I saw this Ad from a local blog. It said the dial had 'extreme oxidation'. Is that possible? Or is that a some kind of dial treatment? At first I thought it was because of salt water entering the dial but the hands and markers all clean make me think it is more like a dial type treatment. So what do you think? Take or throw?
Some black dials do get like that, I personally love that patina, its like a granite or black marbling almost of the dial, and does seem to be something that occurs to dials of that era. Would need some bigger pictures to see the detail, but if the price was reasonable, and you like it as much as I do, I'd go for it.
If you mean this: Then that's called "crazing". The laquer coat gets cracks and the black paint starts to slightly fade to a dark chocolate color. To some collectors, that's extremely desirable. Not so much to others. Personally, it's the ONLY type of patina I like on a black vintage Omega dial. However, Ashley / dsio is correct that we need to see bigger & better pics.
Wow thank's for the explanations. This morning I visited Omega AD and saw Speedy Soyuz with meteorite dial. Very cool. I guess I like the 'cracking effect' of the dial. Definitely I will go for it. Tomorrow I will meet the seller. He is a collector who already bored and would like to sell his collections. Hopefully I can snatch a few interesting Omegas. Cross my finger.
Oh, really? Find out what other nuggets he has and tell him to post here. I remember that 504 from WUS. That one's even more distressed.
I actually like these dials better in stainless cases than gold or gold-cap, there's something about the granite texture that works better on white metal.
The pictures in your thread are so small as to not be of much use in determining the authenticity of the watch. While all the responses of the members here are correct regarding the patina of black dialled watches in general (the Rolex people go nuts for it), I have some concerns about this watch: 1. I can't really tell, but if the printing on the dial is white or silver, that could be a problem. Omega at this time used gilt or gold printing only on black dials. Again, may simply be an issue with the photography, but just wanted to warn you about that. 2. Generally these watches had dauphine style hands as opposed to the stick hands you show. Here's a good example: Let's be careful out there, gatorcpa
Hi Here's a Speedy with 'Tropical' dial patina.... From what I have read this was due to the production process at the time not applying the 'Zapon' coating and with the combination of a hot , humid , sunny & smokey environment this is the end result - my one is from South America so this makes perfect sense: Best - Neil
Posted a pic yesterday on the Rolex forum of my Oysterdate, now that is well and truly "Tropicalised" A life in the sun and a look that is proving more and more popular, so much so I have it on very good authority that there is now an emerging band of forgers copying the look. If there's a market the little *******s will exploit it.
It isn't just those guys. I know that Omega still makes a chocolate brown dialled Speedmaster to simulate the "tropical" effect. http://www.omegawatches.com/gents/speedmaster/professional-moonwatch/31130423013001 Take care, gatorcpa
I chocolate. If Omega would make a Speedy reduced in the 3211 style case with a bezel & dial combo like that I'd be all over it like a tuna on a stray anchovy.
There is this one: http://www.omegawatches.com/gents/speedmaster/automatic-chronometer/32430384006001
Since when does 38 mm qualify as a "women's" watch? Poor marketing by Omega (and a few other brands with 36 - 39 mm "Lady's" watches).
