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Authenticity check? Interesting piece

  1. Thegreatpear

    Thegreatpear Jan 17, 2018

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    Hello all, newcomer here! I discoved a unique Omega Constellation, but I’m having trouble making sure it’s the real deal with the seller. I was hoping you folks could assist me!

    The below watch is a Kim Il-Sung constellation. Essentially these were gifted to heads of state and other VIPs from the DPRK. Controversial for sure, but still interesting to me.

    Please let me know what you think, from my limited knowledge everything checks out.. Conviently enough I do read and write Korean, and I know that part is correct, but I would love your opinion!
     
    7E0CE4DD-CEB4-4A74-9AA4-1D6535EA95F4.jpeg 27CC95ED-6259-46F9-9A43-6DB5534239BA.jpeg 88BB3A70-4C2C-4942-9C9A-4BF9299060E0.jpeg 099BB79C-1326-4603-A35B-AAB3FA763575.jpeg
  2. gatorcpa Ω 2

    gatorcpa ΩF InvestiGator Staff Member Jan 17, 2018

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    There have been a few of these sighted on various watch forums and eBay over the years. Whether they are fantasy pieces or were purchased by the North Korean government for state gifts, I have no clue.

    If you could get the case reference number and serial number from this inside of the watch, it would be possible for Omega to trace the country of original sale. If that came back as North or even South Korea, then that makes the story more likely to be true.

    https://www.omegawatches.com/customer-service/extract-of-the-archives/

    Your issues will be that it takes several weeks to issue the extract and there is a cost of about $120 for the service.

    Hope this helps,
    gatorcpa
     
    chronoboy64 and Lucasssssss like this.
  3. efauser

    efauser I ♥ karma!!! Jan 17, 2018

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    If you're in the US it's $150, through an OB.
     
  4. Thegreatpear

    Thegreatpear Jan 17, 2018

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    Thanks for your help! I am working with the owner to see if he is willing to get the case opened up for me. Does anything look off just from a visual appraisal of the outside? I have seen Omega extracts of watches that note the Kim signature, so I am confident that they were a real run of watches. I just hope this is one of them!
     
  5. gatorcpa Ω 2

    gatorcpa ΩF InvestiGator Staff Member Jan 17, 2018

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    No. It looks like a mid-1970's model. You would certainly know more than I about the language on the dial and date wheel.

    If you have seen the Omega extract on a Kim Constellation, does the watch at least look the same as this one? That would be a very good sign if the outside matched a known piece.
    gatorcpa
     
  6. Thegreatpear

    Thegreatpear Jan 21, 2018

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    The red Hangul writing says "Kim Il-Sung" in a signature stylized type, and the the date is Tuesday in the pictures.

    It seems that there at least four different variants of these "Kim" Watches in existince. The one that I know has had its extract pulled is a C style, I haven’t seen another in the exact style as the watch in question.

    I spoke with the seller, who took it to a watch shop to have the case opened and photographed, but apparently they weren’t comfortable doing the work and referred him to an Omega dealer. This definitely raises alarm bells for me, but on the other hand the watch looks correct externally in my opinion. I’m a little vexed, what do you guys say?
     
  7. pennsyl936 Ω 2

    pennsyl936 Jan 21, 2018

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  8. Thegreatpear

    Thegreatpear Jan 21, 2018

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  9. gatorcpa Ω 2

    gatorcpa ΩF InvestiGator Staff Member Jan 21, 2018

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    I just noticed that the picture you posted was the watch from 1st Dibs.

    Since I now have no pictures of the subject watch at all, there is nothing more I can add to this discussion.
    gatorcpa
     
  10. asrnj77

    asrnj77 Jan 22, 2018

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    Edited Jan 22, 2018