That was sort of my point. These dials didn't look like copies to me but new manufacture.
As we know, new dials are not available for all watches. If Omega has a new dial, they will do a swap, but where they don’t, they will refinish the dial.
Amazing post, it's always a dilemma. Can I ask how much you were charged for each redial job?
Agree totally. It looks like they use the same facilities and methods as new manufacture? In fact, doesn't a video on the Omega site of their restoration methods show pretty much this?
The methods for printing a dial don’t change if the dial is old, so yes it’s the same process.
Not sure I’ve seen a video of it, but it wouldn’t surprise me if they had one.
The Omega factory does not refinish dials or make dials. All outsourced. I had 2 dials done in Biel in the 90's ; had to send both back because of lousy work. Not a good option then. If they have your dial and exchange it, perfect. If not, i'd not ask them to refinish it. Kind regards. Achim
That post may be the most convincing argument against paying for a redial that I have ever seen here.
Very useful thanks for posting!
Curious if you had considered getting an “dirty” dial and cleaning It up instead of redialing?
Archer is correct with his comments. I recall paying about $250 for each dial, excluding shipping. The steel chronograph dial was $350 and the yellow gold chronograph dial was part of a full restoration job by Omega back in 2004 at $1,200.
I got this done by Omega this year. I really like the way it came back. Before and after.
Very useful thanks for posting!
Curious if you had considered getting an “dirty” dial and cleaning It up instead of redialing?
I got this done by Omega this year. I really like the way it came back. Before and after.
As I live in Northern California, and am currently trapped inside my house for the past several days because of the raging fires and the ton of smoke that is in the air, I am left with no recourse other than to post a bunch on this forum - but maybe I can help a few members out by advising to
"only refinish a dial if you want to take a big risk".
It took me several tries, using different dial refinishers, and much experimentation to only achieve marginal results at best. Finally, I would see the folly of a refinished dial. In the end, nothing beats an original dial, even if it has some flaws/patina or is imperfect. Here is a compendium of my direct experience. I will only show the refinished dial results.
1st example, a 1957 Connie. A decent job from a US-based dial refinisher, but the cross-hairs are a no-go and chronometre was spelled wrong.
2nd example, I found a beautiful 18k bumper chronometre that had an excellent case and a great movement. The dial was very poor, so I sent it off to a Germany-based dial refinisher. Here is the result. Not bad, but printing is too thick.
OK, let's try this again. Found a really nice 18k rose gold Cal. 30.10 automatic. One more time, maybe it will turn out good . . .
Ah-ha, finally a decent result. But don't look too close - you will see the flaws.
Tried two more and they turned out just OK - this 1943 chronograph
This was the best refinish job ever
Missing "Swiss Made" on the bottom of the dial left me wanting and I let it go - even though a really nice 18k yellow gold case with a Cal. 321.
Overall, a good experience for me and lots of $$ spent though. At this point, I stopped doing projects (buying sub-par examples and then spend time and money trying to improve them) and just focused on buying the best all-original examples I could find. Yes, I had to pay more for them, but you know what they say . . .
The best advice I can offer, is to always try to find a nice example with an original dial. You can go from one extreme to another in terms of price. There are still many nice examples out there for under $1,000, or even $500 - you just have to be patient.
Look at this mid-1950's Seamaster Calendar I purchased a few years ago for about $400. It's not perfect, the case has a few dings, BUT - the dial is original. Yes it has some age, but I think it also gives it some character.
