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1939 Vintage Omega Dial Redial Disaster: Restoration Help

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I bought a 1939 Vintage gold omega which had a worn/dirty glass and needed a light refinish? Maybe.

A local dealer who I have worked with in the past on other watches sent it off and their vendor destroyed my dial and repainted the entire dial horribly.

Can you refer me to an expert who can try to mimic the original?

IMG_6928.webp
 
DON
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As mentioned. Refinishing means restoring to new like condition.

Can try a tea soak to maybe age the luminous. Maybe an art forum where one can lightly age the dial if you pay.
 
hugh162
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I’ve seen some decent redials from Tim the “OmegaAddict” (at least imo). But that’s horrible, I would ask the dealer to cover the costs of getting this watch closer to original condition.
 
goudaville
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yikes! this is horrendous, sorry. hope somebody can refer you to someone who can help
 
ErichKeane
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Urgh, that is horrible. That dial is unfixable. Your best bet is to see if you can find one out of a different/damaged watch.

Its really sad, the 'before' is actually a lovely dial that shows its age well. The after is a cartoon.
 
Dan S
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The original dial was lovely. Unfortunately, the originality and beauty is gone for good ... lesson learned I assume.
 
sheepdoll
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Dials are produced using a process similar to how currency is printed. So replicating a dial or repainting it is akin to counterfeiting.

It all comes down to the master plates. Which in turn has tells from the artist who created them. Any copy or restoration would be nearly indistinguishable from an original. There may be some in places like southeast Asia, India, Italy or even Switzerland etc who can replicate this art. The issue remains that the fakes cost the same as the real stuff, so there are no bargains to be had.

Back when I started collecting about 35 years back, dial repainting was an expected part of the service. I looked into this taking classes in enamel jewelry for several years on the weekends. I did come up with some scripts what can replicate dials on a laser printer. From time to time I consider resuming this. I did use a fiber laser to make some blank dials. For some reason I never take the time to sit down and build the fonts what match existing examples.

The paint and lacquer is so thin, that any sort of cleaning will damage what is left. The pigments were not chosen for long term stability. Many are oil tar byproducts. The lacquers can also be hydroscopic and react with moisture and gases in the air.
 
AG77
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Another vintage watch bites the dust. Never to be seen again.
 
Dan S
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I thought I would ask gen-AI to see if it could make the repainted dial look like the original dial. You're welcome.

1767217030315.webp
 
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hugh162 hugh162
I’ve seen some decent redials from Tim the “OmegaAddict” (at least imo). But that’s horrible, I would ask the dealer to cover the costs of getting this watch closer to original condition.
How do I reach Tim the OmegaAddict
 
JimInOz
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Best place is probably eBay.
Set a search for "Vintage Omega XXXXXX" (your model) and wait.
Also try local watchmakers see if they have an old junk bin.

We don't know where you're located so trying to give anything definite is difficult.
 
hugh162
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You could also search for your movement calibre on eBay. With the price of gold nowadays, lots of people are scrapping the cases and selling the movement/dial. Just check the dial dimensions fit your case, as different dials can be made to fit the same movement.
 
gatorcpa
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A artdeco_omega
Can you refer me to an expert who can try to mimic the original?
Unfortunately, no.

As @sheepdoll stated, you need someone that not only has access to the original almost 100 year old dies that a Swiss dial making company used (Omega did not make that dial), you need the old machinery too.

Bear in mind that the original luminous material is radium, which is illegal to use today.

This would be like asking someone to re-create a Model A Ford by 3-D printing the parts. The technology may be there to do such a job, but the processes and materials used then no longer exist. So regardless of the quality of the work, it is going to look different.

IMO, the work done is about as good as it is going to get.
gatorcpa
 
Larry S
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I’ve been avoiding comment here. a) I’d have had the watchmaker attempt a gentle cleaning as part of the overhaul, understanding the risk of course, and left it at that. Second, it’s good work for a redial IMO considering it was done without the original tooling. Perhaps more effort into matching hands lume might have made it better.
Edited:
 
Hal10000
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ErichKeane ErichKeane
Urgh, that is horrible. That dial is unfixable. Your best bet is to see if you can find one out of a different/damaged watch.

Its really sad, the 'before' is actually a lovely dial that shows its age well. The after is a cartoon.
100% agree. It looked so nice. 😩
 
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