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The C-Cased Constellation Thread

HamDoctor
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@Lachgas
The price certainly is tempting, and ebay-kleinanzeigen (now kleinanzeigen.de) is sometimes a great place to find exotic things... in country, no customs, no hassle, lots of good arguments for it. But I'm really not too sure about this one.

Looks like the rotor is scraping on the caseback. And the corrosion at the center hub of the rotor is ... strange to see, and not very heartening.

The balance bridge is somewhat different in color from the rest of the movement - I'm not sure how strong this is as a "tell". In my limited expertise it could be a sign that the movement is put together from different movements / "frankened", but others will certainly know this better than I do.

The movement and case screws have been mishandled, though. That's always a sign that some hack had his fingers on the movement ... someone who shouldn't be allowed anywhere near it.

I would pass.
 
Lachgas
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@HamDoctor
Thank you for the detailed assessment. I see every point as well.

I didn't even notice the scratches from improper opening. Good hint!

The rust confirms what I assumed from the start: complete overhaul necessary with correspondingly high costs, also for spare parts; I guess easily 6-700 EUR.

But then the price is no longer favorable for the risk that it is a Frankenstein watch.

I will not buy. Unless he gives it to me. ;-)
 
kaplan
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A full movement can be had for like 100 euro, so I don鈥檛 agree with your numbers 馃榾

I think what matters is the dial / hands / case+back
 
Aroxx
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Lachgas Lachgas
@HamDoctorThe rust confirms what I assumed from the start: complete overhaul necessary with correspondingly high costs, also for spare parts; I guess easily 6-700 EUR.
This will be the case for any watch you buy with an unknown service history.
 
Aroxx
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This is an interesting one. Super sharp case and nice dial. Unfortunately, it has a big gouge on the case and some dial bubbling around the 8 o鈥檆lock marker. Not running but they always need an overhaul anyway. Movement looks great. BIN isn鈥檛 too bad but maybe they鈥檇 take an offer over email. Could be worth it as a fixer upper just get the gouge laser welded.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/334891856873

IMG_6379.jpeg IMG_6380.jpeg IMG_6382.jpeg
 
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kaplan
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In my own personal opinion which is usually not in line with consumer trends, the value highly reduces if you decide to get a watch like this restored

Minus the bubbling it appears like a top condition original watch, go the laser welding route and it鈥檚 unclear how the result is going to be. I tried it once and messaged another top end restorer on a second occasion, first result was bad and on the second one the guy clearly lacked the intelligence level for the job. There are like 10+ details on each case that need to be correctly restored, you could leave this watch, the guy could google the model, assume it needs a sunburst bezel and return it to you with a half ass crooked burst bezel while it should be a polished bezel

So TL;DR is original with small flaws > monkey stuff

Best to not buy something you can鈥檛 love right away
 
Aroxx
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Even without the monkey stuff I think both defects are livable for an everyday wear type watch. I鈥檓 thinking more as a watch to enjoy not a value proposition. I鈥檝e seen some pure magic worked by those laser welding guys though. And the movement looks very clean so I鈥檇 imagine a full overhaul will bring it right back to life.
 
kaplan
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Sadly what you see isn't always what you get, restorers show the worst angle first and the best angle later on, they don't show their failures, there's a dial restorer for example that shares close up macro shots of the first condition of the dial, then distanced regular photos as the end result. I'm not saying this is always the case, but it's been my experience, C-Case's don't have astronomical prices yet, you could just buy a NOS case for $400 from the hopeful seller on eBay instead of paying $200 to a laser welder roulette

I buy my spare cases for around $100 - but my standards are a lot lower, I'd consider this case a huge win
 
ken_hodson
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I have to say, I think it looks pretty good. OK, the case has had a few knocks, so not perfect,...but overall, not bad for the price IMO.
 
kaplan
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I do agree with the condition in terms of the case and the bracelet, these very easily go loose, and just wearing a new watch like a week would just reduce it to this condition

No comments on the dial
 
Aroxx
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kaplan kaplan
I do agree with the condition in terms of the case and the bracelet, these very easily go loose, and just wearing a new watch like a week would just reduce it to this condition

No comments on the dial
Please do comment. Do you think it's a redial? Or possibly cleaned? I'm skeptical of all gray dials now but it looked okay to me other than the damage. Especially considering the condition of the rest of the watch.
 
Aroxx
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Lachgas Lachgas
$2,910 ?! Never ever.
Yes, the price is absurd but that's Chrono24 for you. Although, I must say, I think it's a better looking watch than a comparable Rolex OP or DJ that nobody would bat an eye at if priced at $3k or higher.
 
BAJJ
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Genuine question, could the case possibly be refinished? The polished chamfers look much deeper than I would expect and on the last picture the angles at the corner of the lug don't seem to align.
 
Aroxx
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BAJJ BAJJ
Genuine question, could the case possibly be refinished? The polished chamfers look much deeper than I would expect and on the last picture the angles at the corner of the lug don't seem to align.
I guess anything is possible. I see what you mean but I think it's just an artifact of the close up photos and angles. Perhaps it is a case of "too good to be true" though.
 
BAJJ
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Aroxx Aroxx
I guess anything is possible. I see what you mean but I think it's just an artifact of the close up photos and angles. Perhaps it is a case of "too good to be true" though.
I thought that too, It's too expensive for my tastes anyway so it's not like I'm considering it
 
kaplan
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Aroxx Aroxx
Please do comment. Do you think it's a redial? Or possibly cleaned? I'm skeptical of all gray dials now but it looked okay to me other than the damage. Especially considering the condition of the rest of the watch.

I can count 10+ small flakes, but 100% an original dial

BAJJ BAJJ
Genuine question, could the case possibly be refinished? The polished chamfers look much deeper than I would expect and on the last picture the angles at the corner of the lug don't seem to align.

Yes, sometimes very professionally refinished, and around 25% of the watches in the market are refinished, ones from Japan are usually hard to tell

There could be a tell but I didn't study edges closely, maybe the 3 edges need to meet at the lugs - I doubt it though, since these are assumably hand refinished as well out of the case factory?
 
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