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First Time Buyer - Should I get this Pie Pan dial Constellation?

J
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Hello all,

I recently developed an interest in vintage watches, having always been a fan of vintage cars, analog photography and vinyl discs, this a natural interest to arise in me!

I’ve been looking into acquiring my first vintage watch and came across an Omega Constellation with a Pie Pan dial in yellow gold that stuck in my mind.

The issue with it is that it has some severe black dots on the dial, for what I’ve read they may be normal patina but I’d be keen on having your opinion on whether this is normal or if it may be a red flag on this one. Furthermore, I’d like to know what a reasonable price point for it would be. Photos below:

upload_2023-9-13_0-16-55.png upload_2023-9-13_0-17-36.png upload_2023-9-13_0-18-8.png upload_2023-9-13_0-19-18.png upload_2023-9-13_0-16-55.png upload_2023-9-13_0-17-36.png upload_2023-9-13_0-18-8.png upload_2023-9-13_0-19-18.png upload_2023-9-13_0-16-55.png upload_2023-9-13_0-17-36.png upload_2023-9-13_0-18-8.png upload_2023-9-13_0-19-18.png

Thank you all in advance!
 
gbesq
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This is a terrible example. Stick around OF and read everything that you can about vintage Constellations. You're not ready to make an informed purchase decision yet, but you did well to ask the OF community about this example BEFORE you pulled the trigger. Most newbies don't do that.
 
Walrus
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You said you are new, first watch. I still consider myself new but before you buy that look in the sales section here and see the condition and price of similar models. It’s really easy to want to rush and obtain things. It is a big benefit if you slow down and study a bit. Unless it’s 50 bucks and you are buying it as a beater.
 
Larry S
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Too far gone for a dress watch. The very fact you are even considering it , well, see @gbesq advice.
 
Aroxx
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Am I the only one who laughed when seeing the wrist hairs from the photoshopped missing wrist?
 
Dan S
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As noted above, that watch is in really poor condition overall. If you don't see it now, with a little more experience you would come to be unhappy with it. Keep looking at the references that interest you until you can distinguish the condition issues that are often discussed on the forum. And as you do that, pay attention to prices. When things start to make sense to you, you'll be ready to buy.
 
X350 XJR
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Sometimes you find a nice dial in a tired case, sometimes a crisp case with a tired dial, this however has no redeeming qualities at all that I can see.
 
stormysky10
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There is no collectibility with this example, but there is value in the gold. The latter would give you the price point.
 
STANDY
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No
 
Peemacgee
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Welcome @JocaMD

It’s great that you have a desire for a pie pan Constellation but it’s all good advice above.

The watch you show is so heavily polished that it doesn’t look like any particular reference anymore and the dial looks like it has mould all over it, not patina.

The watch you show was likely a 14393 - look that reference up for comparison.
In the meantime here is a pic of my gold 14382 - a no date version with the same case.
Have a look at the bezel and the shape of the lugs.


63417F05-ED0D-473E-A0FB-A9285043D236.jpeg
 
sheepdoll
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Initial reaction: This watch has everything wrong with it. Yet at the same time it is the right sort of watch in a sort of warped way. I guess every good thing must have it's own evil twin. Now I know what an undead watch looks like.
 
J
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Thank you all for the feedback, it’s much appreciated!

As I said, I’m new to this, hence why confusing natural oxidation with what seems to be mould. I’ll have a look at the threads you pointed me to. I quite like the model, love the pie pan dial and the gold case, looking at some of the good condition pictures Im even more inclined to acquire one to incept my collection.

For my reference what would be a fair price range for this model in good enough condition?
 
TexOmega
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In 14kt yellow gold, in very good to excellent working condition, and a correct 14kt gold crown, budget $2000USD plus a $200USD service.

Maybe a bit more from all your bidding competition.


The example you show displays a wrong crown in both composition and style.
 
Peemacgee
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J JocaMD
Thank you all for the feedback, it’s much appreciated!

As I said, I’m new to this, hence why confusing natural oxidation with what seems to be mould. I’ll have a look at the threads you pointed me to. I quite like the model, love the pie pan dial and the gold case, looking at some of the good condition pictures Im even more inclined to acquire one to incept my collection.

For my reference what would be a fair price range for this model in good enough condition?

As @gbesq mentions above, there are pie-pans in many different Constellation styles, plus date and no-date. (and dome dials like mine above)
Some are less collected than others, so are less expensive than some others.
For that reason, its difficult to give a general price.

The one you show is a reference 14393 - this is a late 'lyre-lug' model.
The 14381 is the no-date version in the same case.
You can't tell from the example you posted that it used to have lyre lugs as it doesn't normally look like that, so you may have to review what you are looking for.
There is only one Constellation with 'pointy' lugs and it is in an uncommon British made gold case.

Look into all of the Constellation references to see which you prefer.
If you find something, then ask here about condition and price.
 
Peemacgee
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TexOmega TexOmega
In 14kt yellow gold, in very good to excellent working condition, and a correct 14kt gold crown, budget $2000USD plus a $200USD service.

Maybe a bit more from all your bidding competition.

I think that might be a bit light for a very good-to-excellent example.
It does depend on the reference but a buyer would be a long time whistling in the wind if they tried to offer me anything like $2,000 for my 14k dogleg pie pan.

IMG_0805.jpg
 
TexOmega
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Yes, a ton of caveats, just trying to emphasize it will not be cheap.

nice Constellation
 
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