D -

Just so you know, that box is not one of the sterling silver ones used for Centenaries and Constellations.

It's from the early Sixties, and was used in the US mostly for Seamasters. I think these are polished steel. There are gold plated versions of these that are quite rare.

I have one without the insert and it's very nice, but nothing to break the bank over.

gatorcpa

 

Here's Mondodec's article on this subject:

http://199.91.154.54/1mje9hmwjhyg/61zvm9hfz2r1b3n/Omega+Constellation+Boxes.pdf

With respect to the Grand Luxe, here a picture that might help.



Hope this helps,
gatorcpa

 

Dennis did not spend much at all on this box, here is one with an interior.



Here is another that is similar and but the material is unknown. It has made in Switzerland on the bottom, does not list material, could be a mark somewhere. I don't think it is of 3.5" x 6.25" type often linked to Grand Luxe or Centenary on forums. The lid is engine turned, sides smooth. It appears more square-ish. I believe this the box in Gator's posted ad. If so, that would be a good link of this box to Constellations.


Of the 3.5" x 6.25" types:( found in both sterling 92.6 & 800 silver), some are smooth and some are engine turned (may just be stamped?) and some have patterned lids and smooth sides. I have only been able to definitively link the smooth ones to Centenaries. Does not mean they are the only box for Centenary, just that I have not found a link, despite much searching. AJTT, illustrates well the smooth Jezler 800 silver box to Centenary 2500. Doug (Gravina), on other forums, has a full box set with papers of a Centenary 2500, again smooth box. There is a is an ad for a DeLuxe Constellation in AJTT where the box does resemble the last box (smooth/pattern mix) but the detail is lacking and I could not say for sure. It does appear to be more rectangular like the 3.5x6.25s though.

If anyone has strong evidence on the similar diamond patterned boxes it would be great knowledge to record and share.

 

If you look closely in the copy in the Swiss German ad, it says "mit 0,925 Silberschatulle" , or literally "with 0.925 silver casket". This box was not a freebie with the Constellation Grand Luxe purchase. It cost an additional Sfr140, or about $35 at the time. Taking into account inflation and the depreciation of the dollar vs. the franc, that's probably close to $700 today.

I think the smaller smooth top silver box went with the De Luxe, rather than the Grand Luxe. That's likely why the optional price is only an additional Sfr100.

Hope this helps,
gatorcpa

 

Evan, what do you mean by the smaller smooth top? The Centenary box?? I can not find anything linking a smooth top with a Constellation. The ad in AJTT is so small it could just as easily be a pattern top box.
Here is another ad with an apparent 3.5X6.25, again, one can not say what the top is.

 

You asked about this box:



I think this one was used for the De Luxe as it is a bit smaller than the Grande Luxe box and cost less as well. Ah, just noticed that this one doesn't really have a smooth top at all! I was fooled by the photography. Anyway, the one above is the one I was referring to.

100% agree with you that the smooth box with raised Omega was used for the Centenary as per this ad:



I'm just using the process of elimination here,
gatorcpa

 

I believe we are on the same page and I agree with you completely Evan.
Regarding these boxes, there are things we know that we know and there are known unknowns. That is to say, there are boxes that we now know we don't know. But there are also unknown unknowns and there are things we do not know we don't know.
BTW, Donald Rumsfeld told me that Desmond is in complete agreement with us