This is my second Omega purchase, but I have been collecting watches for a little while now. I recently found an 1959 Seamaster on eBay as a parts or repair. Normally I avoid broken watches like the plague, but this had a perfect case and what looked to me to be a perfect original dial. I was looking for a black dialed watch with a mid-500 caliber movement and had seen plenty of poor dials and bad cases. I was willing to overlook the broken part on this one. I think it all worked out well. I have shown photos in an intro email, and on WRUW thread. Hopefully not over-posting this here.

My main queries are:
I have not seen many glossy dials. Any general info on glossy dials would be greatly appreciated.
I have my guesses, but would like to know your thoughts on value. It is a keeper though, but curious.
Any idea on the case number. I did know know enough to get a good photo of the case back at the time.
Basically interested in anything you have to offer.

I found it on eBay with the following photos and information.

"OMEGA Seamaster Gold Bezel Stainless case. Condition is Pre-owned. Not running. Setting stem is loose. Sold as is to fix or for parts. No band. No returns."

I leaned from the seller that he had taken it to a jewelry shop and they claimed they were not omega certified and would not work on it. He had been told it was a Cal. 561, and I was sure that was incorrect. It ended up being a Cal. 562 that dated 1959 by the serial number on the movement. I won the auction and got the watch for $325.00. When I got the watch the stem fell out. My local watchmaker, a friend, got into it and texted the following photos and information:




"I got your Seamaster apart. It needs a big dose of TLC the yolk is broken, needs replaced.stems broken, needs replaced, and there are little things here and there The entire mechanism is grungy needs a deep clean. Hopefully it will purr like a kitten when it’s all cleaned, repaired and reassembled. I estimate it’s going to set you back about $250.00 ? Now, if you want to hold off for any reason or you want to send it back for a refund or whatever, let me know and I’ll re-assemble it and we can go from there. If you want me to proceed, let me know and I’ll get in hot pursuit" It also ended up needing a new split stem. Repairs and cleaning came to about $275.00.

The dial is not perfect as there are six or seven little scratches that are visible with a loom. It looks like a previous watch maker was a little rough on the dial during a service. The case appears never to have been polished an looks perfect to my eye. The crystal appears to be original as well with some light scratches.






Scarf fuzz on the dial in this one.





I added a genuine crocodile strap and a good replica gold Omega buckle that I will replace with a real one eventually. I have done a lot of research, but would value any insight you may have. Thank you for all the expertise on this forum.

 

I have the feeling you've bought yourself a genuine black dial. If so, you wont loose money on it. Value IMO would be app EUR 700- 850.

By the way, did'nt your watchmaker took pictures of the dial from both sides?

 

I don’t think he did but I will ask

 

Could you make micro pictures of those lumedots in better light?

 

That looks like a ref. 14730. Whatever it is, those hands don't belong on it - it ought to have baton hands and the seconds hand is too short. Also the crown though possibly a correct service replacement is crassly unsympathetic for the watch.

None of this really matters, though, as those things can be fixed and (as stated by @Shabbaz) you've only gone and got yourself a Seamaster with an original crosshair black dial. It's "the" Mad Men watch, it's an extremely rare dial and a lot of people are desperate to get one. Keep it, get the hands and crown fixed, and love it. Good catch!

 

Yes, I'll set up the tripod when i get home.

 

I found a photo of another watch from 1959. Are these the correct hands and crown?

 

After looking at the watch from Madmen, it looks like the white dialed watch has the right crown and hands.
https://omegaforums.net/threads/seamaster-on-madmen.12635/

 

Regardless of the status of the hands and crown, that is one great dial.

 

In a word, yes.

 

As I recall it (can't be bothered searching for the thread) there was some lengthy discussion about whether genuine crosshair black dial 562 Seamasters actually exist. It was concluded that they do but are extremely rare, and that the D D watch was a redial!

 

Here is a link to the thread you mentioned: https://omegaforums.net/threads/two-seamasters-deville-automatic-on-ebay-with-crosshair-dial.67898/

Mine is not a DeVille, but it is an interesting read.

 

Found a set of hands and a crown. Universo SA is the Swatch group's hand manufacturer, so it was the closest to original Omega I could locate. It is amazing how much nicer it looks now.

I think the hands that came on it are from a Constellation. If anybody knows for sure, please let confirm. Here are a few more photos.














Old Hands

 

Looks great, and well worth the money and effort. Definitely a keeper

 

Well, I managed to score another one of these - same 14730 reference as the one above, except without lume. It looks all correct to me with the exception of the small marker at 3 - I don’t think it’s original to the dial.