional.
Decades pass and the watch is carried with care, its colors settling into a soft patina but never losing character. Today, forty years on, this neo-vintage icon rests in a vault as a rare collector’s piece: the purple bezel inlay and the cohesive dial design together tell the story of an Omega that once proudly stood apart from the crowd.
The Constellation line has long been Omega’s emblem of precision and elegance. In the 1980s the “Manhattan” design language introduced bolder visual cues and integrated bracelets, while Omega experimented with materials and finishes to appeal to a changing clientele. The Day-Date variant equipped with quartz caliber 1444 combined everyday practicality with a refined aesthetic. This particular example with its purple-lacquered Roman numerals and subtle gold accents represents a niche, experimental take from that era: a limited-minded expression of color and restraint that today reads as both daring and inherently collectible.
Model: Omega Constellation Daydate 'Manhattan'
Reverence: 198.0155
Serial number: 49506***
Dimensions: 34mm
Year: 1986
Material: Stainless steel
Box and/or papers: Watch only (Naked)
Condition case: Very good original condition, light signs of use
Condition glass: Very good original condition (Sapphire crystal)
Condition strap: Light used black leather strap with original Omega buckle
Condition dial: Perfect silver/white dial with unique purple Roman numerals on the bezel and gold-colored 'Japan-style' hands
Timepiece information: Cal. 1444, chronometer quartz movement
Last service: 15-10-2026
functions: Hours, minutes, central seconds, pointer date (3:00) and pointer day (9:00)
Strap size: 18mm lug width
Extra: 12 month warranty certificate and official authenticity papers
It is 1986 when this Omega Constellation Day-Date "Manhattan" leaves the factory in Switzerland, born with a striking and rare design choice: a stainless steel bezel inlaid with Roman numerals filled in deep, royal purple lacquer. From day one that purple flourish posed a bold, artistic contrast to the clean, silver-gray dial and the refined gold-toned hands, which sit in perfect harmony above the restrained, “Japanese-style” subdials. The reliable quartz caliber 1444 quietly keeps the pulse of the watch steady through the years, while the purple numerals retain their singular personality and unapologetic 1980s flair treasured by an owner who knew he wore something exceptional.
Decades pass and the watch is carried with care, its colors settling into a soft patina but never losing character. Today, forty years on, this neo-vintage icon rests in a vault as a rare collector’s piece: the purple bezel inlay and the cohesive dial design together tell the story of an Omega that once proudly stood apart from the crowd.
The Constellation line has long been Omega’s emblem of precision and elegance. In the 1980s the “Manhattan” design language introduced bolder visual cues and integrated bracelets, while Omega experimented with materials and finishes to appeal to a changing clientele. The Day-Date variant equipped with quartz caliber 1444 combined everyday practicality with a refined aesthetic. This particular example with its purple-lacquered Roman numerals and subtle gold accents represents a niche, experimental take from that era: a limited-minded expression of color and restraint that today reads as both daring and inherently collectible.
Model: Omega Constellation Daydate 'Manhattan'
Reverence: 198.0155
Serial number: 49506***
Dimensions: 34mm
Year: 1986
Material: Stainless steel
Box and/or papers: Watch only (Naked)
Condition case: Very good original condition, light signs of use
Condition glass: Very good original condition (Sapphire crystal)
Condition strap: Light used black leather strap with original Omega buckle
Condition dial: Perfect silver/white dial with unique purple Roman numerals on the bezel and gold-colored 'Japan-style' hands
Timepiece information: Cal. 1444, chronometer quartz movement
Last service: 15-10-2026
functions: Hours, minutes, central seconds, pointer date (3:00) and pointer day (9:00)
Strap size: 18mm lug width
Extra: 12 month warranty certificate and official authenticity papers
