Dear Respectable Members

Would anyone know or has anyone been successful in removing the gold medallion (i.e.., depicting the observatory and eight stars) from the stainless steel case back of a 60's Constellation?

I've heard heating the case to a moderately high temperature and then spraying freon on the medallion may work. If anyone has been successful, would be most grateful if you could let me know the technique. Many thanks.

 

Why would you ever want to do that?

 

I was going to ask the same question but I thought I was missing some new quirk in OF members and I didn't want to show my ignorance.

 

Good question! Lets say I have a NOS 168.005 Connie case back and want to swap the gold medallion from the NOS 168.005 case back into the case back of a Connie 14393 with a very badly worn medallion. Does his make sense?

 

Why on earth would you want to take it from a NOS watch?

 

1/2" drill should do the job.

 

I'm just giving you a scenario of why...I did not mention a NOS watch...I said NOS case back... let's assume I have a spare NOS 168.005 caseback.

 

In this scenario do you sell the watch afterwards?

 

I'm just curious to know if this has ever been done by anyone.. if so the technique and result...that's all!

 

As you can see, the concept is very foreign to most of us. I think the members who would most likely be able to answer the question were run off because they were probably using the skill when preparing watches for sale.

 

Yes, it's awkward to be asked to provide information that would most likely be used for sketchy practices. Kind of like asking, "How do I add an authentic-looking military engraving to the back of my watch?", or "How do I change the serial number on the bridge of my Speedmaster to match this orange sweep hand?".

If someone does have the answer, and desires to respond, hopefully they will respond by PM. It might be best if this isn't posted publicly.

 

Most here would get the correct case back because it’s not possible without someone noticing

 

Sawzall should work fine. Forgive me if I find this question really sketchy. I can’t in any way think this should ever be done.

 

You’ll probably make plenty on the NOS 168.005 case back, so I’d just sell that and either try to source a case back separately or buy a parts watch and make the swap (as long as it’s disclosed when sold).

 

Lets say it is easier to climb up to 200 posts and put a WTT/WTB/FS thread in the relevant section... and get the right part than to play with freon.

 

Long time ago, I bought a frankened dog leg lug constellation with 14381 case back. I had to buy a correct 168.005 with a 14k medallion to replace it. That means I had an extra 14381 case back.
I wanted to know how it looked like on the other side of that medallion and removed it by using glue.
Putting it back was nearly impossible and I did not try to use heat and freon or anything.
That medallion was given to a member who needed it and that is what I did to mine.
Regards .

 

People seem to mess around with Grand Seiko and King Seiko medallions a lot, and you can always tell they have been tampered with.

 

I just tried I was able to get mine off using my teeth