Hi, Was wondering about this one: http://www.ebay.com/itm/301380330105?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:ITPurchases made through these links may earn this site a commission from the eBay Partner Network I guess that the case might be authentic, but the case back seems weird. Is this one from the famous fake batch? Your thoughts?
??? I'm not seeing anything that's fake about it except just a bit shiny and strange lighting making it hard to see everything clearer. Can you point out the clues here?
The case back seems to be laser engraved. The process didn't exist in 1962, although some modern service cases are laser engraved. Also, any 14900-62 case in steel needs to be suspect as many fake Constellations show this reference. If you look on eBay, you'll see these with all sorts of dial and movement combinations. See this article for more information: http://users.tpg.com.au/mondodec//Counterfeit_Omega_Constellation_Cases.pdf Hope this helps, gatorcpa
The etching is very deep, not like shallow laser engraving, just like many genuine dog-leg cases of the period. Everything else passes the Desmond's doc with flying colour.
What caught my eye was the lack of overlapping circles between the center of the inner back case and the peripheral. The bevels seem ok though, I cannot pinpoint any difference with original cases. I guess this is still undetermined.
I don't know how you can possibly say that without having the case in your hands. You can get the fake ones for a tiny fraction of the price asked here. Remember that there is counterfeit Omega packaging, too. Be very, very careful. There is no honor among thieves. gatorcpa
Evan, I just compared all the features in the pictures with my 168.005 including the inside caseback as well as remembering all the fake features in Desmond's doc. Unless I remember it wrong, I have not found anything abnormal about this case. The strange look of the paterns on the caseback was because of strange lighting or underexposure of the pictures. I asked for clues since you said outright it was fake but you have not provided anything concrete yet. Regards, Tony
Tony - This is one of those situations where there are so many fakes of this particular case reference around that I urge extreme caution. Normally, it is very difficult to fake cases or the fakes are so crude as to be obvious. This is not one of those times. I have seen the fakes, so has Desmond, they are very good. Particularly at a distance. You asked for clues, I provided Desmond's detailed analysis with close-up photographs. Then you say that I have not provided anything concrete? All I am saying is that it is impossible to say yes or no for sure from a series of internet photographs. You need to compare it to a known original in person. The amount the seller is asking is significant. So if you choose to ignore this advice, it is at your own risk. By any chance, are you the seller? gatorcpa
Evan, I'm not the seller or related in anyway at all (I'm in Canada, seller's in Seattle), but just tried to learn what you may know more about the case that I didn't see in those pictures. Your experience, knowledge, as well as Desmond's, and cautions are very well appreciated. It's just on this case, I think you haven't got any evidence remotely close to a proof that this is a fake yet. Your providing Desmond's analysis has nothing specifically pertinent to the case in discussion, e.g. it had a wrong shape, missing a bevel or wrong markings, etc... except a weak conjecture of "laser engraved" which I found rather not true by examining those markings on a couple of calibrated monitors and compared to others. This listing's pictures are sharp and large even though a bit dark, but still enough to see clearly those caseback markings. If you can not see it clearly, I don't think it's a good reason to come to a conclusion based on what you can't see. I'd rather reserve my judgement than saying it outright that it is a fake. Regards, Tony
On this case reference, it's guilty until proven innocent, IMO. This is not a court of law. Your proof is as good as mine. Too many bad ones out there to recommend taking a chance. gatorcpa
It is amazing that examples of this case reference, more than any other constellation, keeps showing up for sale in new condition That alone should give one pause.
What about this? http://www.mywatchmart.com/listing/...14900-62-sc-new-old-stock-pie-pan-dial-hands/ Is it also doubtful? Cheers!
IMO, 100% fake. Everything matches perfectly to my reference for these fakes. You will note that the indices on the back of the dial look to be glued rather than soldered. Painted inserts of the hands are not the correct length, either. gatorcpa
Hi, I have created a comparison between both case back covers. The left case back is supposedly the genuine case, whereas the right one is the one under debate. Outside of the different overlapping of circles, you may notice a slightly different "s" used for the "62 sc". This is noticeable in other cases I got to compare (supposed fakes vs. genuine). I still wonder if there could be a chance that some of what we consider as "fakes" are actually cases that were made later on down the line by Omega as replacement parts. Even though there are some cases (and more obviously - dials) that just seem cheap, some cases that are considered "fake" seem to be well built. I am not an Omega historian or specialist, so I don't acquire the knowledge to rule on this case. But I can say that I have encountered before some parts that seemed a little different but are original replacement parts. That could also explain the surge of 14900 62 sc cases, when some actually seem to be a little used. Perhaps someone could shed more light on this issue.
Here is another one that is a supposed "fake", but seems to be used - as there are marks of a yellow gasket that had disintegrated.
For me easy call - the case is fake. Case edges are soft, inner caseback markings are off and the observatory is wrong - the answer is in the stars. This fake gets them the one big star wrong (about 2 o'clock position if the observatory is straight up). And I would speak with my wallet - if this case is genuine and in real NOS condition, I would buy 20 of them even at that price. As it is I wouldn't accept this one if given to me as it's just junk.
