Hi folks, There's a Connie with a 'hidden crown' on sale on ebayPurchases made through these links may earn this site a commission from the eBay Partner Network. The hidden crown looks pretty cool. But I was just wondering: 1. The seller says that it is a large 38mm (excl crown), which is odd as googling other 168.004's say they're 35-36mm in size. Is there a 38mm 168.004 in existence? 2. Are the hands correct? (the minute hand looks rather long?) 3. Does the dial look refinished? Thanks!
Hi, I have a similar model (the 168.004 on the right, left model is a 168.010) and it is 35mm, not 38mm. I don't seen any particular strange things with regards to the hands and dial, but I am not the Constellation connoisseur. Please check with Desmond from the Constellation blog, he is probably able to help you out there.
At 35mm, the 168.004 and 168.0010 are larger than the 168.005 dog legs (34mm). An additional difference exists between the .004 and .0010 in that the 0010 has 19mm between the lugs spacing, VS. 18 on the .004, thus giving the watch a larger appearance on the wrist.
Not sure about the dial, I believe it may have been refinished or at the very least the lume on the figures has been replaced, it should match the aged lume on the hands, which are the correct length for this dome dial. Here is a comparison shot of the 168.005 at 34.1-mm and the 168.004 at 35.5-mm.
I think the seller is probably putting a tape measure over the slighly domed crystal to take this measurement. It would probably add 2mm to the total. I think that the case of the Ref. 168.004 is roughly the same diameter as the 168.005 including the crown. So 36mm should be more-or-less correct. Taking a measurement of the Ref. 168.004 "including the crown" is somewhat redundant, since a proper measurement would mean removing the crystal and going from bezel edge to bezel edge from 9 o'clock to 3 o'clock. For this watch, the crown would be included by definition since it should not protrude from the bezel at all. That's enough of that, gatorcpa
"CASE:Almost as perfect. Not a scratch or nick to be found on the upper case, and even the lower case, with the exception of a few perfunctory marks from a case knife," Who uses a case knife on a screwback? And here's a 168.004
168.001 This is article from Desmond about this special Jumbo: http://omega-constellation-collectors.blogspot.com/2011/09/omega-constellation-168001-jumbo.html
Wasn't me. Unless a pink gold hooded lug caliber 504 comes up in mint condition I won't be doing much Constellation buying on eBay.
I'd never bid on something someone else had had brought up and was thinking about buying without them stepping down first... But i guess this site attracts a lot of traffic now....
I'm with you on that, but outing a watch on a public forum does indeed draw other people's attention to that watch. I have sent a message to some of the Mods on a couple of pieces where I was serious and sought the opinion of people who know more that I do - one of which I bought and one that went beyond the collective valuation ideals. If I were on the outside, looking in, I would pay attention to the e-Bay recommended thread and de-risk my internet buying (unless someone is going Ashley on an auction)