Black Dial Dress Watch - End Of The Story

DocJ · Apr 23, 2022

Well, the eBay auction closed last night and the watch sold for $410 plus $35 shipping. Already there are two more, very similar, black redialed Omegas from South Korea up for sale on eBay. And life goes on ….

When my dad’s old watch gets back from being serviced I will open a new thread showing before and after pictures.

Enjoy your weekend everyone!

johnireland · Apr 23, 2022

I do not object to a redial that is well done. But when the name and Omega logo are misaligned, I could not live with it. I don't
like the redial you were considering. And most black dial Omegas are exactly that...badly done redials. In fact, most black dialed
vintage watches from all makes these days are redials. What's the point of wearing a tux if the watch isn't up to the occasion?
Increase you budget and your standards of perfection and you will find a much more enjoyable experience when you wear the tux.

DocJ · Apr 24, 2022

JohnIreland: Point taken and I don’t disagree with anything you’ve said. As you state in your comment, other than so-so redials (or worse), black dial watches with leather straps (as opposed to metal bracelets) aren’t common. While I am fond of Omega since I inherited my dad’s and this is where I started my search I am not wedded to just that brand and would be ok with new instead of vintage. All of the watches that members shared in this thread are yellow gold and I am looking for stainless, white gold, etc.

For all of these reasons I have kind of come back to the redials. The low budget is because they aren’t great watches, not the other way around.

So let’s raise the budget. I am open to suggestions. Here is what I am looking for: Black dial. “White” case (stainless steel or white gold), not yellow gold. Leather strap, not metal. Center seconds. No date, but that might be impossible to avoid. Mechanical, not quartz and preferably manual winding instead of automatic. The thinner the better. New or used but not too discolored or weathered. Not restricted to just Omega. Let’s say under $5000 but if anyone wants to show us a picture of a $75,000 Patek it’s always fun to look.

johnireland · Apr 24, 2022

Hello. An original black dial is simply going to be hard to find on a vintage watch. And a watch that fits under the sleeve of your Tux will be near impossible with a new watch since they are usually size of a can of tuna fish. Alternative brands to consider are Longines, Gerard Perigueux, and IWC to start off with. Easy to find very nice manual wind movements that will be very handsome on the wrist, will tell time well, should not break the bank. Start looking on ebay just to get a sense of the models and styles.

Waltesefalcon · Apr 24, 2022

If you're just talking about a vintage dress watch that'll look great with a tux I'd suggest looking for an old Hamilton Piping Rock or Coronado. Neither has a black dial but both have gorgeous black enamel bezels with Roman numeral hour markers. You can find them in both yellow or white gold, and I belive that you can still find decent examples at pretty reasonable prices.

wilderbeast · Apr 25, 2022

For your budget you could get a smarter example than mine of a black dialled UG Polerouter:

I also have a better condition gold capped one that I wear for Black Tie:

Classic Genta design, so elegant on the wrist and a nice size. Prices are creeping up all the time, though…

keepitsimple · Apr 27, 2022

wilderbeast
For your budget you could get a smarter example than mine of a black dialled UG Polerouter:

I also have a better condition gold capped one that I wear for Black Tie:

Classic Genta design, so elegant on the wrist and a nice size. Prices are creeping up all the time, though…

I don't have many "would like to gets" on my list, but the polerouter is on there. One of the few Genta designs that I really like.

keepitsimple · Apr 27, 2022

My own "Black Tie" (Tuxedo for my US cousins) watches are these 2, although sadly the Omega is running like a dog. Watchmaker tells me it needs a new balance.

Interestingly, they both have the same movement (as far as I can make out), although re-named for the Omega version.

Peseaux 701 - Omega.....(can't remember)

Omega is ~ 35mm so no good for those who like a clock their wrists.

Junghans is ~38mm, but looks larger due to the very narrow bezel. It isn't actually black, but a very dark midnight blue/purple.

I think protocol pedants will tell you that shouldn't wear a timepiece to formal occasions anyway..... 😉

ConElPueblo · Apr 27, 2022

If you are looking for a formal dress (black tuxedo, white shirt, bow tie, etc) I would just find a good looking pocket watch. That's what I did.

Azveld · Apr 30, 2022

D DocJ
Well, the eBay auction closed last night and the watch sold for $410 plus $35 shipping. Already there are two more, very similar, black redialed Omegas from South Korea up for sale on eBay. And life goes on ….

When my dad’s old watch gets back from being serviced I will open a new thread showing before and after pictures.

Enjoy your weekend everyone!

I confess that I miss seeing this

gatorcpa · Apr 30, 2022

I’ll second the suggestion of a 1930’s Hamilton. The Grade 987 and 979 movements were top of the line for the time. Many of these came in white gold filled and solid 14K white gold.

You can look at various models here:

http://www.hamiltonwristwatch.info/home.htm

Another suggestion would be a 1950’s LeCoultre. Of all the Swiss watch companies, they probably made the most black dialed watches of anyone. They tended to use very glossy lacquer, which seemed to hold up better than others. A typical example here:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/134099958041?

Not too many in white gold though. Manual wind cal. 480 movements were also top notch.

Good luck with your search.
gatorcpa

johnireland · Apr 30, 2022

K keepitsimple
My own "Black Tie" (Tuxedo for my US cousins) watches are these 2, although sadly the Omega is running like a dog. Watchmaker tells me it needs a new balance.

Interestingly, they both have the same movement (as far as I can make out), although re-named for the Omega version.

Peseaux 701 - Omega.....(can't remember)

Omega is ~ 35mm so no good for those who like a clock their wrists.

Junghans is ~38mm, but looks larger due to the very narrow bezel. It isn't actually black, but a very dark midnight blue/purple.

I think protocol pedants will tell you that shouldn't wear a timepiece to formal occasions anyway..... 😉

Both are very handsome and I think any tux would be happy to be in the same company.

Black Dial Dress Watch - End Of The Story

DocJ

johnireland

DocJ

johnireland

Waltesefalcon

wilderbeast

keepitsimple

keepitsimple

ConElPueblo

Azveld

gatorcpa

johnireland

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