Not that the rest is particularly great, but look at the position of 25 and 35 relative to the subdial, and compare that to other 1040 dials.

 

Great work Andy.

 

A year later, and that dial is now attached to a 176.001 with a silly asking price... http://www.ebay.ch/itm/Omega-Chrono...251834366?clk_rvr_id=1264362501926&rmvSB=truePurchases made through these links may earn this site a commission from the eBay Partner Network

 

Prototype is mentioned so it's cheap

 

Any more knowledge about Omegas is always appreciated. Thank you.

 

The dial on this watch was one that Watchco had listed previously when their old website was still live. As many of you know Watchco bought up a lot of obsolete parts from Omega back in the day and amongst those was a range of prototype dials, of which this was one, they had quite a few 1040/ 1045 calibre prototype and 'special dials' including the radial dials for 1040 and 1045 watches (they sold the last one a few years ago and even then it fetched nearly £5K)

 

So, I am not 'arguing' but I am pretty sure that this dial is original, not suggesting for one second that the watch is a prototype (highly unlikely) as its so easy to add dials to existing watches and claim proto, I've seen that at some very high profile auctions recently.

The reason I make the claim about the dial is that its not the first one I have seen (both absolutely identical) but sadly I am not at liberty to say where I saw the other one but I am confident that 'the owner' of the other one is beyond repute and knows what they have

The other reason I am pretty comfortable that the dial is original is the quality of the printing, especially of the Omega text. I would happily be proven wrong but I am as confident as I can be that the dial is legit and a pre production or prototype configuration.

 

This makes sense, in the months since this was discussed here I have learned more about this specific watch. I had an exchange with a well-known collector that knows the origin of this one and its owner/creator. His assessment was that the watch is a complete fabrication by a "faker collector" (there may have been some translation issues). He thought the dial was also a fake, but it makes complete sense given the quality of the dial that the creator of it simply bought it from Watchco.

 

I appreciate your insight and trust your source but am still doubtful about this one...Yes the printing of "OMEGA" is good, but elsewhere (the 25 and 35 particularly, but also the box around the date window, the T SWISS MADE T, etc.) not so much. The lack of a logo is odd, too. I guess the overall quality of these pre-production or test prototypes is just not quite on par with the ones Omega approved for production and sale.

These two dials, and this one for certain, just don't quite measure up to the common legit ones.

 

Has anyone actually seen a 176.004 f2 in reality...seen the photo seen a mock up/fake ../but never a real one ...anyone ??

 

I am still waiting to see one other than the one in AJTT from the Omega Museum.

 

I have this one which is from my small font thread

 

This one s from Matt Bain ?
When I was at the museum [sorry ] chatting to David [the watchmaker] he was a bit puzzled as well and of course both of us were extremely sceptical about some of the content of a AJTT

This is why I raise this in the first place because it appears to be a total mystery dial With I think the OAS sequence But no other writing
I was tempted to say it was a transplant from another watch but then it’s got small font bezel which is strange

Tom Dick thought it was some kind of prototype I am totally unsure maybe it’s a watchco but his knowledge is not easily challenged

 

That looks like a G dial from a 176.005. http://www.calibre1040.com/cal-1040-collectors-guide-dials/g/

That configuration shows up in the Japanese Seamaster book too, but my belief is that the dial was installed (incorrectly) as a service dial.

 

Many thanks for all the effort you've put into this Andy, the website is most interesting. I've not owned a 1040 calibre before but have one coming in and have spent the last hour reading about the different variants, dials etc. A heck of a lot of work there.

Thanks again

Regards, Chris

 

Thanks for the kind words. Congrats, post pics when it arrives!

 

Arrived today. Great watch from a top guy. Better pictures over here.

Cheers, Chris

 

I love 1040 omegas. I have been tempted time and again to dump all my Rolex and go all omega.

145.022
910 flighmaster
Ploprof
Big blue
Mark 4.5
And at least 3 other 1040 models I like

 

Fascinating Post. Great research, thank you so much Andy

 

Hi Andy.
Thanks for such a great thread.
Been a thorough education...
I was wondering if you had any knowledge of similar thread on the bracelets of these watches.
There's several threads on the bracelet of the Speedmaster Pros, but I can't find any such equivalent thread on the bracelets of cal 1040 watches...

In particular, I would like to have more info on the "bracelet #9830" pictured below.
It's the bracelet that is on my 176.007 with B2 dial.
The end links are 120 end links but the bracelet is stamped "Stainless Omega No.12" without any bracelet number.
Thanks in advance for any info.