Dial print quality New Seamaster

Dan S · Aug 8, 2023

Annapolis
In looking at the OP's pic again, I'm noticing aberrations in the laser-cut waves on the dial, on the dial surface itself, on the hands... I'm starting to wonder how much of what we're seeing are just artifacts of digital image sharpening---digital noise, essentially. (Most phone cameras default to auto-enhance and sharpening---you can't always disable those effects.) OP, did you see this roughness directly through the loupe, or did it only become visible in the pic?

I was also wondering about compression artifacts.

redpcar · Aug 8, 2023

Maybe use a different camera?

DavidSarnoff · Aug 8, 2023

For some real excitement, take a 10 power loupe to the Porsche dealership when looking for a new one. Rather than using a cell phone camera use a large format Hasselblad with a nice lens.

rendo · Aug 9, 2023

It would help if you posted a wrist shot (eye view) with no magnification without using the macro lens on your phone. I really don't think this is just a magnification issue.

Evitzee · Aug 9, 2023

rendo
It would help if you posted a wrist shot (eye view) with no magnification without using the macro lens on your phone. I really don't think this is just a magnification issue.

It won't show anything, the OP has said it looks ok with the naked eye at normal viewing distance. He became disappointed when he took a loupe to the dial.

fiberguy · Aug 9, 2023

IMO, its not a camera, loupe or cellphone issue. The printing on that dial is terrible, My blue 300M printing is crisp and clean.

rendo · Aug 9, 2023

Evitzee
It won't show anything, the OP has said it looks ok with the naked eye at normal viewing distance. He became disappointed when he took a loupe to the dial.

I saw that in OP's post, but now that he knows the imperfections are there, he might be able to see at least the most noticeable ones with a naked eye.

Rat Fink65 · Aug 9, 2023

banshee
Hi Guys,

yesterday I received my brand new green Seamaster 300m. I haven’t purchased a new model in a few years, have been focussing on vintage.
I was very excited and happy with my new watch until this morning. As a proper nerd, I grabbed my hand lens and stood by the window staring at the dial.

I was unpleasantly surprise when I saw the font quality. The letters look rough to me… not to mention compared to my vintage omegas… photos taken with iPhone 14 Pro

Watch was bought from Jomashop, came with all the tags, stickers, boxes, etc

I would appreciate comments!

Font looks "jacked up"...you spent too much money for that quality...looks like "Shaky" the Mohel had a hand in that one...but seriously... you should be satisfied-return it.

banshee · Aug 9, 2023

Unfortunately, situation is bit more complicated. I don't live in the US, I purchased the watch online, they shipped it to a friend's house in Miami, my friend brought it to me. So returning to Jomashop is not possible.

I emailed Omega, will see if they assume responsibility. I think they should given the case, pretty straight forward... Will keep you posted.

Annapolis · Aug 9, 2023

I’m guessing Omega may be willing to swap in a new dial, but I’d assume you’d be required to pay for that—have a hard time imagining them doing free warranty work when you don’t have the warranty card and have no other claim to such a prerogative. Jomashop, presumably, is the original buyer, not you. You’d be essentially asking them to service or replace what they’d consider a used watch—no different than someone buying one used at a pawn shop.

The Joma thing does sound complicated, but I suspect they might still be your best recourse…

I’m rooting for you, as I think you deserve to be satisfied with your purchase—and I am a fan of buying gray when it makes sense to do so, as it probably did here. But I worry this could end up being a cautionary tale about purchasing a new watch sans warranty. Really hope I’m wrong. And hope that you’ll keep us posted either way.

I wonder if Joma retains the OEM warranty cards and could be convinced to send you yours-?

YVR785 · Aug 9, 2023

Annapolis
but I’d assume you’d be required to pay for that—have a hard time imagining them doing free warranty work when you don’t have the warranty card and have no other claim to such a prerogative. Jomashop, presumably, is the original buyer, not you.

Your assumption is correct. This is a Jomashop issue and not an Omega issue at this point.

While I sympathize with OP, this was a high risk purchase with minimal recourse. He/she knew that going in.

OMEGA customer service is top notch though and you might get lucky, but I wouldn’t keep my hopes up.

I’d be interested to hear their response.

bananapeanut · Aug 9, 2023

I'm surprised no one suggested that the dial might be fake.

kilofinal · Aug 9, 2023

imperfections like this are what makes each timepiece so unique....think of it as a bespoke timepiece if you will......your own special edition

YVR785 · Aug 9, 2023

kilofinal
imperfections like this are what makes each timepiece so unique....think of it as a bespoke timepiece if you will......your own special edition

Can’t tell if sarcasm or not.

Evitzee · Aug 9, 2023

When you go gray there are certain things you give up in exchange for a discount, the factory warranty being a major one. You have to weigh that into the decision. It's more complicated in this case since the buyer doesn't live in the US so returning it tl Joma isn't an option. He can plead his case to Omega but they may say it passes the visual inspection standard with the naked eye. See what Omega says, but with no warranty.....

Annapolis · Aug 9, 2023

I guess I’m not following why the OP thinks a return to Joma is off the table just because he is out of the country. Couldn’t the watch be shipped from anywhere?

Evitzee · Aug 9, 2023

Annapolis
I guess I’m not following why the OP thinks a return to Joma is off the table just because he is out of the country. Couldn’t the watch be shipped from anywhere?

The stickers have been removed so Joma may not allow the return, shipping from overseas means costs and insurance, paperwork and the chance that it gets caught in US Customs, Joma isn't going to entertain that. It was sent to a US address and Joma expects it to be returned from a US address. In my view there is too much risk sending it from a foreign location.

p4ul · Aug 10, 2023

bananapeanut
I'm surprised no one suggested that the dial might be fake.

It did cross my mind that the watch could be a replica, surprised to find them available and for only £200!, but assumed the OP would have done due diligence on receipt.
May be worth posting a movement pic? (But I really hope not)

gbesq · Aug 10, 2023

bananapeanut
I'm surprised no one suggested that the dial might be fake.

I think that is very unlikely. Jomashop has been around for a long time and generally has a good reputation as a grey market seller. To my knowledge, they obtain their stock from authorized dealers. I've purchased several Omegas from them and all were brand new, still in the original packaging, and ran fine right out of the box with no issues. Unfortunately for the OP, Jomashop's policies make it clear that once their hang tag is removed from the watch, it cannot be returned. It's hard to argue that point because their hang tag is attached in such a way that you have to cut it off with a knife or scissors, so you really can't claim that it fell off by accident. That being the case, it sounds to me as though the OP received a genuine Omega that simply had a substandard dial that Omega QC somehow missed. The OP can plead his case to Jomashop and to Omega as well, but I think that it's going to be an uphill battle all the way. The best solution may simply be to send the watch to Omega service, have them swap out the bad dial for a good one, and pay for the cost of the service. Hopefully the OP saved enough $ off the OB/AD price on the watch that he can absorb the cost of the service and still come out ahead.

banshee · Aug 10, 2023

As @gbesq pointed our, I received the watch with all the stickers, boxes, tags, etc.

I have no reason to believe this could be a fake watch… anyway I’m uploading movement photos.
For the last 3 days it has gained 3s total.

Dial print quality New Seamaster

Dan S

redpcar

DavidSarnoff

rendo

Evitzee

fiberguy

rendo

Rat Fink65

banshee

Annapolis

YVR785

bananapeanut

kilofinal

YVR785

Evitzee

Annapolis

Evitzee

p4ul

gbesq

banshee

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