C-Case Constellation Gold Bezel Patina

masteroftime · Mar 21, 2021

Hello friends, I'd love some guidance on this recent purchase. I have been searching for a nice linen dialed C-case constellation with white gold bezel for quite a while and finally had the opportunity to buy this one which seems to have a relatively untouched dial. However, the bezel is noticeably yellow. At first I thought it may have been an odd two toned example, but I've been trying to clean some of the gunk and when I remove small bits of dirt on the bezel, I seem to find noticeably white metal underneath. (See the area between 10 & 11 on the bezel)

I was reading online that older Rolex bezels as well as a lot of WG jewelry are rhodium plated. Could this be the case with this bezel? Does anybody have any experience with similar types of yellow discoloration? Is there any way to clean it? Its definitely not all dirt and the bezel has noticeably yellowed all around.

Thank you so much for your time and help!

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cristos71 · Mar 21, 2021

A short read that will answer all your questions

https://news.thediamondstore.co.uk/what-is-white-gold/

masteroftime · Mar 21, 2021

cristos71
A short read that will answer all your questions

https://news.thediamondstore.co.uk/what-is-white-gold/

I appreciate the link! It seems like my assumptions and preliminary research are correct. I just found it odd that this is the first one that I've seen with this type of discoloration. I've bought a few rough ones that had the rhodium intact.

lindo · Mar 21, 2021

I don't believe that the Omega bezels were rhodium plated. The article in the link is designed to promote the idea that people should take patinated white gold jewellery to a jeweller for rhodium plating - just touting for business.

I have seen this natural patination on the bezels of many of this model over the years, and have found that it is simply removed (if that is what you want) with a gentle rub with silver cloth.

I actually like the colour contrast of the bezel with the stainless steel case.

masteroftime · Mar 21, 2021

lindo
I don't believe that the Omega bezels were rhodium plated. The article in the link is designed to promote the idea that people should take patinated white gold jewellery to a jeweller for rhodium plating - just touting for business.

I have seen this natural patination on the bezels of many of this model over the years, and have found that it is simply removed (if that is what you want) with a gentle rub with silver cloth.

I actually like the colour contrast of the bezel with the stainless steel case.

I appreciate the insight! It definitely wouldn't be all that bad if it wasn't so uneven imho. I really wasn't sure how common it was for watches to be rhodium plated, but I do hope it will clean up....would save me a headache to deal with. Any specific brand/type of silver cloth that you recommend I try out?

kaplan · Mar 21, 2021

Nice watch - I see the yellowing as normal tbh, some of mine are yellowed as well, didn't think much on it - but I wonder now if they become yellow when they are worn too

If you don't like it by the way, I'm always here 😁

masteroftime · Mar 21, 2021

kaplan
Nice watch - I see the yellowing as normal tbh, some of mine are yellowed as well, didn't think much on it - but I wonder now if they become yellow when they are worn too

If you don't like it by the way, I'm always here 😁

Thank you! I'll definitely keep you in mind 😉. If I find another, I'll most likely sell this one. To be honest, I really wanted a date-only non-lume one, but it has taken me forever to find one without a damaged/ruined dial that is still reasonably priced lol. The ones with the steel bezel are more common, but the gold bezel has been a must for me--possibly because it reminds me of the new Globemaster.

I've patiently been trying to avoid top of the market pricing as it seems like these have had a slight resurgence. In reality, the yellowing isn't the end of the world...I guess a small price to pay for a decent case that hasn't been polished to shit.

kaplan · Mar 21, 2021

Thank you 😀

I certainly know how you feel, I have one that has a polished outer case, and it bothers me so so so so so much - so much that I'm also either going to sell it, or maybe get it professionally re-finished

Something that will haunt me for months to come, want to share - saw one like you want for $580 recently, almost NOS-like, only date, gold bezel, the case is flawless - I mean it looked unused, the only downside, it was a white sunburst dial instead of the grey meteorite

Anyway, letting it go, was my biggest mistake, it was sitting there without any bids, I assumed I could re-visit it at a re-listing, and I was out when the auction was going to end - and no surprises, it was taken 🙁

I easily exceed $1000 for a good one these days, letting that perfect one go for $580 scarred me for life, I mean even just for the case, it was worth it 🙁

My honest opinion, I like the case of yours, apart from the crooked day wheel, it looks perfect - worn is always better I guess, since you don't have to worry about ruining something pristine

I'll let you know if I stumble on a date-only with gold bezel and no lume

padders · Mar 21, 2021

Not all white gold needs Rh plating. If there is a high enough proportion of Palladium it will maintain a silver hue without plating. Here is an example of a solid WG JLC which has no plate the alloy used here has over 15% Pd. This is a good thing since it is more tolerant of scuffs or dare I say it refinishing if necessary. The second photo looks a little yellow, but that is just the cast of the incandescent lights.

masteroftime · Mar 21, 2021

kaplan
I'll let you know if I stumble on a date-only with gold bezel and no lume

Thank you! I'll also keep you in mind if I end up passing on something that you might like.

That story is heartbreaking, but I can relate with a similar story. Earlier this year one popped up on ebay with just a date, no lume, and the correct brick bracelet --exactly what I was looking for. The opening bid was $525 and supposedly the seller spent a lot buying it a few years back. The "issue" was that it had some water ingress while he was wearing it and the crystal fogged, so he ended up getting it fully serviced immediately after. It looked pretty mint, so the water didn't seem like too much of an issue as long it was addressed and the service was a big plus. I missed the auction and it sold for something like $550 with two bids in the last few seconds. It may have been a gamble, but with ebay's guarantee a relatively easy story to verify.

Good catch with the date wheel. It keeps great time, but I noticed that the day/date changes over much earlier than midnight. I'll be getting both issues sorted out soon.

masteroftime · Mar 21, 2021

padders
Not all white gold needs Rh plating. If there is a high enough proportion of Palladium it will maintain a silver hue without plating. Here is an example of a solid WG JLC which has no plate the alloy used here has over 15% Pd. This is a good thing since it is more tolerant of scuffs or dare I say it refinishing if necessary. The second photo looks a little yellow, but that is just the cast of the incandescent lights.

Thank you for the insight and that definitely makes sense. I had read that Rolex currently uses a similar alloy. I guess it will be interesting to figure this one out.

kaplan · Mar 21, 2021

An out of focus photo of my .029 with the yellow bezel

- I like the gold color of the bezel (look at it this way, at least you know it's gold now, otherwise one could think it's steel =)
- Maybe the case becomes polished-like with excessive use, because as far as I understand, professional sellers do an actually good job of re-finishing the case - I wish I knew someone that does it, I'd love to get this one re-finished

masteroftime · Mar 21, 2021

kaplan
An out of focus photo of my .029 with the yellow bezel

- I like the gold color of the bezel (look at it this way, at least you know it's gold now, otherwise one could think it's steel =)
- Maybe the case becomes polished-like with excessive use, because as far as I understand, professional sellers do an actually good job of re-finishing the case - I wish I knew someone that does it, I'd love to get this one re-finished

Fair enough. Yours looks really good though. I wish I could give you advice on where to go, but I haven't found anybody good, affordable, and cognizant of the needs of vintage watch collectors. I will say, the only "issue" that I see from your photo is the loss of the brushing on top. The bezel also looks good...I've seen some filled with gouges and gents. I don't believe that top brushing is too difficult to fix. I had one a few months back that had lost some of the angles on the side and that really bugged me and needed substantial intervention.

C-Case Constellation Gold Bezel Patina

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cristos71

masteroftime

lindo

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kaplan

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kaplan

padders

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kaplan

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