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The C-Cased Constellation Thread

Louno
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Hi Neeb. Thank you for your message. I see that you also love King Seikos. Awesome watches. I have a flawless 5625-7110 I may share some pictures in another topic sometime.

But first, here are some pictures from the seller that made me think this unit was a pretty good one and buy it. What do you think guys ? The seller is offering me to get the watch back in order to take one link by himself.

449dec_723147279aa6458aab89860403866af1~mv2 - Grande.jpeg 449dec_29ea4adc7ed446b9805b80f99ad912d4~mv2 - Grande.jpeg 449dec_07a5b155a7494d5d9be4f6ae510f3393~mv2 - Grande.jpeg
 
SOG53
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Louno 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.
Do you have concerns about the watch itself? Condition, timekeeping, wonder about case? Watch looks very good on 1 photo. If you like the watch and are only concerned about the bracelet, then I agree with suggestion to put it on leather strap and sell the bracelet and take your time to find a nice 1040 brick bracelet.
If it was truly serviced (is there service receipt?) then that worth around 400 so that makes price more palatable.
If the watch is in top condition it is worth some premium not everything need be a bargain.
 
Louno
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Nope I don't have any concern despite not being able to size it to my wrist and maybe having overpaid it. To be honest I wouldn't care about the price if I would have been able to wear it "turnkey"

I wasn't looking for a bargain, didn't even discussed the price, but this bracelet issue let buyer's remorses creep in. I can accept compromises at sub 1000, not 1800, and not for a watch I wanted to make my daily for some time.

No service ticket but I trust the seller as I already bought him watches and the guy is serious.

I sold other steel watches in order to have only one watch on bracelet, so leather strap is not an option i'm afraid. And again, not at this price.

My only question now is, regarding the seller pictures, do you feel it's been over polished ? Is the brushed finish the original one ? That would be the only thing that would make me not getting rid of it.

I'm sorry for such a weird introduction to this forum but It's been rollercoasters for me with this watch. I wanted a hasslefree watch, paid premium for it, and it's definitely not 😉

ps : not my first Omega, I have a 1981 Speedmaster pro in original conditions, Art Deco one from 1920s I inherited from grandfather, and i've been wearing watches from various brands all my life and collecting them for more than 20 years now.

Thanks again everyone for your advices.
Edited:
 
Neeb
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Just for comparison for size, here is my 1040. Now I remember though, I think my bracelet has had one “non-removable” link removed at some point (you can just about make out the discontinuity between the 4th and 5th links, counting from the top lug in the first picture). However, it also still has one removable link in place near the clasp, so I imagine that a fully intact 1040 with all of the removable links taken out would be about the same length.

<edit> of course now I think about it, I can’t know if only one or more than one non-removable links have been removed… Maybe someone knows the number in the original bracelet.

IMG_8605.jpeg IMG_8606.jpeg
Edited:
 
Neeb
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Louno Louno
My only question now is, regarding the seller pictures, do you feel it's been over polished ? Is the brushed finish the original one ? That would be the only thing that would make me not getting rid of it.

I can’t quite tell from those pictures if the case itself has been refinished as the side ones are not quite sharp / high res. enough (and I’m not really an expert in these watches). I think the case back has been polished, but that’s not unusual… If the rest of the case and bezel have been refinished, it’s been done very professionally.
 
SOG53
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Agree with @Neeb
I like the watch. I love these C case they wear so well.
 
Louno
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Dear friends,

Regarding the Constellation i just bought, local watchmaker answered me blazing fast and very confidently about the bracelet he seems to know, and told me about For this bracelet, unfold the middle links to remove the complete link.

I think i'll come to visit him early next week in order to see what can be achieved, and if i'm confident enough about his work, will do it. Seems reversible.

@Neeb thank you for the infos regarding your 1040. It's usually the other way around with lack of links but it seems that carefully checking for bracelet is required for this watch, if the wrist is on the small side.

Will keep you updated. Enjoy your week-end !
 
kaplan
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@Louno I don't think you are on a good path here, the watch is repolished, the top part is extremely well done, but the caseback appears too polished from the photos, I think overall you overpaid

The watchmakers method you talked to is brutish, I think it could ruin the affected links, he's going to yank them out in the worst way by bending them

There are 2 possibilities, if the person you bought the watch from had the watch repolished, then he has access to someone with refurbishing skills, best to let him handle the link removal, but if he himself bought the watch that way, then again it can have a disastrous result

On the bright side, since the bracelet is repolished as well, you can have it modified to your hearts desire and it won't reduce the value as long as you keep the parts
 
Louno
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Dear @kaplan Thank you VERY MUCH for your well advised and expert view over this subject. This is exactly what I needed to read to cut the cord and accept this watch is not the one i thought I bought. It's beautiful, but definitely not the kinda NOS or barely wore I was thinking. And it's too much money to accept such compromises and eventually not enjoying the watch.

I'm still in the "Return window" of 14 days and i'll sent it back on monday as the seller offered me.

Will keep following the topic in order to refine my needs and find the one i'll wear proudly without overthinking.
Edited:
 
Neeb
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kaplan kaplan
@Louno I don't think you are on a good path here, the watch is repolished, the top part is extremely well done, but the caseback appears too polished from the photos, I think overall you overpaid

The watchmakers method you talked to is brutish, I think it could ruin the affected links, he's going to yank them out in the worst way by bending them

There are 2 possibilities, if the person you bought the watch from had the watch repolished, then he has access to someone with refurbishing skills, best to let him handle the link removal, but if he himself bought the watch that way, then again it can have a disastrous result

On the bright side, since the bracelet is repolished as well, you can have it modified to your hearts desire and it won't reduce the value as long as you keep the parts
Just for my own learning, how were you able to tell that the main case had been refinished? The fact that the caseback had been polished made be suspect that the rest might have been refinished (as otherwise it would be too good / wouldn't match the caseback). I also wondered if the circular brushing on top of the lugs was a little too sharp (I mean, sharper / stronger than it is in NOS examples). But I really wasn't sure.
Edited:
 
kaplan
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If we just saw the front side and only the watch, I wouldn't be able to tell - mainly the polished back and caseback and refinished bracelet were the giveaways

If the caseback was left original I think it would've been best, I don't see the point in polishing it with all those bumps
 
Louno
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Well, it's my feeling too. While the work is very well done, there's just too much effort put in it to my tastes. It (hourly rate) probably justifies the price, but make the watch too far away from its original conditions to me. I would probably enjoy more a 600-900e watch in its original state. I'm used to buy watches to private sellers and that's probably the best for me considering that.

The watch is getting back to dealer in the next days.
 
Trex66
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noless noless
DSC_0057~2.JPG
even better with fluted bezel and bracelets! what's the bracelet number and link for the ladies version if I may ask?
 
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