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Black Dialled Seamaster 166.010 - Redial??

Davidt
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I’ve been ridiculously busy over the last few months with work and family and have barely spent any time on the forum or watch collecting. Anyway, I recently got the itch and in my sleep deprived state bought this from a well know Japanese seller. I’ve kept an eye out for a black 166.010 after I missed out on one on the OF sales forum a year or so ago.

Anyway, I’m now going to have to chalk this up to experience and a reminder to check the details before buying. At first glance it looked ok, the serifs are there, ‘Seamaster’ looks correct, minute markers are evenly spaced etc.

However, when you get further into the details things aren’t quite right. Those serifs are a bit too pronounced and look at the spacing on ‘AUTOM AT IC’. The font is also slightly too heavy.

It’s a pain as I’ve already paid import duty (at 35%! thank you DHL!) and will have to claim this back separately but it’s all part of the game.

2F439CD9-CA91-4F3F-867F-ECAC29474641.jpeg A94CEC0A-CC39-4AE2-9AE5-48DF8F25F352.jpeg 16B0B147-AD5D-47C3-8F9A-54EBD649557A.jpeg
 
perks713
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🙁 I'm gathering your able to return it since you mention getting the 35% back as well but if you can't, as long as your candid about the redial, there's no reason this won't fetch a hefty sum on ebay, hopefully enough to cover most of your costs. Lots of people out there don't really care if it's a redial, they just want a black dialed watch with an impressive manufactures logo.
 
Shabbaz
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So you were the one... : ) Was a good price. 😉

Anyway, the thing that bothered me were the corroted hands but yet a perfect dial. Besides that, if it's a redial it was done really good. The pointy a in omega and the flat a's in automatic. Swiss made without t's. The period correct 's. All done very good. I always learned that if you can not proof it, a watch deserves the benefit of the doubt. But I agree with the font and the spacing. But for me it's not a 100% refinished dial. And it's still attractive. And for the price you paid it's a nice daily watch.
 
Noddyman
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Davidt Davidt
However, when you get further into the details things aren’t quite right. Those serifs are a bit too pronounced and look at the spacing on ‘AUTOM AT IC’. The font is also slightly too heavy.
Agree with all of this^^ ........ it’s very well done though!

A tell tale with these is the lume in the hands and markers should be a ‘minty’ green colour. Mine is from 66/67 and has a single T next to Swiss Made.
3D101FF2-8358-4A1A-9D36-C8F5F8C5A603.jpeg 9580C328-F000-42A6-90E8-1D7456F89F90.jpeg
 
JwRosenthal
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Noddyman Noddyman
Agree with all of this^^ ........ it’s very well done though!

A tell tale with these is the lume in the hands and markers should be a ‘minty’ green colour. Mine is from 66/67 and has a single T next to Swiss Made.
3D101FF2-8358-4A1A-9D36-C8F5F8C5A603.jpeg 9580C328-F000-42A6-90E8-1D7456F89F90.jpeg
I appreciate the correct usage of the word “minty”- thank you.
 
Davidt
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Shabbaz Shabbaz
So you were the one... : ) Was a good price. 😉

Anyway, the thing that bothered me were the corroted hands but yet a perfect dial. Besides that, if it's a redial it was done really good. The pointy a in omega and the flat a's in automatic. Swiss made without t's. The period correct 's. All done very good. I always learned that if you can not proof it, a watch deserves the benefit of the doubt. But I agree with the font and the spacing. But for me it's not a 100% refinished dial. And it's still attractive. And for the price you paid it's a nice daily watch.

It is very well done, bar the spacing in AUTOM AT IC everything looks correct, and at first glance I was convinced it was ok. I just don’t think it’s quite right.

Also I can’t recall seeing a black 166.010 with white print rather than gilt.

Here’s the original link
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/255048343537
 
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Shabbaz
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Davidt Davidt
It is very well done, bar the spacing in AUTOM AT IC everything looks correct, and at first glance I was convinced it was ok. I just don’t think it’s quite right.

Also I can’t recall seeing a black 166.010 with white print rather than gilt.

Here’s the original link
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/255048343537
I was in the process in buying this watch. But closer could'nt wait with shipping after my holiday. So I let it go.

All black 166.010's I know are with t's. This one is'nt. As you know, with omega you never know. I see this dial as original untill proven differently. Do you know another black 166.010 without tritium so we can compare text and font?
 
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Davidt
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Shabbaz Shabbaz
I was in the process in buying this watch. But closer could'nt wait with shipping after my holiday. So I let it go.

All black 166.010's I know are with t's. This one is'nt. As you know, with omega you never know. I see this dial as original untill proven differently. Do you know another black 166.010 without tritium so we can compare text and font?

If I had to call it, I’m saying redial. But I do understand your point, I’m not 100% sure of it.

Unfortunately black dial 166.010’s are so uncommon there aren’t many to compare against and like you say, those I can find are all with tritium and ‘T’s’.

What I still don’t like is the ‘AUTOM AT IC’ (although some later examples around 25m do seem to exhibit a similar arrangement albeit not as pronounced) and the fact the text is silver not gilt effect.

Assuming it is a redial, it’s the best I’ve handled.
 
SkunkPrince
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Davidt Davidt
Also I can’t recall seeing a black 166.010 with white print rather than gilt.
I had a 14700 with a black dial and it had white print.
 
Davidt
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Noddyman Noddyman
Agree with all of this^^ ........ it’s very well done though!

A tell tale with these is the lume in the hands and markers should be a ‘minty’ green colour. Mine is from 66/67 and has a single T next to Swiss Made.
3D101FF2-8358-4A1A-9D36-C8F5F8C5A603.jpeg 9580C328-F000-42A6-90E8-1D7456F89F90.jpeg

There are examples of the 166.010 with no lume and no T’s though. However, as @Shabbaz says above, I can’t find a single example of a black dial 166.010 without lume. Then again, I can only find about 5 examples of black 166.010’s at all.

Nevertheless, although I agree with @Shabbaz’s “you never know with vintage Omega”, I still don’t think it looks quite right, particularly the spacing on AUTOM AT IC and also the positioning of Swiss Made. This also looks slightly off, even when compared to other no T dials.

Does anyone think differently???
Edited:
 
Shabbaz
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Years ago I had this one with white print (I do have to say I'm color blind.... 😀

Edit: I always assumed it was original because of the old tritium on the dial
Edited:
 
Screenshot_20210719-212016_Gallery.jpg
Davidt
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Shabbaz Shabbaz
Years ago I had this one with white print (I do have to say I'm color blind.... 😀

Edit: I always assumed it was original because of the old tritium on the dial

They’re just a minefield. Thankfully most black redials are so poor you can see them a mile away.

This one is good but there are a couple of small inconsistencies that I don’t like and my gut tells me it’s not original.

I’ll think on it for another day or so but don’t think it will be staying.
 
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