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Blue Spider Dial 166.070 On Ebay - Not Running Well - Thoughts?

dougwhiz
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So normally, I might not post a potentially good Ebay find, but I already own a nice Dynamic blue dial, so logic will most likely keep me from bidding on this watch. Here are a few of my thoughts, let's see if anyone agrees it's worth a look.

166.070 with blue spider dial showed up on Ebay as a "Cal 563 Blue Dial".

The auction runs until 9/13. Although it runs/sets fine, it doesn't keep time and runs very slow according to the seller. They also say it has been stored for a long time.

I'm sure I could get it serviced for a reasonable amount. And the dial looks to be in pretty good vintage shape. Spider dial is acceptable patina in my book, and I don't see evidence of bubbling in the lacquer, nor do I see evidence of water damage on the dial edges, though the pictures aren't perfect. I'm not experienced enough to comment on the movement condition, but the seller has included shots of it. Box and papers are included, but I'm not sure if they correspond to this watch or not. Original dial, hands, and crown per the seller.

Includes a BOR bracelet, not original, but appears to have the incorrect end links. Should be 1168 with 605 end links, per the Omega list I have seen.

Here are some pictures from the listing. I have no relationship with the seller, just an interest in these blue dials.

spider 1.webp spider2.webp spider3.webp spider4.webp spider 5.webp spider6.webp
 
ErichKeane
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dsio dsio
There's a very similar one here: https://omegaforums.net/threads/omega-166-070-blue-dial-1168-bracelet.132651/

It does look quite cool, wouldn't get too crazy bidding though

here's the link if anyone is curious

https://www.ebay.com/itm/406185327682
Yep! Nice/interesting watch, but frankly, with 7 days its most of the way towards what I'd be willing to spend. I know the blue dials are rare/etc, but the few I've sen photograph way better than they wear.
 
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dsio
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ErichKeane ErichKeane
Yep! Nice/interesting watch, but frankly, with 7 days its most of the way towards what I'd be willing to spend. I know the blue dials are rare/etc, but the few I've sen photograph way better than they wear.
The more special dial variants of these Geneves have always carried a bit of a premium, the metallic blue orange hands, as well as the Grand Sport racing dials go for double or more the price of a normal white/silver dial, so I would expect these to follow similarly. They're a basic case but still a quite cool and attractive dial backed with a very solid movement.
 
ErichKeane
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dsio dsio
The more special dial variants of these Geneves have always carried a bit of a premium, the metallic blue orange hands, as well as the Grand Sport racing dials go for double or more the price of a normal white/silver dial, so I would expect these to follow similarly. They're a basic case but still a quite cool and attractive dial backed with a very solid movement.
Yep, I get that. I've seen 2-3 of the blue dials on old Geneves now in person and have been underwhelmed. I guess what I'm saying is: they are kinda 'meh' to me, and I frankly wouldn't buy one for a premium. I'm sure this will go for a good price though, its already got a bunch of bids with 7 days left!
 
dougwhiz
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ErichKeane ErichKeane
Yep, I get that. I've seen 2-3 of the blue dials on old Geneves now in person and have been underwhelmed. I guess what I'm saying is: they are kinda 'meh' to me, and I frankly wouldn't buy one for a premium. I'm sure this will go for a good price though, its already got a bunch of bids with 7 days left!
My thoughts exactly, what's the point of early bidding? Although I'm more enamored with the dial than you, I'd still be a little shy due to the necessary service and maybe a crystal.
 
dsio
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Looking at that listing and then the link I posted above, it’s remarkably how similar the spidering is, about 80% of the lines follow an identical pattern with only minor variations. Most spider patterns seem far more random but this looks like the lume is what’s causing it to crack in towards the center
 
Makesbelieve
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It’s also interesting how poorly the logo and ‘Swiss made’ have been applied to this and the watch @dsio posted. They’re so similar in fact (check the ‘e’ in Swiss Made) that they can’t possibly be redials, but the workmanship makes me wonder what was going on at Omega at the time… perhaps these dials were done by the interns…

IMG_9781.webp IMG_9780.webp
 
dsio
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Makesbelieve Makesbelieve
It’s also interesting how poorly the logo and ‘Swiss made’ have been applied to this and the watch @dsio posted. They’re so similar in fact (check the ‘e’ in Swiss Made) that they can’t possibly be redials, but the workmanship makes me wonder what was going on at Omega at the time… perhaps these dials were done by the interns…

IMG_9781.webp IMG_9780.webp
This is a really good point, the 166.070 is a reference that illustrates Omega's position at the time, cost cutting had just started to really kick in and there were a surprising number of variants even of the standard white/silver dial, going from applied Omega logo, to applied cartouche, to painted logo of varying quality levels.

They had to be trying a bunch of different suppliers to bring costs down at the time, and while some were better than others they continued having a mix of somewhat decent dials and watches alongside much more poorly finished examples throughout the 70s.
 
kaplan
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I am more hung up on the hand paint, I think it must be repainted, maybe the dial lumes are replaced as well

I am a fan of these enamel dials though and loved the typography too
 
southtexas
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dougwhiz dougwhiz
My thoughts exactly, what's the point of early bidding? Although I'm more enamored with the dial than you, I'd still be a little shy due to the necessary service and maybe a crystal.
i think some people early bid just to be sure to get the reminder when the auction is nearing its end.
 
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