I'm sorta negotiating on a Ciocc and of course the bottom bracket is devoid of numbers other than a size stamp. Is there any way to determine what the age is? It has a braze on front der hanger so probably mid-80's or later. Do the paint schemes give any clue maybe?

TIA
Charlie

Any pictures?

Yes paint can help determine, by this time of braze on the cables are under bb and you probably have two sets of cage mounts.

What does it say on the toptube? Mockba 80 was on one. I had a Conte. that are mostly identical to Ciocc

it says Conti '84 at the lead of the toptube.

YES: pix, please!

If decals are present that often is best clue, but there could be other good ones like the style of BB shell ( Cinelli SCM or CCM, or "spoiler"?) plus the brake bridge and especially if it has the 10 Speed Drive "little rider" engraved (cause then you might find a match in one of their catalogs).

Also the panto on the forkcrown can be a clue, subtle changes made in that over the years, plus other details to the seat cluster and lugs.

As far as paint by far the most common for frames imported to the USA was "Anthracite" metallic gray but it was used on more than one model and for several years (or more).

Mockba, designer 84 and San Cristobal were the main ones most would see. There was another model but the name escapes me.

There was a rare track version, but I assume yours is road.

I'm going to check to see if it has SL rifling in the steerer. If it does I'll prolly get it and put some pix up then. It has a San Cris decal on it so ... No Moskva or Designer

thanks for the notes
It looks just like this one on fleabay cept for the front der
https://www.ebay.com/itm/393556379679?_trkparms=amclksrc%3DITM%26aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D201608111141 45%26meid%3D6bb59f7c7c74470e8abe79cdb75074c5%26pid%3D100667%26rk%3D5%26rkt%3D8%26sd%3D235246789602%2 6itm%3D393556379679%26pmt%3D0%26noa%3D1%26pg%3D2351460%26brand%3DCIOCC&_trksid=p2351460.c100667.m204 2

I think this one is mid 80s and I seem to remember it being Aelle, maybe? 26.8 seatpost would confirm that.

But Ciocc is quirky. Could very well be SL.

Here’s a thread on that bike or similar.

Help identifying mid 80's(?) Ciocc

Yep if it has the paint scheme AND a 26.8 seatpost it is most def an Aelle frame.
Which is just fine if the price is right!
OTOH these Aelle usually did NOT have any San Cristobal decals, they had no Columbus tubing decals plus no "Nurburring/San Cristobal" World Champ globe decal either

Ciocc San Cristobal

Here's some more FWIW to the interested