I frequently receive emails asking why two-tone Constellations are described as 'Gold Capped'. Others query the differences between gold cap and the various methods of plating a base metal watch case with gold.
I've put together an article on the most common plating methods and offered an explanation of why Gold Cap is so 'special'.
My thanks to Evan Morgan and Damien Debin for their assistance.
Please click here to download the article
I'm on thinking of buying my first and probably last Connie. As I am not rich, this will probably blow my entire Connie budget for a lifetime. It's as far as I can tell a mid/late 50's gold capped pie pan with arrowhead markers. My question to you is, are all the gold capped models equipped with a gold coloured crown? I haven't yet had this watch in my hands, but the (bad and distant) photo appears to have a stainless crown. Is this something I should be cautious about? I'm not buying online, but rather locally, so I can have the watch in my hands and make a somewhat informed decision without risking anything (I at least know enough to spot a bad redial a mile away). If it's indeed a replacement steel crown, that would not really bother me. Should it? It appears to be correct as it is ten sided. The seller is a guy who is cleaning out his junk drawer and knows nothing about Omegas, other than a quick google on valuations. He insists it has been untouched for decades and is literally grandpa's watch. I believe him. I of course asked about originality and what's under the hood and he said it's never been opened as long as he's known about it. Closet treasure or el-crappo E-bay remorse quick sell?
ReplyDeleteHi Charles
ReplyDeleteHmm, I would want to look under the bonnet myself to see which movement powers the model. That will enable you to ascertain which crown may be needed as earlier movements had a different crown stem size that say the cal 551/561 models.
To answer your question, yes gold capped models always had the gold crown. A steel crown would in my opinion look quite out of place.
Strangely crowns for earlier 354 and 501/05 models are still available but the ten-siders for cal 551'561 model arent.
Given your comments about your budget for a vintage, I would suspect that you really need to be judicious in your purchase.
Also factor in the fact that you'll need to spend a couple of hundred probably to have the watch di-assembled cleaned and oiled. as running it dry would kill it eventually.
If you can get some good pics, email me (click on about me and click on the email button)and I can have a look at the piece for you.
Cheers
Desmond