To some, paths other than the straight and narrow are just too tempting.

Take a look at this eBay listing Purchases made through these links may earn this site a commission from the eBay Partner Networkoffered by the long-term seller jjjw2838 who knows his Constellations very well. This seller has offered some very good examples over time, but he just can't help himself slipping the odd onion in amongst the orchids. There is little or no doubt in my mind that this character knows exactly what he's doing, and when caught out on other occasions, his first reaction was to attempt to shoot the messenger, namely me.

The listing reveals a case 2652 de Luxe, and yet any collector of de Luxe Constellations will tell you that the first screw-in case back de Luxe was model 2699 followed by the 2799 in around 1954. The first press-in was 2700. The 2699/2700 models introduced simultaneously the first pie pans.

One could speculate that this character sourced a de Luxe movement and dial, probably from an early 2799 (as they did not have the applied Omega symbol and a 14 million serial is much more compatible with an early version of that model) and then cast about looking for a gold case, maybe with a crappy dial or movement.

The listing claims each component is "100% original", and so it is....just not in the same watch. The watch is only worth melt and parts value, but the seller is probably counting on some poor wood-duck who likes shiny things to realise his price tag of 3800.00

Cheers

Desmond

 

This listing is the PERFECT lesson about what they don't say being more important than what they do. The crown and crystal are replacements - notice the lack of "100% original" in the description of each:

 

I am watching this offer for sometimes. Thanks Desmond for preventing us on this potential expensive buyer remorse.

 

Sad but true. They'll think they got a great watch because it definitely fulfills the "ooooo, shiny!" requirement.

 

I have so much to learn! Thanks Desmond and Dennis

 

Pardon me for being a dummy, but as I read it the issues are with a replacement crown and crystal, and this kills the appeal of the watch?

I think I just read a thread re: an old Speedy 321 that noted the same was expected and acceptable.

What am I missing? (in the trust there is "no such thing as a stupid question?") Thanks!

 

It is more than that. Unmatched case, dial+movement and case back basically made this frankenwatch. Crown and crystal are just additional problem which are bugging but less serious.

 

I was just pointing that out as an example of how sellers use semantics. As noted, this is a franken watch. You'd never know it if you didn't have a solid knowledge of 50's DeLuxes.

 

So I shot the seller a question about the watch in question..."Is this dial and movement original to this case?" And received this answer just now...

"Yes. It is all original.

Thanks"

- jjjw2838


He didn't really answer my question did he?

 

Me too

 

He might not know. He might have bought it like that. Given his previous frankens, those odds are low though.

 

Every time I start to feel a little confident in my knowledge something like this comes along and I realize just how much I don't know!

 

Here's a good starting point on de Luxe models

Dennis, I think he would know. He has sold enough of these to know that a 2652 was never a deluxe. I'm a cynic I know, but he tends to specialise in gold Constellations and knows his onions from his orchids

 

I know the evidence points to shenanigans. For once I was trying to be positive and give the benefit of the doubt. It's not something I'm used to doing so bear with me while I get the hang of it. It's safer to be a pessimist when it comes to valuable vintage watches (or anything). Pessimists are right 90% of the time, and pleasantly surprised the other 10%.

 

Great reference material, thanks!

 

Frankens like this make me thankful for this forum and the openness of knowledgeable members for the opportunity to vet prospective additions to our collections.

 

Respectable Member mondodec

We are lovers of authentic vintage-watches. The same cannot be said about the majority of dealers, who are out to make money.

Thank-you.

 

The sad part is the dealers don't know that a collector will pay better money for a mint original specimen than a redial, franken, or overpolished example. They only know that the average Joe wants "ooooo, shiny!" and doesn't know what is or isn't correct and original.

 

Respectable Member ulackfocus

Some dealers with money are also collectors of vintage-watches, for all we know. Probably, the real stuff goes into their private collections, while the second rate ones (redial, franken and over-polished examples) are sold to people like me and others, who cannot tell the difference between a horse and a donkey.

Thank-you.