Hi Folks,

Long time lurker, first time poster - love the site and all the wonderful knowledge I have picked up from visiting it.

I am In the market for a SS Constellation Pie Pan (ideally 168.005) and obsessed is probably a better description of how badly I want to find one! I have been looking for quite some time now.

As people here advise I have been waiting for one in the right condition and may have found one as per the following link (no movement pics!!) that I thought looked the part. Can I ask for input on both the watch and dealer if people have experience of buying from them?

https://www.austinkaye.co.uk/vintag...ainless-steel-automatic-watch-aged-dial?back=

Thanks
J

Edit - here is an example of one I would love and that I am kicking myself I missed recently - https://omegaforums.net/threads/omega-constellation-pie-pan-dog-leg-168-005.53003/

 

My suggestion:https://omegaforums.net/threads/fsot-omega-constellation-piepan-gold-cap-168-005.54319/

 

Dial looks correct, and parts are original. Serviced by Omega should mean a good movement.
Howerver the case is heavily polished and price is in the wrong end of the £1xxx price range.

The one efauser linked to is !!!, go get it before some else does.

 

You simply will not find a Constellation for sale at a dealer (or a re-seller, as I like to think of them) that anyone in here will endorse. Fact is that they are priced at roughly 3-4X market price - or at least, private market prices... For next to no additional gain. "Collectors" as most here are, are all about the "collecting" aspect of the hobby, meaning that most of us would rather wait to find the right specimen at the right price rather than shell out large amounts of cash to satisfy an immediate craving for a nice, vintage watch.

Bear that in mind when asking for advice here.

 

Hello and welcome

Presume you meant 168.005

Austin Kaye are very expensive and frequently not good value for money
The watch is correct but 2 grand for this watch is ludicrous
Spotty dial, polished lugs case and bezel and replacement crown - it's a sub £1000 watch at best IMHO (even with a service)

The one mentioned above is a rare beauty but gold capped not SS and in the States so importing it would cost around 25% more

Hang in there - decent doglegs do come up at a reasonable price

And do as you've done here - post your targets for review and we'll help you steer through the minefield

 

Still less than he was willing to spend on the piece in the OP.

 

Thank you for the reply. I scout the for sale section every day and did indeed pick up on that one - I don't particularly like Gold fullstop but that one even had me taking a second look. It's stunning but I really do have my heart set on a SS.

Thank you for the feedback all the same!

 

It was the peace of mind of the 2 year warranty that was helping me justify the increased cost I guess.

Plus I was assuming a 10/15% haggling discount.

 

Agreed
But the OP's watch is f'kin rip off
It really boils my piss when I see 'respectable' retailers peddling their sub standard goods for rediculous prices
Austin Kaye are based in the centre of London and price their watches accordingly - but if you pay a premium you should at least get value for money

 

Thank you kindly for the feedback and yes, I'll continue asking for feedback. Te advice I have gleaned here has already saved me from jumping in with redials or frankens to date!

 

You might want to add your desire for a SS connie to the OP.

 

Fair point Done

 

Couple more I saw that caught my eye.

Not a PiePan but rather clean looking? http://www.chrono24.com/omega/constellation-jumbo--id5689791.htm

A rather pricy perhaps heavily polished(?)Pie Pan but advertised as "Full set". I'm buying intending to keep though so not sure that matters really?

http://www.chrono24.com/omega/constellation-pie-pan--id5678054.htm

 

Both are overpriced, IMHO.

 

Ok, one more for this evening

https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?p=7419605

I also found it on his Instagram page - looks like some damage to dial at 4 o clock. Hard to see properly.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BNu3G9Pg42N/

 

I like the one on the RolexForums. I would wait for @Peemacgee to respond because he's more knowledgeable. Not sure about the price. I think it's a couple hundred high but let him confirm.

 

I agree on the "couple hundred high" and would add that it has the wrong hands. Those on it now are without luminous material, which, naturally, is wrong for a dial with tritium lume plots. That the seller states they are original is... Odd. It should be pretty clear.

I would have liked the case to be better, especially at that price. That said, it does come with a BoR, and with the way prices on steel, pie-pan dialled Constellations have moved recently, I wouldn't be surprised that this was the new normal.

 

Also... Are the dial furniture on these white gold? I don't seem to recall that.

Reading the sales blurb, the seller comes across as a... Seller.

 

This is the kind of info I just don't possess myself. Thank you for the direction!

I said I was done but I have one more I want to ask about

Does that cyclops glass make sense?

https://www.ebay.ie/itm/381990416701Purchases made through these links may earn this site a commission from the eBay Partner Network

 

first one -not a jumbo - a 168.004 hidden crown
dial just beginning to bubble
slightly soft case
whilst I have a particular fondness for this style of Connie, it is not as popular as other case styles and/or with Pie-pans
definitely overpriced

second one
good case
heavily patinated dial
replacement crown
a full set is very much a 'nice to have' and does add value/cost but box doesn't look like a Connie box
much too expensive with that dial IMHO