The C-Cased Constellation Thread

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The minute marker / index imperfections are from the crystal / reflections, the dial is perfect

After a year of chasing NOS parts I finally managed to find some seconds hands that are the same dimension and model, which is like a continuous triangle, received it recently, seemed completely identical - the seller was pretty legit too, he had 1000's of NOS Omega parts from a watchmaker estate

(The bottom of a C-Case seconds hand was identical to the top of these seconds hands, it wasn't a top to top comparison)

Only when it was time to use one of them I noticed the difference, they are a much hefty model, our seconds hands are pretty much paper thin with no base or no top

So the difference is, this seconds hand has a hefty top too, you can notice the ring - they are probably Seamaster or Geneve hands, as far as I remember those were identical to this one, before this I never paid attention to how petite the original seconds hands were
Ah, I think I get what you mean now! You're saying that the original c-case seconds hands have no central tube (is it called a collet?) projecting above the flat, round central part of the hand?
 
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Most don't, some have but it could just be rust/patina making it appear like they do, or a service/replacement/wrong hand

Since these hands come from an Omega trove it doesn't bother me much though

I have a really unique watch that was serviced by a very reputable place in UK, the seller had a 550 pound receipt, I suspected that one received replacement hands during the service, I know see from the central tube that they indeed probably are replacement hands
 
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It's interesting what we do or do not perceive as "original" or "genuine". I guess that what often happens is that the manufacturer updates a genuine replacement part for a vintage watch, either to improve it or because of a change in the manufacturing processes. I suppose in that case you could regard the watch as entirely authentic even if it's not identical to what it would have been like when first sold.
 
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Indeed it's a very interesting subject, minimally the serial, caseback and the dial should match, the rest is fixable

So far for C-Case's, only the crystals are easy to fix, finding right crowns, hands are quite challenging

Generic Omega replacement crowns don't bother me, around 20% of my watches have wrong crowns

Having wrong hands don't bother me either, as long as they are Omega hands

So I guess for me, being genuine Omega is enough, a watch doesn't have to be all factory original, the replacements become part of its life/story
 
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Yeah of course, I’ll message you when I get home

I doubt there’ll be a dial though, it’s just packed parts of different brands, a 751 center wheel / cannon pinion was $50 - too rich for me, for most things it’s better buying a donor for now


Thanks!!
 
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Just acquired my first ever Omega bracelet - and am very pleased with it.


Thanks to @kaplan

 
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Well after much thought, I think I still want a grey dial .027, forget the speedy reduced
 
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Well after much thought, I think I still want a grey dial .027, forget the speedy reduced
 
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Well after much thought, I think I still want a grey dial .027, forget the speedy reduced

To my mind they are for very different occasions, I have a 40mm speedmaster date, which is a companion to my c-cases and also sits in the regular rotation.

Both can be worn casually I feel, however if I want to wear the speedy at something formal I swap it to a leather strap, but even then its really not the same as a C-case.

I might argue look getting both eventually 😉
 
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I agree on the versatility of C-shape. They can be dressed up or be very casual indeed. Today a more casual look with a Welsbro strap 😀.
 
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Just acquired my first ever Omega bracelet - and am very pleased with it.


Thanks to @kaplan

what's this bracelet reference and link number? thanks!
 
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Don’t see many c-cases on BoRs, was it an after-purchase option from Omega?
 
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Don’t see many c-cases on BoRs, was it an after-purchase option from Omega?

I’m afraid I’ve no idea. As you’ll have appreciated, I’ve just bought the bracelet.
 
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Don’t see many c-cases on BoRs, was it an after-purchase option from Omega?

not actually sure, but you are right, BoR's are usually 18mm, and C-cases have 19mm, so yeah, it's pretty uncommon i guess
 
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Random observation / query. I keep reading articles about the c-case that talk about how this “larger size” style fitted with the aesthetics of the time, etc. And yet, the standard c-case constellation is not a large-wearing watch, even for the 1960s. Although it’s a fairly standard 35mm, if anything it looks smaller because the dial is smaller than on (say) a 35mm round-case constellation of the same period.

This suits me very well as a skinny-wristed person, but I’m puzzled why it’s sometimes referred to as if it’s a large watch.
 
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As you can see, I’m also skinny-wristed and I find both the c-case and the 166/165.041 very comfortable despite the design having the appearance, or actually being*, a larger watch.

* I could, of course, measure the wretched things if I could be bothered with it this afternoon 😉