even in the seller pics you can see the black paint degrading is already happening around the small second sub dial edge, and the outer edge of the whole dial. Looks like the process has just continued, or accelerated, for whatever reason, not sure why
if I am understanding correctly you are 2.5 years into ownership, so this didn't happen overnight
Unfortunately sometimes this happens...had this amazing bubbleback and the dial turned to an ugly color after dial sat in a plastic container in a regular envelope. First time this ever happened to me and my warchmaker.
You can see some of the aging already around the subdial when it was with the seller. My guess is that something caused it to quickly happen to the rest of the dial.
Depending on the type of safe, it could be the cause of the dial degradation. If the safe is fire rated they often have moisture in the materials in the safe wall, so if the OP didn’t use a desiccant inside the safe, it may have lead to moisture ingress. ...
Does this technology exist in old bank safes or is this private safes in private homes?
I say « old bank safes » because I believe the bank vaults I’ve been in contact with have probably been in existence for at least 40 years. I heard they’re a big financial burden for banks to maintain so they’re not adding any.
yes, it is a standard glass bell, with a ceramic floor with holes, under which you put the silica gel. Or just cotton bags containing the gel, which defies however the purpose of seeing the change of colour.
silica gel has been mixed with an blue indicator, which turns pink/orange when it has adsorbed enough humidity and its close to saturation.
to regenerate just one hr in an oven at 140 C will turn it back to blue.
More than 10 old silica gel should be replaced with newer ones, because they used to be using cobalt blue, now indicated as carcinogenic
I’m’sorry, I’m talking about the technology @Archer was talking about of putting humidity in the walls of safes to make them more fire resistant.
I’m wondering if this is a newer technology primarily offered to people who put safes in their homes, or if this added humidity device might exist in bank safes that have been around for a long time. I would doubt it — and hope not.
Sorry about the OP’s predicament, no matter what the cause maybe.
I had silica gel in each case and some in the watch storage itself. So highly unlikely it's moisture damage.
google the name, specifically google “omega forums.net: omega_enthusiast”
Does this technology exist in old bank safes or is this private safes in private homes?
I say « old bank safes » because I believe the bank vaults I’ve been in contact with have probably been in existence for at least 40 years. I heard they’re a big financial burden for banks to maintain so they’re not adding any.
