The below one was listed a couple of weeks ago on the Swedish craigslist. A guy up north had listed a lot of watches, mostly crappy pieces and pocketwatches. This one laid there as a gem shining in the dark. I immediately gave him a call and gave him a juicy bid on the Connie 50ies alone. No luck, the whole lot was already sold! Here many would have given up. I didn´t. I managed to get in touch (after trying many times) with the buyer, who said he was a collector too. I thought to myself, this will never work. Nevertheless, I gave him the same bid as I gave the first seller. After some discussions back and forth, he finally gave in, and thanks to a fourth party acting as middleman, the watch finally arrived today!

I´m a really happy camper, this is the oldest Connie I have in the collection, 60 years of age, but still in immaculate vintage condition! What´s even better is that I have a period correct, complete, Constellation-box for it, that I bought some time ago, just in case a suitable watch would turn up. The accessories may, as you all know, be even more rare than the watches itself.

Ref 2852, cal 501









Now, what else is out there, which is the oldest Connie you have in your collection?

 

Yours is very nice, congratulations!

Also have a ref. 2852 cal. 501...

Serial # 14,665,XXX ~1954


Also have a ref. 2799 cal. 354 with serial # 14,125,XXX from ~1954 as well...

 

Congratulation, beautifull Constellation.

Giuseppe.

 

Thanks! That means a lot, coming from OF Hawkeye

 

Excellent pick, @marturx

 

Great find, congratulations!

 

Nice work. Persistence pays. Congrats

 

Perseverance pays! Love it

 

VERY nice Connie - congrats Martin

My earliest Connie is this cal. 354, Ref. 2782 from around 1954/55:

 

Very nice Martin. I would have given up.

 

I don´t believe you for one second!

 

Mine is actually -4. Your movement is correct, it´s just the rotor that has been replaced, with a later one. The earliest 501´s contained 19 jewels. A couple of years later, they updated to 20 jewels.

 

Hey Martin

Mine is a 2652 from 1953, cal 354 bumper





I was fortunate enough to get it with its full set including box, papers, original elephant leather strap (not pictured above) and buckle. A time capsule I call it

 

Fred, you´re killing me!

I do recognize the box in the first picture. One such is waiting for my new 2852

 

Love mine