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Advice for a vintage Constellation

K
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Hey everyone, longtime reader of the forum but finally registered and I was hoping I could get your two cents:

Been looking at getting a vintage 50’s Constellation for some time, and I came across one that caught my eye. The amount of information on here simply boggles the mind - part of me wishes I would have never found this forum and would have just made this purchase in ignorant bliss - and I was hoping to get the opinion of someone who is knowledgeable.

Cost is ~ $3,000. I would be buying with the intent to wear, not just to keep as a collectors item / investment piece. Thank you very much
 
042DBE39-F9C3-405F-8D6D-D6B49CCC037D.png 910D9B9A-80E7-446A-8118-25728957D28B.png 5D60B1E7-88CF-41BE-A60A-8CF495445E40.png
gbesq
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connieseamaster connieseamaster
$3k seems very high, even for a solid gold Connie
That was my first thought as well. Dial also has some marks and spotting which would be an issue for me, especially at this price.
Edited:
 
gbesq
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I know that you’re searching for a different and earlier reference, but just to give you some idea of pricing, here are some photos of my 1962 gold capped Constellation Ref. 14900. This watch is in mint condition - all original, perfect dial, sharp lugs, never polished and fully serviced with a warranty. I paid $1,800 and probably overpaid because the watch is perfect. IMHO, $3,000 is too much for the watch that you’re considering.
D2636BC6-2D6A-461B-B355-ADB50E7F1183.jpeg A89DBE0E-DD4F-4CF6-AE93-58F5C2670351.jpeg 425CD28D-494E-4320-BF1B-EF47D930F7D2.jpeg
Edited:
 
Candle00
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Expensive and need to factor in a service as well if history isn’t disclosed. Looks polished as well especially the caseback observatory emblem. Hang around on the forum long enough and one should pop up on the private listing page.
 
Maganator
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I wouldn't pay that sort of money for a watch with a dial in that condition.

This is purely my personal preference - but I would class a gold connie like that as a dress watch to be worn when you are dressing smartly. A damaged dial would drive me insane.

Its different for a sporty/tool watch which wear scratches and imperfections well.
 
cristos71
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I think for $3K you can do better, especially if a private sale. If from a dealer it's also possible, but more than likely way trickier to achieve an under $3K price for a good solid gold 1950's piece.

I wouldn't consider the watch you have posted at $3K due to the central area dial damage and overall slightly tired look of the watch, although having said that it could well look somewhat better in real life but I'd need more pictures to judge that.

I think for this watch around $2.25-2.5K would be a realistic price for a buyer, however with the gold price rising I can imagine sellers are pricing higher for their solid gold watches which makes it more difficult for these kinds of "not quite" watches to find a new owner.

The seconds hand looks like it could be a replacement as it appears a different shade to the other hands and also slightly too long.
 
K
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Thanks a lot for the input, much appreciated. I guess I’ll stay patient and check out the listings here. Ideally looking for a solid rose gold 50’s piece.
 
gbesq
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Unless your heart is set on a Constellation, you might also want to consider a solid gold Geneve from the 1950s. They are beautiful watches, high quality, and there are some models from that era that were made in solid rose gold if memory serves.
 
ConElPueblo
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gbesq gbesq
I know that you’re searching for a different and earlier reference, but just to give you some idea of pricing, here are some photos of my 1962 gold capped Constellation Ref. 14900. This watch is in mint condition - all original, perfect dial, sharp lugs, never polished and fully serviced with a warranty. I paid $1,800 and probably overpaid because the watch is perfect. IMHO, $3,000 is too much for the watch that you’re considering.
D2636BC6-2D6A-461B-B355-ADB50E7F1183.jpeg A89DBE0E-DD4F-4CF6-AE93-58F5C2670351.jpeg 425CD28D-494E-4320-BF1B-EF47D930F7D2.jpeg

That's a ridiculously sharp gold capped case!
 
gbesq
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ConElPueblo ConElPueblo
That's a ridiculously sharp gold capped case!
Thank you! I was very fortunate to find it. It was an estate piece and my understanding is that the original owner almost never wore it. It literally sat in a drawer for more than five decades. I probably overpaid for it, but it's one of the nicest gold capped Connies that I have ever seen.
Edited:
 
padders
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gbesq gbesq
I know that you’re searching for a different and earlier reference, but just to give you some idea of pricing, here are some photos of my 1962 gold capped Constellation Ref. 14900. This watch is in mint condition - all original, perfect dial, sharp lugs, never polished and fully serviced with a warranty. I paid $1,800 and probably overpaid because the watch is perfect. IMHO, $3,000 is too much for the watch that you’re considering.
D2636BC6-2D6A-461B-B355-ADB50E7F1183.jpeg A89DBE0E-DD4F-4CF6-AE93-58F5C2670351.jpeg 425CD28D-494E-4320-BF1B-EF47D930F7D2.jpeg

Nice watch indeed but with respect you can’t really use gold capped as an equivalent reference point in pricing a solid example which all other things being equal might be expected to fetch ~$1k more. Gold cap tends to be priced at around the level of the steel cased version.
 
gbesq
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padders padders
Nice watch indeed but with respect you can’t really use gold capped as an equivalent reference point in pricing a solid example which all other things being equal might be expected to fetch ~$1k more. Gold cap tends to be priced at around the level of the steel cased version.
Yes, point taken. My post was really more intended as an example to address condition vs. price as it pertains to the watch that the OP was considering and I should have made that clearer.
 
padders
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gbesq gbesq
Yes, point taken. My post was really more intended as an example to address condition vs. price as it pertains to the watch that the OP was considering.
Well you made that point very well. Like Troels above I am exceedingly jealous. To paraphrase whoever said it first and better, in time the price paid is forgotten but the quality remains.
 
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