This is my small collection of vintage Constellations. Which I have been trying to photograph today. Respect to professional watch photographers! Left to right. 167.005 no date Dome dial Serial number 20640348 (1963) caliber 551 but pretty sharp lugs and sharp medallion. No service history but keeps good time. 168.005 Piepan serial number 26351283 (1968) caliber 564 Lovely dial ( I think ) Bezel slightly tarnished but not overly so and sharp lugs and back. Full service November 2016 168.0065 PiePan. Serial number 37683513 (1973) caliber 1011. Again a lovely untouched dial, sharp lugs and medallion and brand new bezel and crown. Previous bezel cracked at last full service January 2017 unfortunately. I love them all especially the Japanese market 0065 If you had to lose one of the three - What would your choice be ( and why) Thanks to all previous comments btw. Just to clarify not selling.
For me I would pick the '73 to lose. I'm not a fan of that dial configuration plus I prefer not having a date window. The '68 has more character to me out of the two pie pans.
Given that they all appear to have really nice cases, I’m going to sit on the fence a bit here. If I was looking to keep the two that were likely to keep or most improve their worth long term, it would be the two pie pans. however, whilst I get the special nature and relative scarcity of the 168.0065, if I were choosing to keep two watches for pleasure, it would be that ever-so-elegant no-date dome dial and the earlier pie pan.
If you let go of the 165.005, I believe you will regret this decision! For me it is just an icon. You can spot it a mile away on someone's wrist. It looked cool then and it looks cool now. I think it will still look good in 10+ or 20+ years
I'd lose none but gun to my head, I'd say 1973, too. IMHO, connies from 1960s are probably the best examples of the line. The collectors' appetite for them would increasingly continue, so would their market value. This isn't to say 1973 doesn't have any of these qualities but, you know, there is a gun on my head, so...
If the gun get turned on me, I would also give up the 1973. In addition to the more "classic" appearance of the other two, I much prefer the caliber 5xx movements.
Thank you I love them all for all the reasons mentioned. I have least ‘invested’ in the 1963 dome dial as I took it in as a part ex plus cash for a solid gold Dennison cased Piepan which I now regret doing ( we live and learn!) The other two I hunted down, offered on and eventually bought and had serviced etc so I know these two well. But still appreciating the dome dial for its elegance and simplicity as Peemacgee says plus its a nice age! loving the fact I was just 4yrs old when it was first bought.