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  1. Banner Roar Mar 27, 2017

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    I was looking through my daily search results emails and noticed in my constellation list that some cap/plate connies have only partial case covered with gold and others the whole case is covered apart from the case back and underside of the lugs. The examples shown are similar age but different references. Top is a 14393 and lower is 14777. It would have an impact on the cost but wondered if it is simply a design difference or any indication of capped v's plated.

    upload_2017-3-27_7-53-41.png
     
  2. cristos71 Mar 27, 2017

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    I've never seen a gold cap Constellation where the gold cap covered the back of the lugs. I've also not seen one where the 'body' of the case was capped.

    Do you have more pictures/examples?
     
  3. Banner Roar Mar 27, 2017

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    More pics of the same two watches.........

    Was having a scan of others I have to hand and actually only see the 'body' of the case capped on other jumbo examples. This maybe a slightly different spec used for the Asian market.....I have seen other OF examples of 14777 gold capped and they all have the 'body' capped.

    Underside -
    14777 left and 14393 right. No gold on the underside of the lugs
    upload_2017-3-27_9-30-37.png

    Crown side -
    14777 on top, 14393 below
    upload_2017-3-27_9-34-57.png
     
  4. cristos71 Mar 27, 2017

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    Looks like it is possibly an anomaly for the jumbo reference only then.
     
  5. TNTwatch Mar 27, 2017

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    Among the early Constellations before the straight lugs and C-shape, all the jumbo Connies have the gold cap around the side of the case. The smaller Connies just have gold cap on top of the lugs.
     
    X350 XJR, Foo2rama and ConElPueblo like this.
  6. Banner Roar Mar 27, 2017

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    That is a good tell tail sign for the jumbos, tks

    Are these early non solid gold connies all capped 200micron or are there versions that have thinner plated gold.
     
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  7. ConElPueblo Mar 27, 2017

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    Nice! Had no idea about this :thumbsup:
     
  8. Banner Roar Mar 27, 2017

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    Same here...everyday is a school day
     
  9. TNTwatch Mar 27, 2017

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    Seems there are quite fewer gold cap jumbos than SS.
    Pretty sure vintage Constellations don't exist in plated form.
     
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  10. Archer Omega Qualified Watchmaker Mar 27, 2017

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    They do...for example...

    055MD14393 | 18CT20M CLEAR YEL.GOLD PLAT.CASE CAL.561

    055ME14393 | 18CT 20M PINK GOLD PLAT CASE CAL.0561
     
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  11. Banner Roar Mar 27, 2017

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    That level of detail doesn't look like you got it off the omega website. Is there a full list.
     
  12. Archer Omega Qualified Watchmaker Mar 27, 2017

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    It does come from an Omega web site, but not one that the public has access to. It's a database for technical and parts information. There isn't a list per se, so you would have to search on every Constellation case number and look at the materials listed for that specific case in order to determine what options there were. More generally speaking for vintage watches there are several different types of solid yellow gold for example (different shades), the capped watches, plated watches, pink gold, sometimes white gold, and of course stainless steel.

    Cheers, Al
     
  13. TNTwatch Mar 27, 2017

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    Interesting that it's just 20 micron, possibly as replacement parts only. Is it still available or NLA?
     
  14. Archer Omega Qualified Watchmaker Mar 27, 2017

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    Not available...long discontinued.
     
  15. Peemacgee Purrrr-veyor of luxury cat box loungers Mar 27, 2017

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    My capped 0.10s (pink and yellow) have capped lugs and body
    Same thickness of gold seen around edge of both
    (Not on the back of the lugs of course)
     
  16. TNTwatch Mar 27, 2017

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    I call yours and all the .004 and .01x straight lug Connies above ;)
     
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  17. Banner Roar Mar 27, 2017

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    Thanks, just when I thought there was some logic to what Omega was doing you throw a bomb in. :thumbsdown:
    Really, I know better at this stage I should not bother to figure some trend into what Omega did back then. :confused:
    Any ideas why.........
     
  18. Peemacgee Purrrr-veyor of luxury cat box loungers Mar 27, 2017

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    I think the SS body capped Connies look incongruous for a top of the range dress watch
    (After all they're meant to look like solid gold on the wrist but were substantially cheaper than their gold counter parts )
    Perhaps Omega thought the same and saw the error of their ways?
     
  19. Banner Roar Mar 27, 2017

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    Seems like the first body capped were the jumbos for the Asian market. Are your body capped examples more higher end versions by any chance. I wonder if they ran both types in parallel to better differentiate versions :whistling:
    A few pics would be nice.....