The C-Cased Constellation Thread

cshapegenta · Jul 14, 2024

These baton you showed on the pic are different than the one that appears on the enamel dials, they don't have the black part segment on it.
I never saw so much of these baton (without the black part), but it definitely fit more with the design story. Do you have the reference of those hands ?
On sale market, google image or archive, all constellation with these specific index are with Dauphine (as I showed with my collage). The one you showed is the first I see like this 😀
Strange strange 📖

kaplan · Jul 14, 2024

A blurry example of an enamel dial, you can go back in this thread for better examples

A market photo analysis will definitely fail you for most uncommon Omega’s, post an uncommon model and even on this forum you can get false redial conclusions, there are so many models out there that has very few examples. There’s also an extreme amount of misinformation, sometimes intentional

For example these guys wrote an article just to sell a singular Franken they made, that’s how low things can get: https://goldammer.me/blogs/articles/omega-constellation-guide-c-shape

The black dial lumed indice one you shared is also a redial

liquidsongbird · Jul 14, 2024

So, the gold faced watch in the photos is a Frankenwatch? Hadn't seen it before, but I'm certainly not an expert.

cshapegenta · Jul 14, 2024

@kaplan

Yes the amount of images out there is astonishing, it's quite a jungle. But I think with my text of the previous page I am not so far from the truth, as each category from 1 to 4 as a strong definition of index/hands that fit each other in term of design.
Mystery is for point 5, where many of those index are with Dauphine hand, but proof is with your picture of the last page, they also have their specific sitck hands with a lumen. I would love to find them in spare parts.

For the dial sorry I thought you were talking about linen dial !
On the black dial you showed it's not the same index of the point 5 of my text. They have lumen sphere at their extremity, which is not the case of the point 5 Index, and the design itself of index are not the same. That's why there are those hands on the black dial.
But maybe this exemple was just to show me what was a enamel dial, in this case what I said is useless as you already know 😀 !

Capture d’écran 2024-07-14 à 15.45.49.png

Capture d’écran 2024-07-14 à 15.47.23.png

kaplan · Jul 14, 2024

cshapegenta
@kaplan

Yes the amount of images out there is astonishing, it's quite a jungle. But I think with my text of the previous page I am not so far from the truth, as each category from 1 to 4 as a strong definition of index/hands that fit each other in term of design.
Mystery is for point 5, where many of those index are with Dauphine hand, but proof is with your picture of the last page, they also have their specific sitck hands with a lumen. I would love to find them in spare parts.

For the dial sorry I thought you were talking about linen dial !
On the black dial you showed it's not the same index of the point 5 of my text. They have lumen sphere at their extremity, which is not the case of the point 5 Index, and the design itself of index are not the same. That's why there are those hands on the black dial.
But maybe this exemple was just to show me what was a enamel dial, in this case what I said is useless as you already know 😀 !

You sadly can't find C-Case spare parts unless new caches are unearthed or a watch is melted etc., I was lucky enough to buy the last hands of an old distributor in US, never after that I saw original NOS hands

These hands in my opinion/theory are some vintage service hands, fits the Omega M.O. of making small changes in everything as breadcrumbs in age determination: https://www.instagram.com/p/C0VYWv-NggO/?img_index=1

Another dealer also used them, if you did a market analysis now it could be concluded that they were original as 2 examples already had it, while in reality they were freshly bought from a seller in Germany selling original hands - now with the correct gapped baton hands I've shown, maybe the story is similar, we'll likely never know, all that can be known is that they are correct era hands - I've seen many baton hands used on lumed indiced dials, but didn't find it noteworthy enough to document at the time

^ I can share the source of these hands with you if you want but don't buy all of them 😁

liquidsongbird
So, the gold faced watch in the photos is a Frankenwatch? Hadn't seen it before, but I'm certainly not an expert.

Yes, the Franken-est, quite an expertise making it happen too, sometimes even original dials don't clear some original crystals, making a dial and larger hand set clear a smaller watch is something of an accomplishment

@cshapegenta nice to see interest in the models and the evolution, what is your story by the way - Already collecting or/starting to collect?

cshapegenta · Jul 14, 2024

@kaplan
" ^ I can share the source of these hands with you if you want but don't buy all of them 😁"
Yes please it would be really nice ! 😀

"@cshapegenta nice to see interest in the models and the evolution, what is your story by the way - Already collecting or/starting to collect?"
I always loved mechanical watches. Few month ago I wanted a Vintage Omega, I was looking at genève, de ville, seamater, but none of them gave me the instant love I had for the C-shape Constellation.
The name, the observatory and stars, the précision, the Genta history..I love astromony, so this watch is for me quite a goal.
During few weeks I was looking for one but not actively, and then I saw this one and I jumped on it.

Here is mine (The patine of the dial is really hard to capture as it change all the time of color, between white, grey, and champagne). I love all the little dots on the dial that create a galaxy full of stars and constellation 🥰
Sorry for the picture quality, the watch itself and the plexi are a bit dirty I will clean it next week. It should be a 1968 Constellation, cal.564.

Then I did some researches about the various C constellation model (yes after haha), and I saw many with stick baton and not dauphine.
It was the beginning for me to a deep dive into researches and archives, where all my time went and I left the social world 📖

So I am now stuck into researches to find the origin of mine, his reference, and why so specific index have dauphine hands haha.

kaplan · Jul 14, 2024

Your model has the deluxe finish that solid gold special models of the era have, not sunburst but a vertical finish, quite rare, but not appreciated yet

The #4 watches you categorized, for non-lumed variants, also predominantly have dauphine hands with black centers

cshapegenta · Jul 14, 2024

I was trying to adjust picture size but did not found yet how to do it sorry, as I am new there.
So this one is mine since one week, please tell me if something look wrong for you ! 😀

I read this topic from the page 80 to 60 (in reverse yes), and the other one I found is those index and dauphine is this one :
Difference is I have a lumen sphere at 3 (right to date opening)

Capture d’écran 2024-07-14 à 16.24.57.png

cshapegenta · Jul 14, 2024

kaplan
Your model has the deluxe finish that solid gold special models of the era have, not sunburst but a vertical finish, quite rare, but not appreciated yet

The #4 watches you categorized, for non-lumed variants, also predominantly have dauphine hands with black centers

So you mean this dial should not be with that case ?

Yes true, I saw quite models with daupine and black centers on these.

So question is, do I change my hands for stick lumen hands you show earlier or not. I want the more initial design as Genta had in mind, but in a way I love those Dauphine and they look original when I see all the models with those specific index with Dauphine.
I will think about it during the week 😀

Spruce · Jul 14, 2024

This was the first 168.017 I bought (EBay seller’s photo) but soon realised that the hands were too short and, with @kaplan ’s help, sourced stick hands (and replaced the cyclops crystal).

kaplan · Jul 14, 2024

cshapegenta
So you mean this dial should not be with that case ?

Yes true, I saw quite models with daupine and black centers on these.

So question is, do I change my hands for stick lumen hands you show earlier or not. I want the more initial design as Genta had in mind, but in a way I love those Dauphine and they look original when I see all the models with those specific index with Dauphine.
I will think about it during the week 😀

Not at all, that's not what I mean, there are 1000's of variations, trying to find two 1:1 models is harder than finding a unique variation, after this realisation seeking a hypothetical correctness seems futile, I think the vision was more diversity rather than a single look

I don't see any reason for you to make any changes other than the hand lume color on the hands looking a bit too white in your photos, they are usually yellower, could be the photos or could be a relume

cshapegenta · Jul 14, 2024

kaplan
Not at all, that's not what I mean, there are 1000's of variations, trying to find two 1:1 models is harder than finding a unique variation, after this realisation seeking a hypothetical correctness seems futile, I think the vision was more diversity rather than a single look

I don't see any reason for you to make any changes other than the hand lume color on the hands looking a bit too white in your photos, they are usually yellower, could be the photos or could be a relume

Alright, thanks a lot !
For curious purpose, could you share me the link where you bought the other hands we were talking earlier ? 😀

kaplan · Jul 14, 2024

cshapegenta
Alright, thanks a lot !
For curious purpose, could you share me the link where you bought the other hands we were talking earlier ? 😀

I have to take some time to find it, I’ll message them to you

cshapegenta · Jul 14, 2024

Thanks a lot !
For the ref, I would say it's a 168.017 or 168.027 no ?

And any link to find some Omega Bracelet fitting with it is welcome. I would love the 1040 with the 518 endlinks but price are to the moon

noless · Jul 14, 2024

cshapegenta
Thanks a lot !
For the ref, I would say it's a 168.017 or 168.027 no ?

And any link to find some Omega Bracelet fitting with it is welcome. I would love the 1040 with the 518 endlinks but price are to the moon

another option is to contact omega directly about the 3011 bracelet, its a modern bracelet but it will fit the c-case, the links are now solid instead of folded and they are small ovals instead of square, but they still fit the design beautifully I think.

I picked mine up from the local omega service center, but im fairly sure any boutique could also order it in for you.

Louno · Aug 22, 2024

Hi friends,

I'm new here, didn't find a introduction topic on the forum if there's one, please point me to it ! I'm a (very) long time lurker but I've finally joined as I just pulled the trigger on my first Constellation and wanted to thank you everyone here. Here is the first picture i'm very happy to share with you. Thanks again a lot to everyone for the infos shared here.

I'm very happy with it, it's exactly what i wanted for a new daily after selling some watches in order to rationalise my collection. Unfortunately, the bracelet (1172) is already at its minimum size and too loose for my tastes (I can put a thumb). I may need to ask a watchmaker to properly get rid of one or two link with some pliers without butchering it. I'm not very happy with this but it's my only one it seems. What do you think ?

Boojumhunter · Aug 22, 2024

"I'm very happy with it, it's exactly what i wanted for a new daily after selling some watches in order to rationalise my collection. Unfortunately, the bracelet (1172) is already at its minimum size and too loose for my tastes (I can put a thumb). I may need to ask a watchmaker to properly get rid of one or two link with some pliers without butchering it. I'm not very happy with this but it's my only one it seems. What do you think?"

- - - - -

Welcome to the forums! Great watch, brilliant first choice. Those in this subthread have a huge amount of enthusiasm and knowledge about these, so stick around.

Your bracelet is also one of the best, imho. I would suggest holding fire before shortening it, as it has value at full length. Many members would likely be keen on swapping your version it for something suitable, and shorter ones are often available on eBay and the like. They do also look good on the right 19mm leather strap, at least in the short-term.

Louno · Aug 22, 2024

Hi Boojumhunter,

Thank you very much for your prompt answer and very kind message.

To be honest, while i'm very happy with it and think I have a beautiful exemplary i'm very fond off, I paid it, serviced, on the (Very) high side, and still have 14 days to send it back to dealer.

I'm not sure it would be worth the hassle to start swapping bracelets considering the price I paid (1800, again serviced). And now, i'm starting to think I already paid it too much as it seems beautiful, but i'm not sure it's faithful to the original rendering of the watch.

That probably make too much doubts to keep it and I should stop the expenses and accept the idea this one is not for me. What do you think about it ? I wouldn't care to fit the bracelet if it could be reversed at a fair price, but the condition being I have a clean and respectful copy I didn't already overpaid.

kaplan · Aug 22, 2024

Louno
Hi Boojumhunter,

Thank you very much for your prompt answer and very kind message.

To be honest, while i'm very happy with it and think I have a beautiful exemplary i'm very fond off, I paid it, serviced, on the (Very) high side, and still have 14 days to send it back to dealer.

I'm not sure it would be worth the hassle to start swapping bracelets considering the price I paid (1800, again serviced). And now, i'm starting to think I already paid it too much as it seems beautiful, but i'm not sure it's faithful to the original rendering of the watch.

That probably make too much doubts to keep it and I should stop the expenses and accept the idea this one is not for me. What do you think about it ? I wouldn't care to fit the bracelet if it could be reversed at a fair price, but the condition being I have a clean and respectful copy I didn't already overpaid.

Market is at its lowest, and you can almost never recoup service costs etc. - you’ll likely lose 30%-70% if you decide to sell online.

Buying a new bracelet makes the most sense indeed, maybe a 1040

Neeb · Aug 22, 2024

Louno
I'm not sure it would be worth the hassle to start swapping bracelets considering the price I paid (1800, again serviced). And now, i'm starting to think I already paid it too much as it seems beautiful, but i'm not sure it's faithful to the original rendering of the watch.

Looks like a gorgeous example to me!

If it’s in original condition and genuinely fully serviced, you haven’t overpaid TOO much IMO, especially as that bracelet is rather sought after.

Can’t see from that angle, but are the polished bevels on the edges sharp? That’s often a good way to tell if it’s been refinished or not.

This is of some interest to me as I’ve sometimes thought about acquiring this bracelet, but my wrists are about the same size as yours so I suspect I’d have the same issue… However I have a 1040 and that still has one extra link in it as well as space to shorten still on the clasp, so you’d probably also find a 1040 would fit you better. You could reasonably expect to make a slight profit I think if you were swapping that bracelet for a 1040.

The C-Cased Constellation Thread

cshapegenta

kaplan

liquidsongbird

cshapegenta

kaplan

cshapegenta

kaplan

cshapegenta

cshapegenta

Spruce

kaplan

cshapegenta

kaplan

cshapegenta

noless

Louno

Boojumhunter

Louno

kaplan

Neeb

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