The thing is there are pie-pans and then there are pie-pans.
There is always the debate between lyre lugs and dog-leg lugs, but for me lyre lugs win hands down every time ( However I do own a dog-leg pie-pan, but find it a bit dainty by design). There are of course other, even later Constellation pie-pan dials such as the 1960's straight lug cases 168.010 for example, but these although attractive do not have the street cred of the earlier ref's and are therefore less valuable.
But still I'd say the best, most attractive and most valuable pie-pans are the classic lyre lug 2652/2852/2853 type references. The case are chunky, the movements are great and they ooze class on the wrist.
I just have to think of the classic "old guy" joke: "What?! $XX for a quart of milk?! In MY day a quart of milk only cost FIVE CENTS, and you got it in a thick glass bottle!," etc., etc. Connie pie pans are extremely beautiful and high quality, and the number of collectable examples is always going down due to polishing, redialing, and general passage of time and bad stuff happening. Let's show a little love! You can't go wrong with a good pie pan Connie. As for black Connies, I always assume redial unless macro photos in raking light and/or the reputation of the seller convinces me otherwise.
Black dial Connies are very much in that same category as actual military Omegas, straight lug Speedys etc where if you have to ask on a public forum, you probably shouldn't be buying one anywhere other than through someone like Eric Wind.
There's so much out there in the Omega world that isn't in that category, but they're the Omega equivalent of Fugu, don't touch it unless it's been handled by an expert, or you are one yourself.
FYI, I've personally never owned one myself, despite owning well over a hundred Constellations, and even though I have a pretty good eye for them, I would get one double checked by some of the guys who own them, including some participants in this thread, and a couple of other guys I won't outright mention because I don't want their PMs flooded with "is this black dial real".
The demand for quality Constellations is as hot as it has ever been right now, if anything I think Speedys have cooled slightly while demand for these has increased, with a massive market in Asia demanding the best examples being a major factor.
Its the reason so many redials and flogged out examples are selling for more than they should, and its the reason people are willing to pay over the odds for an opportunity to own a really nice example as it will still be vastly cheaper than turning to a dealer.
The key value of components vary between models significantly, but on a 2852 its the dial, there are far more good cases than clean original dials. On doglegs in particular, its case and dial in roughly equal proportion as the cases as so susceptible that even including the pool of dome dials there is a shortage of good cases. On C-cases there is a surplus of good dials and a shortage of good cases.
Movements are pretty plentiful, even in the event that you have one in really bad shape, I've haven't paid more than $150 for an entire 751/564/551 donor in ages, and non-chronometers can offer most of the parts at far less again.
The dogleg in particular is getting hot again due to Omega bringing it back in Seamaster form at $21,700 in gold, it's a beautiful case design that's for sure.
https://www.omegawatches.com/en-us/...axial-master-chronometer-37-mm-52253372004001
I realize they are awesome, and would pay quite a bit for a Rose-Gold (or capped) Pie Pan with sharp Dog-Legs (with a date is even better!).
I've been keeping an eye out for a few months, and it WAS that 1500-2000 or so got you a 'good' looking one up until about a month ago, when prices went haywire. The 'barn find' one from the suggestion thread was just eye-opening: a beat up one with an unknown quality dial, fall damage, and a busted movement went for what 6 months ago got you a pretty solid pie pan.
I realize they are awesome, and would pay quite a bit for a Rose-Gold (or capped) Pie Pan with sharp Dog-Legs (with a date is even better!).
I've been keeping an eye out for a few months, and it WAS that 1500-2000 or so got you a 'good' looking one up until about a month ago, when prices went haywire. The 'barn find' one from the suggestion thread was just eye-opening: a beat up one with an unknown quality dial, fall damage, and a busted movement went for what 6 months ago got you a pretty solid pie pan.
I just have to think of the classic "old guy" joke: "What?! $XX for a quart of milk?! In MY day a quart of milk only cost FIVE CENTS, and you got it in a thick glass bottle!," etc., etc. Connie pie pans are extremely beautiful and high quality, and the number of collectable examples is always going down due to polishing, redialing, and general passage of time and bad stuff happening. Let's show a little love! You can't go wrong with a good pie pan Connie. As for black Connies, I always assume redial unless macro photos in raking light and/or the reputation of the seller convinces me otherwise.
You can see the dial quite clearly by comparing the photos from different angles through the crystal and it's a nice one under there, the only muck moves based on the angle you look through the crystal. All watches bought off eBay are going to be due for a full service anyway so the movement not running isn't even a significant factor, an entire donor movement to fish any needed components off is very cheap compared to a case or dial, and given the original condition and amount of crust its likely just way overdue for service more than anything too serious anyway.
Years ago there was a thread talking about how whoever the dumb dumb was who bought this did poorly and overpaid for a busted A386, this is how it turned out after service and a crystal:
Wish I was that dumb dumb!!!🥰
