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Constellation fever?

1jansen
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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!
Edited:
 
ConElPueblo
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Dero13 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
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ConElPueblo 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::::stirthepot::
 
ConElPueblo
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STANDY STANDY
Sounds like someone that doesn't own a dogleg constellation 😗

::stirthepot::::stirthepot::


🙁


I think there's still one left somewhere... A dome dial 14.900, if I remember correctly 😵‍💫
 
efauser
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kkt kkt
Really? I've clearly been on the wrong dating site.
You ought to try real life.
 
Kja
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Honestly I haven't even seen good early constellations on ebay, at least desirable ones, to know what they would sell for.
 
Andy K
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ConElPueblo 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! 😁
168005.jpg


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!
Edited:
 
numero27
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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 ...
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Waltesefalcon
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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
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Andy K Andy K
Guilty as charged! 😁
168005.jpg

You're such a n00b 🙄


Here's my very first Constellation:

dsc_0031-jpg.254602
 
Edward53
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Dog leg, schmog leg. Give me the graceful elegance of curved lugs any day. ::stirthepot::

New 006.jpg
 
micampe
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Edward53 Edward53
Dog leg, schmog leg. Give me the graceful elegance of curved lugs any day. ::stirthepot::


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

7yp48Bv.jpg
 
Peemacgee
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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
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Noddyman 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
 
BartH
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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.
 
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