Vintage Constellations. Show and tell

Peemacgee · Jul 24, 2023

RoadRunner73
Here my 168.005 / 564 from '67 that has joined last week. Dial and hands are absolutely spotless, the champagne sunburst dial is amazingly eye catching which makes me believe they have been changed recently, but no information of that kind from the seller. And I got the Onyx inserts I was longing for ! 🥰🥰 Minor opening scratches on the case back, but the stars and observatory are in stunning condition.
Started checking the running : very strong once fully wound ( 280 to 290 in several positions), and so far +0/+2 sec / day over the last 3-4 days ; to me, it is an amazing performance for a nearly 60 years old movement, but it will anyway undergo a service, as I want to have a good starting point for its coming years.

There is no reason to believe that a dial can’t be good and still be original.
These were meant to be ‘waterproof’ watches - so if the seals stayed intact there should be little degradation other than from UV.

RoadRunner73 · Jul 24, 2023

well I would agree with you, but this really seems like the watch comes from the shop, except the case which seems unpolished and has some scratches; unfortunately, I have no possibilities to shoot a real close-up, but I will try to take some more accurate photos to show you what I mean.

Having said that, I am not complaining at all ! just surprised when I had a close "live" look at the watch, and actually quite pleased, because following some most valuable advice here on OF, I had been concentrating on finding a great dial and mint lug edges, which apparently is the case here.

norb1967 · Jul 24, 2023

RoadRunner73
well I would agree with you, but this really seems like the watch comes from the shop, except the case which seems unpolished and has some scratches; unfortunately, I have no possibilities to shoot a real close-up, but I will try to take some more accurate photos to show you what I mean.

Having said that, I am not complaining at all ! just surprised when I had a close "live" look at the watch, and actually quite pleased, because following some most valuable advice here on OF, I had been concentrating on finding a great dial and mint lug edges, which apparently is the case here.

They are definitely out there. Whilst hands can and do get changed (and this is really hard to tell) as far as I know dials generally aren’t done as much. As you yourself say, by concentrating on finding a good one you will find one with patience. My 14900 I posted a few posts back is an example of a very clean watch, but it wasn’t entirely easy to find.

RoadRunner73 · Jul 25, 2023

norb1967
They are definitely out there. Whilst hands can and do get changed (and this is really hard to tell) as far as I know dials generally aren’t done as much. As you yourself say, by concentrating on finding a good one you will find one with patience. My 14900 I posted a few posts back is an example of a very clean watch, but it wasn’t entirely easy to find.

Fair comment ! I can see both our dials are identical except the date, and in very similar condition, so this would confirm that only the hands at some point would have been replaced on mine. which year is yours ?

Andreas-am · Jul 28, 2023

New acquisition, a 168.018 with a linen dial. 😀

Until I saw the watch, I didn't even know that this one with the great dial existed 😟.

norb1967 · Jul 28, 2023

RoadRunner73
Fair comment ! I can see both our dials are identical except the date, and in very similar condition, so this would confirm that only the hands at some point would have been replaced on mine. which year is yours ?

I don’t have a precise year as I don’t have an extract but it’s around ‘61-63.