Gold dial or white dial Constellation - which do you like more?

moraleses · Fri. 4:12pm

I have these two vintage Constellations and I’m trying to decide which one I enjoy more.

One has a gold dial, the other has a white dial with a crosshair.

I’m also thinking of sending one in for service, but I can’t quite decide which one makes more sense to keep as-is.
Curious what people here think:

Do you prefer the gold dial or the white dial with crosshair?
And from the photos, which one looks like it’s in better condition?

Just trying to get some outside opinions since I keep changing my mind.

dsio · Fri. 5:18pm

I actually really like the hidden crown with the larger 35.5mm, especially in a gold Piepan.

I’ve owned a lot of Constellations but this is one that has never come up at the right time and price for me so I’ve had to admire them from afar.

For blokes like me with larger wrists that extra 1mm really does make a difference and I find the proportions on the larger dial to be very attractive. It really does feel like the hidden crown had fewer Piepan variants made than other models though and they seem to be significantly less common in solid gold than other models, with the monocoque models also falling in this category.

That would be the keeper for me.

jffoo · Fri. 5:26pm

White dial for me, the gold on gold is too much for me, I like low key

moraleses · Fri. 5:52pm

dsio
I actually really like the hidden crown with the larger 35.5mm, especially in a gold Piepan.

I’ve owned a lot of Constellations but this is one that has never come up at the right time and price for me so I’ve had to admire them from afar.

For blokes like me with larger wrists that extra 1mm really does make a difference and I find the proportions on the larger dial to be very attractive. It really does feel like the hidden crown had fewer Piepan variants made than other models though and they seem to be significantly less common in solid gold than other models, with the monocoque models also falling in this category.

That would be the keeper for me.

Thanks! I have a smaller wrist. But agree that the 1mm does a big difference!

moraleses · Fri. 5:54pm

jffoo
White dial for me, the gold on gold is too much for me, I like low key

You would be surprised! On the wrist the golden markers on the white dial make it even “shinier”. Believe it or not I am thinking the gold dial wears more understated.

calalum · Fri. 6:35pm

So you are trying to decide which you enjoy more based on the preferences of others?

gatorcpa · Fri. 8:12pm

Remember that the gold dial is 18K gold and it has the signature onyx inserts. I prefer the gold, all other things being equal. But they are not equal here.

My decision would be made based on dial and case and I prefer the lyre lugs of the white dialed version.

Tough choice, but I think I would still “go for gold”.
gatorcpa

TIMElyBehaviour · Fri. 9:26pm

I prefer the gold on gold myself.

Peemacgee · Sat. 1:51am

Very odd thread @moraleses.

They are both lovely but very different watches - both in case style and appearance on the wrist.

If I had to pick one it would be the 168.014 deluxe but I would only wear it on high days and holidays because it is very much ‘in your face’ - but a beautiful watch all the same.
The 14381 is much more wearable on an everyday basis.

Good strap choices by the way.

moraleses · Sat. 11:58am

Peemacgee
Very odd thread @moraleses.

They are both lovely but very different watches - both in case style and appearance on the wrist.

If I had to pick one it would be the 168.014 deluxe but I would only wear it on high days and holidays because it is very much ‘in your face’ - but a beautiful watch all the same.
The 14381 is much more wearable on an everyday basis.

Good strap choices by the way.

Sorry if the thread feels odd! I am fairly new to watch collecting (3 months). Both are inherited pieces and I wanted to hear opinions about them. I am really liking vintage. And will service them. Just wanted to hear opinions from more experienced collectors…

moraleses · Sat. 12:00pm

calalum
So you are trying to decide which you enjoy more based on the preferences of others?

Yeap! Basically it was my idea of learning. It’s either that or keep talking to ChatGPT that always agrees with me!

AG77 · Sat. 1:28pm

Lyre lugs for me. It's also more legible and easier to read the time.

Peemacgee · Sat. 1:33pm

Inheriting both watches - you are very lucky indeed.

moraleses · Sat. 1:48pm

Peemacgee
Inheriting both watches - you are very lucky indeed.

Can’t argue with that. I did not know my grand father was into watches.

Also got a Jaeger Memovox E871 (70s) and recently bought a Tudor Prince date 34mm for a daily.

Learning a little bit more everyday!

hen · Sat. 2:50pm

I envy your problems 😉

TIMElyBehaviour · Sat. 5:22pm

Sounds terrible, what a problem to have 😆

reggie_v · Sun. 3:49pm

White dial for me 👍🏻

Gold dial or white dial Constellation - which do you like more?

moraleses

dsio

jffoo

moraleses

moraleses

calalum

gatorcpa

TIMElyBehaviour

Peemacgee

moraleses

moraleses

AG77

Peemacgee

moraleses

hen

TIMElyBehaviour

reggie_v

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