I think you are not missing the point which everyone is trying to make, but rather refusing to accept their point, because you are obviously financially and emotionally involved with the watch. I can understand that you would be very disappointed to learn that the dial had been refinished, but all the signs seem to point at that being the case. The receipt you have posted a picture of, is a receipt of service, it says nothing about whether or not the dial is in the same original condition as when it left the factory. You have asked the opinion of the forum, and I appreciate it must be disheartening to have been told by several people that they believe it to be a redial, but I think it is out of order to then start throwing accusations and calling peoples judgement into question because you dont like what you hear. If you dont agree with their opinion, then go ahead and prove it is a 100% original dial, but the photo of a service receipt is not that proof. A refinished dial is still a genuine Omega dial - However, as a collectors piece and from a monetary point of view, the value is drastically reduced. Regards Nick
Hmmm. I only questioned the opinion of those who are stating their opinion should be counted above that of a professional. Which is one person. It's not an expensive watch, its value is irrelevant really as it can sell for close to what I would ask for it what ever the dial looks like, especially with a 2 year warranty. That's not really the point. Some here have spoken as if to say in definite terms that it's a redial etc and I do take a little bit of an exception to that when an omega professional has state other wise. He could be wrong of course. I don't feel I need to prove anything. I'm not trying to say it's a 20k special one off. It's a bog standard 176.005 with what I think is a cool dial, that says Speedmaster rather than Seamaster. I don't disagree with anyone's opinion here, but I don't take it as gospel either. The jury is out.
I am certainly not a professional, but I am a fan of Omega watches. In my opinion, there are a lot of people on this forum, whose opinion I would trust on a vintage Omega, over an Omega dealer. While there will obviously be dealers out there who are Omega fans, rather than just retailers running a business, some of the guys on here have been collecting vintage Omegas for decades, and their knowledge is second to none. When I started collecting Omegas, vintage Constellations were the watches that I started with. Pretty much everything I know about them was learned from Desmond's blog, and my local Omega dealer knew nothing in comparison, but then why would he? If you went to your local Ford dealer, would you expect them to be an expert on the Model T, or would you look for expertise on that model in other areas?
Absolutely true. But my conversation was with a vintage omega specialist, so o have to give him some credence surely. At least equal to any gurus here. Only seems fair.
Well of course it is. He said it and I believed him, I had no reason to doubt. I will research furthers
You couldn't be more wrong in that assessment I'm afraid. You're talking about one guy that has been trained to service watches, Omega do not train technicians to be able to determine the originality of vintage dials, it simply isn't their job nor their concern, and would take years to teach them as there are tens of thousands of dials. If you google for AJTT you'll see how big the Omega reference book is, and its barely the tip of the iceberg. Moonwatch Only is a completely separate book that serves as the definitive reference for Speedmaster Pro and pre-Pro models, without even covering all the automatics like your Jedi, and that book alone is nearly 500 pages, incidentally one of the authors of that book is actually a member here as well.
So the alternative is, that the guy at STS knows every single dial that Omega has ever produced, and has the knowledge to spot every watch that has ever had a redial. You are pitching one guy, up against a whole host of seasoned Omega collectors, and ignoring their advice, because the STS guy is telling you what you want to hear.
No. That's not what I'm doing at all. But I'm not saying he's absolutely wrong just because some omega enthusiasts "online" say that the dial may have some issues. Which is what it seems is the result wanted by those here. I am accepting all, and making no decision and drawing no conclusion. But, if you think I'm going to take the word of those here as absolute fact, your wrong. Why would I? Whatever you say about him, he has experience of Vintage omegas every day, he will have seen thousands and thousands. Experience does count for something in my book. I'm not saying he's definitely above or beyond reproach either. How dare I suggest that a STS omega professional may have more credence than a member here though. I should be punished!!
Who's punishing you? Just trying to explain it to you, and unless I read incorrectly the watchmaker never told you it wasn't a redial, he simply didn't comment either way.
Interesting conversations. Glad that you don't sit in front of each other. By the way, mine is a redail. And I like it!
Did he say specifically that the dial has not been refinished, or that it left the factory as it is now? Based on what I have read, I don't think he has said that, but if you could confirm it one way or another that would be great thanks. Again, Omega service centers will service a watch with a redial and not insist that it is exchanged as you have suggested. Omega Bienne will do the same (this is not speculation, but my direct experience with them sending in a watch with a redial on behalf of my client), so the fact they did not insist it should be replaced is not proof of the dial being in original factory condition. Cheers, Al
Just a quick observation on the dial in question, the hour register does not have a stepdown. I have only seen that before when the register is another color from the rest of the dial (even those may have a slight indent), there is no contrast between the dial and the register on this one. My concern is more based on the Speedmaster dial in a Seamaster case. Has that ever been proven to be an option? A watch like this was on ebay last summer...http://www.ebay.ie/itm/OMEGA-Speedm...EDI-1040-Automatic-Chronograph-/251560681606?Purchases made through these links may earn this site a commission from the eBay Partner Network
In our conversation he only comments that it was a rare dial and that there are very few he has seen marked Speedmaster. Neither of us used the phrase redial, so I suppose you could say he didn't say it wasn't, but the nature and candidness of our conversation and relationship I would be surprised that if he has thought that he would not say, but that leaves the door open I suppose. What made me more confident was that he had seen it before. If he never had alarm bells would be ringing.