Black dial SMDVs Türler authenticity check

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Hi all, just purchased this off eBay and although I'm pretty sure it's a redial, I'd love to hear other opinions. I have no idea how to safely open this up, so would love opinions on tools / how to approach that if I wanted to check out the movement.

 
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The dial looks original to my eyes, which don't see as well as they used to. Turler is a jewelry store in Switzerand that sold enough Omega watches that they made dual-signed dials for them.

The case opens from the front through the crystal. You need some special tools to do it right, so my advice would be to find a watchmaker who has the necessary tools.

Hope this helps,
gatorcpa
 
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I fully expected to see a standard redialed DeVille but my first impression is the dials original.
 
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Dial seems like a repaint to me–The text looks white and the black surface matte instead of gilt and glossy. I also would have expected the Turler text to have a slightly different look than the rest of the script, as my understanding is that the retailer signatures were always added after the regular dial production process.
 
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Dial seems like a repaint to me–The text looks white and the black surface matte instead of gilt and glossy. I also would have expected the Turler text to have a slightly different look than the rest of the script, as my understanding is that the retailer signatures were always added after the regular dial production process.
Tried taking some close up shots with my camera. It's white, but honestly seems like slightly metallic whitish silver ink. That being said I personally have a hard time believing a watch from the 1960s is in this clean of a condition.

Are redails usually made entirely from scratch? I have a hard time understanding how someone could get this printed so tiny with all of these details.

 
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It's not impossible to find watches from the '60s, and even '50s, in stunning condition. But they usually are exceptionally rare and tend to go for a pretty penny due to their condition.

Taking the closeups into consideration, I still think the dial is repainted, primarily due to the fact that it doesn't exhibit the expected glossy black dial and gilt text (metallic, slightly recessed relative to the black finish, and reflective. Critically, not silver paint that has been applied atop the black lacquer and therefore looks raised). Given the dial has onyx or vulcanite inserts instead of being painted (suggesting it comes from before the cost-cutting of the late '60s), I would expect a true gilt dial here.
 
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It's not impossible to find watches from the '60s, and even '50s, in stunning condition. But they usually are exceptionally rare and tend to go for a pretty penny due to their condition.

Taking the closeups into consideration, I still think the dial is repainted, primarily due to the fact that it doesn't exhibit the expected glossy black dial and gilt text (metallic, slightly recessed relative to the black finish, and reflective. Critically, not silver paint that has been applied atop the black lacquer and therefore looks raised). Given the dial has onyx or vulcanite inserts instead of being painted (suggesting it comes from before the cost-cutting of the late '60s), I would expect a true gilt dial here.
I don't know if I miss anything, but I tend to agree with the others who think that the dial is original. I compared it to other good photos of relevant references on internet, including black dialled SMDVs. The symmetry, font and alignment of the text check out, so do the markers. The condition of the dial is, assuming it is original which I think it is, superb IMO.

But i totally agree with the point you made about high prices, especially when the watch is acquired from a boutique or jeweller.
 
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I'm okay with it being a redial, especially a convincing one, as it seems like true Seamaster DeVille black dials are freakishly rare. I'd love to see an example of a true agreed upon 60s black dial to compare though!
 
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The dial looks original to me. Its condition is consistent with the overall condition of the watch, which was likely not worn often and stored away from UV exposure for most of its life. Also, there's no lume on the dial or hands, which may have helped with the minimal aging over the years.
 
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That is a proof of a redial
I'm not trying to claim that I know all the dial variations of this watch, but couldn't this be an original no-lume version?
 
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I'm not trying to claim that I know all the dial variations of this watch, but couldn't this be an original no-lume version?
Can you find an original black dial de Ville without lume?
 
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*Minute hand on mine is losing tritium



Could the OP hands have lost or had tritum removed?
Edited:
 
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Can you find an original black dial de Ville without lume?
Good point. Looks like I was wrong.

I found the eBay sold listing of the watch above, which says the dial has been refinished.
 
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hoipolloi makes a great point - I suppose it doesn't say anything about tritium on the Swiss made bits.

Hour hand on mine is losing tritium



Could the OP hands have lost or had tritum removed?

@peatnick is it normal that your reference doesn't denote tritium? I would say it'd still be uncommon for a SMDV. If there is an exception for black dial SMDVs, either the dial is replaced/redialed or the hands are wrong.
 
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The fonts do not look correct to me, so I suspect the dial may have been redone.

If possible, could you please post some clearer, higher-resolution photos of the fonts? That would be very helpful.
 
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*Minute hand on mine is losing tritium



Could the OP hands have lost or had tritum removed?
And even in this picture you can see the silver gilt.
 
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*Minute hand on mine is losing tritium



Could the OP hands have lost or had tritum removed?
Maybe it's just my limited kowledge but the S on this one looks a little weird.
 
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I would suggest that it's 'redialed' based on quality. My only question is like.... was this a black dial that was cleaned up? A silver or white dial that was reprinted entirely in black? Is the Turler connection totally made up?