So picked this up the other week. Dial looks original though have never seen those subdial numbers and fonts before. Is this a service dial? Also, my watch guy told me he couldn't find a acrylic that shows the outer ring. But the blue scale is there, as is BASE and as is 'SWISS' at the 6 o'clock. It just cannot be seen. My watch guy said case was the wrong size??? not sure what he means.



So now i'm confused. I'm pretty certain this dial wasn't supplied with this watch which i don't mind. But could be wrong.

Thoughts? Observations?

Best.

 

Show us the case back. Ref and first four sn digits. It's a legit dial. Crown looks ok. Nice watch. The original moon dial is a rare bird these days. If this was a service dial I doubt it would be there.

 

Nice, I love the radial placement of the sub dial numerals, and nice alpha hands.

 

So using new knowledge. 40's case with 50's dial. Closed 6 and 9 short lines on the minute sub. 40's had open. No worries though.

 

Yeah im thinking the dial isn't original to the watch. but no doubt it is a legit dial.

22543
1106XXX

So 1945.

 

Lastly, any idea why or what glass is needed. I'm baffled why or how the SWISS and BASE are not visible. But are there in blue like the outer numbers.

 

Why a new glass? This one is fine. Tube of Poly watch.

 

I mean i like seeing the word SWISS in the dial. It's cut off for some reason.

 

I see what you mean by the outer scale being less visible than normal. I would think that is an issue with the case, and specifically the bezel, not the acrylic. In other words I would think there is nothing you can do with a different acrylic that would fix it, what you need is a different case? Given this is a later dial in an earlier case, It seems likely that's the issue right? Perhaps the original case gave more room to the dial. Anyhow, just thinking off the top of my head.

 

Regardless a beautiful and desirable Watch. Enjoy!

 

Yah I like the dial and the alpha hands and the moon phase disc. And it's pretty hard to tell about the outer scale and Swiss from just one shot, which is not head on. I just had a look at a pic of my tri in the shop and Swiss looks pretty cut off, so who knows. And I think my dial/case pairing are original. Maybe one of our resident experts can chime in, I'm still learning.

 

Outdoors shot. Can see Base and top of Swiss

 

It could be that your watch guy doesn't have access to an acrylic crystal that has a lower dome. High dome crystals often create unwanted parallax at the periphery of a dial. These dials can't be switched out willy-nilly. Each dial has a very specific movement it can go on, and each movement has a specific case it can fit into. The dial proportion and size looks to be for a 287 which is appropriate for this reference (third digit being 5)

Original crystal:


I think that the dial has most likely been cleaned in the past given its inconsistent aging patterns, but I think it is an attractive example overall.

I don't quite agree with your assessment. While the minute and sub-second register fonts are uncommon for this period (but not unheard of), the hallmark of a 50's Tri-Compax dial is the recessed date register - the dial in question has a printed one. Going by the logo font I would say this is a dial from the last couple of years of the 40's. Serial numbers are a rough estimate to begin with. However, it isn't exactly an unmolested watch, so it is possible that the dial isn't original to the watch. But I would consider it to be period correct at least.

 

Not seeing the "Swiss" may simply be a design flaw

 

Yes since I was the one who mentioned this in the other thread, the difference is the recessed date, I would place this possibly late 40s as well.

 

Thanks guys. All these comments put me at ease now

 

@jordn & @zr4484 ... could you post a pick of a 50's Tri dial with recessed date register for our edification.

Thanks --- so much to learn.

 

@TexOmega tri

 

Ah yes. Thanks

 

Is there meant to be lume on the dial which is lost almost entirely?

I believe the general consensus is that lume on dial = lume on hands.