Constellation fever?

1jansen · Jan 30, 2018

Accuracy !!
Sometimes, we tend to forget to give a compliment to the accuracy of Constellations. The fact is most of the time when I bought an old (40 to 60 years old) Constellation, it always runs accurately, +/- 10 seconds /day before service by watchmaker. A true and tough chronometer grade movements! From 1950s cal.352, 354 and 501 to 1960s cal. 561 all are excellent movements!

ConElPueblo · Jan 30, 2018

Dero13
Personally I think the black dials are selling pretty decently - at least if its not a redial. I love the 2852s and earlier. Dog legs don't look very good with flatlinks IMO so easy to rule them out for me lol.

Black dials are attractive across the board, true. But again I see a bigger premium for black dials on 16X.XXXs than on earlier, 60's refs. And a larger premium than on railtrack dials, for instance.

...Oh, and you can stop bragging about those flat links, ya hear?!?

STANDY · Jan 30, 2018

ConElPueblo
Some of the Constellations have gone up in price in recent years (though not a whole lot), but from my observations it is pretty much only the dog-legged versions with pie-pan dials. It's a more classy version of the Seamaster DeVille - a (excuse the term) "n00b watch". It's the quintessential Constellation and every new collector seems to know those traits (dog-leg horns, PP dial, decagonal crown, possibly onyx inserts as well. Date optional) has to be there for it to be desirable. Even people who have next to no clue about the history of these watches or vintage watches in general - most will never have held one in their hands - will be seeking out these particular specifications, wanting none of dome dials or curved lugs... It boggles the mind, really.

To me, the earlier iterations are better looking - I prefer the 14.3XX series to the later ones by some margin, but the market disagrees. A 167.005 in patinated, but good condition is nearly twice the price of a similar 14.381! For a watch that, IMO, wears slightly worse and loses a huge amount of the attraction by being polished.

And while it is true that it is a collector's item, etc. etc, it is not very uncommon. Probably due to it being a premium product only used on special occasions there are always a large amount of them available, many in very decent shape...

Sounds like someone that doesn't own a dogleg constellation 😗

::stirthepot::

ConElPueblo · Jan 30, 2018

STANDY
Sounds like someone that doesn't own a dogleg constellation 😗

🙁

I think there's still one left somewhere... A dome dial 14.900, if I remember correctly 😵‍💫

efauser · Jan 30, 2018

kkt
Really? I've clearly been on the wrong dating site.

You ought to try real life.

Kja · Jan 30, 2018

Honestly I haven't even seen good early constellations on ebay, at least desirable ones, to know what they would sell for.

Furze · Jan 30, 2018

What's not to like!

Andy K · Jan 30, 2018

ConElPueblo
Some of the Constellations have gone up in price in recent years (though not a whole lot), but from my observations it is pretty much only the dog-legged versions with pie-pan dials. It's a more classy version of the Seamaster DeVille - a (excuse the term) "n00b watch". It's the quintessential Constellation and every new collector seems to know those traits (dog-leg horns, PP dial, decagonal crown, possibly onyx inserts as well. Date optional) has to be there for it to be desirable. Even people who have next to no clue about the history of these watches or vintage watches in general - most will never have held one in their hands - will be seeking out these particular specifications, wanting none of dome dials or curved lugs... It boggles the mind, really.

Guilty as charged! 😁

I normally collect large, inelegant chronographs. I needed a dress watch, and specifically wanted a steel Constellation. I guess I was seduced by all the angles on the dial, the lugs and the crown.🥰 I'm one happy n00b!

Jerseyhammer · Jan 30, 2018

GuiltyBoomerang
And even if they look old they can tell a good story:

Correct

numero27 · Jan 30, 2018

I have noticed this constellation fever when I came on the forum and quite surprised there is always a thread about them on the top of the list.
I admit the pie pans are very well designed and have strong personality. But i never bound with them more than that, too much square shaped for me, angles everywere . I more into lightly curved case, but to each his own ...

Vercingetorix · Jan 30, 2018

Nuff said.

Waltesefalcon · Jan 30, 2018

It is hard to find a better movement than you will in a Connie, you add that ruggedness and utility with the elegant design that they carried throughout the 50s and 60s and you have a winner.

ConElPueblo · Jan 30, 2018

Andy K
Guilty as charged! 😁

You're such a n00b 🙄

Here's my very first Constellation:

Edward53 · Jan 30, 2018

Dog leg, schmog leg. Give me the graceful elegance of curved lugs any day. ::stirthepot::

micampe · Jan 30, 2018

Edward53
Dog leg, schmog leg. Give me the graceful elegance of curved lugs any day.

Exactly. With all the hype for dog legs I thought I was alone.

Peemacgee · Jan 30, 2018

I think these posts illustrate the point I made earlier perfectly.
In addition to Omegas finest vintage movements there’s a little bit of something to tickle the fancy of a lot of folks in the Constellation line.

BartH · Jan 30, 2018

Noddyman
Just got this one back from my watchmaker, it’s been on his winder for the past week and averaging +2s/day ........ what’s not to like.

Dibs

ConElPueblo · Jan 30, 2018

micampe
Exactly. With all the hype for dog legs I thought I was alone.

Never!

Peemacgee · Jan 30, 2018

Now now chaps.
No need for contention.
You can wear both together... 😀

BartH · Jan 30, 2018

Of the connie case shapes I've had, I rank them:

1) 2852/2853
2) 168.005/6 (together with 167.005 and 1490x)
3) 2700
4) 2852 (steel, with drilled lugholes)
5) 168.004
6) 14381/14382

But I love em all.

Constellation fever?

1jansen

ConElPueblo

STANDY

ConElPueblo

efauser

Kja

Furze

Andy K

Jerseyhammer

numero27

Vercingetorix

Waltesefalcon

ConElPueblo

Edward53

micampe

Peemacgee

BartH

ConElPueblo

Peemacgee

BartH

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