The C-Cased Constellation Thread

kaplan · Jan 10, 2023

I think both are original NOS grade cases, probably the original owners just kept them mostly unused

When I use watches I add one scratch a day, useful to count how many days they’ve been used 😁

noless · Jan 10, 2023

hadrome
Thanks! I have to admit that I was a C-sceptic for a long while, happy with my '62 Seamaster. Then I looked at them last year and thought again. After that, I got a little obsessed reading about them. Now I have one and I'm a complete convert.

I only just came across this thread though. (Joined the forum after years of occasional visits so I could post my new toy!) Amazing. This thread and all the C-joy in it has been making me want a fluted bezel. Darnit!

You have been bitten by the C-case bug, we are all afflicted in here, I also thought that a single nice silver dial with the more modern movement and a sapphire crystal would be enough for me (helps that the myths around the 1011 movement made it considerably cheaper too) but I came here to share my new piece, and before I knew it I was browsing auctions...

I found a blue gradation dial I had never seen before and I knew I had to have it... The rest as they say is history, needless to say theres just a few more C-cases in the watch box now😉

hadrome · Jan 11, 2023

kaplan
I think both are original NOS grade cases, probably the original owners just kept them mostly unused

I think the barely-used theory is entirely plausible. These watches would have been special purchases with a very hefty price tag at the time. Most were probably worn for special occasions and then kept in a drawer for much of their lives. That's why they can emerge in great condition 50 years later.

Mine was very dirty, when I got it. Does that contradict this theory? It certainly had an effect on the asking price, which was a positive for me. After running the case through the ultrasonic, it looked almost pristine. Perhaps it was many years' accumulated organic matter, added little by little at the odd wedding or trip to the theatre over the years. It had 50 years' worth of grime, if not scratches.

Smirrors · Jan 12, 2023

hadrome
It looks great. And it really isn't helping my fluted-bezel-envy!

Yours certainly has the radial brushing and the mirror bevels. It's difficult to tell, but the bevels look a little wider than on my earlier (sunburst finished/non-fluted) case type. (Pics just above.)

I was originally going for the non-fluted bezel till I came across this piece locally. I think it's about the same width, just the angle of the photo. Your is the exact shape I was looking at originally. Love the strap combo and looking to change this out next.

My other two watches are a 2000 speedy pro and and a 2022 seamaster diver 300. Both of those didn't slide under a shirt anywhere near as well as this Connie. Will try to enjoy this before looking for more 😜

noless · Jan 12, 2023

I was also not a fan of fluted bezels, but the missus likes them so when I was hunting her a C-case i got a WG bezel for her, and then I knew I needed one too...

In fact I happen to be wearing it today 😀

hadrome · Jan 13, 2023

noless
In fact I happen to be wearing it today 😀

Very nice. Any tips for coercing the bracelet end links to sit as neatly as yours do? I have made mine behave better than when I received it, but they're not as neat as yours.

noless · Jan 13, 2023

hadrome
Very nice. Any tips for coercing the bracelet end links to sit as neatly as yours do? I have made mine behave better than when I received it, but they're not as neat as yours.

This is a modern 3011 bracelet on the modern unlabled endlinks. The omega service center installed it for me, so I don't actually know if they adjusted the links or if they just fit real nice straight out of the packet.

Its also solid links and I really like it, I was actually told of its existence in this very thread and I knew I had to get one.

kaplan · Jan 13, 2023

hadrome
Very nice. Any tips for coercing the bracelet end links to sit as neatly as yours do? I have made mine behave better than when I received it, but they're not as neat as yours.

You can usually shape them by hand - or just wrap the lips (where the 518 stamp is) with something to protect them and grip them with a plier to reflatten them

Best to do little and test after each nudge, just reflattening the lips should be enough to make them firm

noless · Jan 13, 2023

oh yeah, on my other c-cases with the 1040 bracelet I found moving to a 1.8mm springbar really does help take a lot of slack out at the endlink too, so its worth looking into so you dont have to bend quite as much.

Geme81 · Jan 16, 2023

b

noless
I was also not a fan of fluted bezels, but the missus likes them so when I was hunting her a C-case i got a WG bezel for her, and then I knew I needed one too...

In fact I happen to be wearing it today 😀

Beautiful piece!!

unxsr · Jan 22, 2023

This is my new 168.017! When I first received it, it was in rough condition but after a little cleaning it runs again like a charm. Case and bracelet (1507) looks unpolished. The dial is in amazing condition. Crystal is original with the Omega mark in the middle. @kaplan helped me to find this one and it makes me very happy every time I look at it.

I believe there still is a “debate” if the black dials are a redial or not, but looking at the one I have, I’m having a hard time believing it is a redial. If it is, someone did a really great job but I vote for it not being a redial.

Very happy with this one!

kaplan · Jan 22, 2023

Beautiful and a joy to see!

Here was my journey: https://omegaforums.net/threads/1966-matte-black-c-cased-constellation-a-good-re-dial.136285/

If it's a redial, someone commissioned quite a bit of them 😀 I easily forget but I guess there are at least 2 others that I saw, the painted hands are rarely in this condition though

I think it's highly likely that Omega didn't run the same dial as it is when they were doing C-Case's, they changed the fonts slightly at each iteration etc.

These dials with tiny SWISS MADE's and curly Omega logo ends are quite a mystery to me, they pop up worldwide too - I'd like to theorise and say they were maybe American models, and the ones that pop up worldwide were from business trip purchases etc.

For example Meister / Türler's show up worldwide too, but they are delivered to these boutique's, so a model showing up worldwide doesn't eliminate it being a local model

I guess if we ordered some EOA's, the delivery locations could shed more light to this mystery

noless · Jan 22, 2023

I also wonder if my blue dial is a redial, but its certainly well done if it is, and I have seen 2 others like it over the years...

At the end of the day though, it makes me happy and I don't plan to sell it, so does it really matter?

Geme81 · Jan 23, 2023

Hi OF and thread member, for curiosity.. what do you think about the following watch? (168.029)
https://www.ebay.it/itm/265997569887
Thank you in advance for the reply.

kaplan · Jan 23, 2023

Watch looks pretty good, no apparent issues, only issue is that blemish on the lower right lug side

Edit: Actually just noticed the dial blemish near Constellation's C on the left, that's a major issue

noless · Jan 23, 2023

the mark on the rotor and caseback suggests the rotor bushing is worn which is also something for consideration if you want this as an everyday wear as the autowinding may be inefficient due to that.

Timetron · Jan 23, 2023

Just pulled the trigger on this one. A few photos from the auction.

Will post photos when it arrives from Canada.

Geme81 · Jan 24, 2023

Thank you all for the feedbacks, I didn't notice the wear on the rotor and caseback nor the sign close to the C of Constellation!
Really appreciate your comments. Elio

kaplan · Jan 24, 2023

Timetron
Just pulled the trigger on this one. A few photos from the auction.

Will post photos when it arrives from Canada.

Watch is A+ but that strap looks awesome as well

Timetron · Jan 24, 2023

kaplan
Watch is A+ but that strap looks awesome as well

It will be my 1st Connie... I had been looking for a good example for quite a while.

The C-Cased Constellation Thread

kaplan

noless

hadrome

Smirrors

noless

hadrome

noless

kaplan

noless

Geme81

unxsr

kaplan

noless

Geme81

kaplan

noless

Timetron

Geme81

kaplan

Timetron

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