The C-Cased Constellation Thread

kaplan

The 1068 / 620 is an oddity, it appears very rarely

I didn't pay attention for quite some time, then it really piqued my interest, my theory is that it was a combination some AD's made happen

This North Korean watch is even more interesting, they were ordered directly, so if this watch had this bracelet originally, it could've been a combination option Omega provided too

I recently completed my collection of steel C-Case bracelets, I think I have 12 different types

I'm missing a funky Mexican 1040, there's a US market 1040, one very ugly gold/steel milanese that Omega commissioned - so I don't technically have every Omega made or commissioned bracelet, but I have all the main good looks

I started writing a book but it was a very challenging undertaking, compared to some masterpieces my approach seems like a rushed term project report, I got a bit demotivated and paused after this realisation - it's hard to come up with a good visual presentation and format, I'm going to release it as a free ebook once it's complete

R Rex123

I for one have this one omega bracelet sitting in my drawer because I made a wrong purchase not long ago, it is an Omega LD 1037/275 bracelet, and to this day, I have no idea which omega watch did it originally belong to, and google was not much of a help.

masteroftime

Did you mean 1307/275? If so, these references:
196.0128
196.0129

To not detract too far from the point of the thread, here is my beloved c-case:

kaplan

Probably most unique part of the watch, experienced members know about different case manufacturers of different countries

Just interesting that they didn't etch the model number, in the endless world of C-Case's, I guess different gold cases are another aspect to collect, I recall some unique ones in UK but didn't pay too much attention, they look the same outside

Peemacgee

The difficulty you have with this theory is that movts were used in several references at the same time as the c-case
For example:
Cal 561 in:
168.004
168.005
168.010

Cal564 in:
168.004
168.005
168.010
168.015
168.018
168.025

plus the Seamaster chronometers


There are records concerning when watch references started but none it seems about when they finished.

this thread used to be a useful sticky
Full list of calibres - it has production movt numbers but even then it lumps 561 & 562 together

https://omegaforums.net/threads/full-list-of-omega-calibers-from-1894.42412/

kaplan

Maybe I'm biased and this caused me to skew the numbers upwards, but it seems to me that the C-Case was the most popular model at the time, it was the peak of watchmaking before the Quartz burst, post wars, it was a time where the world peaked too, when the middle class were thriving

Being a resilient model I think at least half of them should've survived

What do you guys think?

Peemacgee

I suspect that @kaplan was referring to the Constellation/ Seamaster chronometer competition rather than standard Seamasters.

Peemacgee

As per the lists I gave earlier, the Constellation range was extensive from the mid 60s and so the competition to the C-case was significant.
(Desmond's essay suggests that the c-case was an affordable version of the constellation - it would be interesting to know if there was a cost differential between the c-case and its contemporary constellation rivals.)

cverstegen

This arrived a couple days ago. First gold cap c case for me. Really liking the extra skinny markers! I removed a couple of links last night and she’s ready to go today!

cverstegen

It's a spring bar. You need to use a tool to compress it from the outside, like you would to remove a spring bar from drilled lugs. I did one side at a time and it is a bit tricky because compressing it just the right amount so your tool doesn't go into the interior link takes a bit of feel. I am not sure if a tool exists to do both sides at once, but I can imagine that would make it easier. I can PM you a video if this description isn't clear. Let me know.

spacemission

Longines, omega and universal geneve were top in Spain. Rolex was for aficionados.

cverstegen

It's a spring bar. You need to use a tool to compress it from the outside, like you would to remove a spring bar from drilled lugs. I did one side at a time and it is a bit tricky because compressing it just the right amount so your tool doesn't go into the interior link takes a bit of feel. I am not sure if a tool exists to do both sides at once, but I can imagine that would make it easier. I can PM you a video if this description isn't clear. Let me know.

kaplan

.... - seeing the brushed dial only on high serials supports the theory that this could be the final variation of this dial style before the last starless variation of the dial