Cream-colored dials?

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cnjackson

·Mar 6, 2023

Hi Everyone, I have what might seem like a funny/strange question: I hope you'll bear with me.

I have a wonderful Seamaster 166.010 with a lovely silver sunburst dial. I love it!

But I have also started to become interested in what I thought were Cream dials. Here are two pix (the first is from the Omega Enthusiast website, the second is from Pixitfecit a member here on OF):

I think both of these watches are beautiful. My question is this: did Omega make cream-colored dials in the 1950s-1960s, or are these dials the effect of time and age?

Not sure if this makes sense! I guess I am hoping to get some guidance for when I do start to look for a vintage cream-dialed Seamaster sometime soon.

Thank you!
Chris

 

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noelekal

·Mar 6, 2023·Home For Wayward Watches

Yes!

Yummy aged cream!

One suppose that the passing of time has something to do with it.

 

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Scarecrow Boat

·Mar 7, 2023

Just age imo. Here is my example of two identical enamel dials that started out stark white. The right remains white while the left has gone cream.

 

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speedb

·Mar 7, 2023

UV radiation or ionising radiation (old lume) damage

 

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cnjackson

·Mar 7, 2023

noelekal

Yes!

Yummy aged cream!

One suppose that the passing of time has something to do with it.

Hi noelekal, Thank you for these great pix! I really love that Seamaster 30 at the top. Are all of these in your collection? If so, I'm envious: they are all beautiful!
Chris

 

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cnjackson

·Mar 7, 2023

Scarecrow Boat

Just age imo. Here is my example of two identical enamel dials that started out stark white. The right remains white while the left has gone cream.

Thanks, Scarecrow Boat: those are beautiful UGs. Would it be fair to say that most light dials from , say, the 50s and 60s started out white (or silver) and then some of them have patinated to a creamy color?

And--I hadn't thought of enamel dials like your UGs. So maybe it is something about the finish on the dials?

So much to learn!
Chris

 

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cnjackson

·Mar 7, 2023

speedb

UV radiation or ionising radiation (old lume) damage

Thanks, speedb: it sounds like maybe dials that have a creamy appearance today started out white?

 

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Peemacgee

·Mar 7, 2023·Purrrr-veyor of luxury cat box loungers

cnjackson

Thanks, speedb: it sounds like maybe dials that have a creamy appearance today started out white?

I think some most likely started out white but I also think some had a softer colour to begin with. (see my 'champagne' coloured 168.010 with rose gold cap case at end)

14381cross hair SS

168.005 crosshair SS

168.010 pink gold cap

 

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noelekal

·Mar 7, 2023·Home For Wayward Watches

cnjackson

Hi noelekal, Thank you for these great pix! I really love that Seamaster 30 at the top. Are all of these in your collection? If so, I'm envious: they are all beautiful!
Chris

Thanks cnjackson.

They all live here at the Home For Wayward Watches.

 

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cnjackson

·Mar 7, 2023

Peemacgee

I think some most likely started out white but I also think some had a softer colour to begin with. (see my 'champagne' coloured 168.010 with rose gold cap case at end)

14381cross hair SS

168.005 crosshair SS

168.010 pink gold cap

Hi Peemacgee, that makes good sense--that different dials may have started with different colors. All three watches look really wonderful: I have to say I am particularly enamoured of the first--the Seamaster 14381 crosshair in SS. Another to add to my list!

Chris

 

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cnjackson

·Mar 7, 2023

noelekal

Thanks cnjackson.

They all live here at the Home For Wayward Watches.

That is excellent! I'm sure they are happy there! 😀

 

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Peemacgee

·Mar 8, 2023·Purrrr-veyor of luxury cat box loungers

cnjackson

Hi Peemacgee, that makes good sense--that different dials may have started with different colors. All three watches look really wonderful: I have to say I am particularly enamoured of the first--the Seamaster 14381 crosshair in SS. Another to add to my list!

Chris

Thank you, the ( Constellation) 14381 crosshair is the none date version of @Pixitfecit ’s watch you posted above.
It’s always been my ‘go-to’ watch for its simple elegance.

 

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Noddyman

·Mar 8, 2023

I can’t imagine this started out any other colour than what you see now.
It’s not pure white as the photo suggests, more of a cotton white is the best way I can describe it.

 

B

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bonzodog

·Mar 8, 2023

 

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marco

·Mar 8, 2023

GP 4946. Eggshell dial.

 

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MRC

·Mar 8, 2023

Definitely an even cream, but hard to photograph. Maybe I should experiment more with colour balance.

 

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TimeODanaos

·Mar 8, 2023

cnjackson

Would it be fair to say that most light dials from , say, the 50s and 60s started out white (or silver) and then some of them have patinated to a creamy color?
And--I hadn't thought of enamel dials like your UGs. So maybe it is something about the finish on the dials?

Hi, Chris - I think photography can modify what you see by quite a bit, as you can see below. I don't really distinguish objectively between "champagne" and "cream", but I am always rather dubious about anything from that far back that is still "white". Theories abound, but light and atmosphere I think will always promote a chemical reaction over time - the trick is to get one of the benign ones. The exception is if it's made from an inherently inert material like enamel, and even then it can happen - as @Scarecrow Boat has illustrated perfectly above with his UGs.

Seamaster 14384 SC-61

Seamaster 2846

Edited: Mar 9, 2023

 

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rhetoric

·Mar 8, 2023

Cream dials are my favourite, whether with gold or stainless. They have a real vintage vibe, even with modern pieces.

 

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river9

·Mar 9, 2023

What is weird it's these dials in real life don't look yellowish, but on photo they seem really yellow/salmon
But I love them ...

 

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cnjackson

·Mar 9, 2023

Peemacgee

Thank you, the ( Constellation) 14381 crosshair is the none date version of @Pixitfecit ’s watch you posted above.
It’s always been my ‘go-to’ watch for its simple elegance.

Ah! That makes sense--no wonder I like both of them so much! I have now "officially" added a 14381 to my wish list. A cursory look on Chrono24 and ebay suggest that these are not plentiful? But I'm not in a hurry.
Thanks again!
Chris