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martincz0240
·Hi, I need help with identification of my vintage seamaster, by movement serial number it was made in 1950 but I can't find anywhere similar dial. Appreciate your help.
Help Identyfing vintage Seamaster with cal.342
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ErichKeane
·2494-4 is the reference number, google that and you'll learn a lot about it.
I've never seena dial like that either, but there are a number of features on that which convince me that is probably a re-dial. Its a shame, that is a cool movement, but the dial isn't right.
I've never seena dial like that either, but there are a number of features on that which convince me that is probably a re-dial. Its a shame, that is a cool movement, but the dial isn't right.
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martincz0240
·Dial is the exact thing that is bothering me, and that's why I asked for identification here, cause reference i matching model/movement but this frigging dial can't be matched to anything... BTW what convinces you that it is a re-dial? Beside the worn OMEGA and Automatic i thought that Seamaster logo looks quite legit, that's why I was confused about dial not matching to anything, it looked for me like worn over years but rather original.
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ErichKeane
·SO "redial" means anything that modifies it significantly from the original config, which I think this is. However, all of the indexes and the Omega logo spacing are wrong. Also, there are some things missing on the dial I would have expected to 'be there'.
What I suspect happened is someone tried to clean the dial with some sort of chemical, which washed off some of the lines, and un-stuck some of the indexes. You can see they have a facet on the 'outside' of them, which shows to me that they are intended to be further from the edge of the dial. Plus, they aren't evenly spaced, and a few of them aren't even straight. Mixed with the 12/3/6/9 indexes, I think someone re-applied these.
Also note the 'Omega automatic' should be under the Omega logo, so I think that was 'washed' off as well, which is causing the Omega logo spacing to be as wrong as it is.
Also note, the word 'seamaster' looks painted on afterwards, note the 'e' is inconsistent. WELL painted of course, but I think it is done after the fact (and perhaps traced!).
I believe the chemical they used cleaned particularly the top-right of the dial, which is why everything else is missing. The crosshair and the minute circle and swiss-made is possibly original, but the rest is a re-paint/re-apply.
What I suspect happened is someone tried to clean the dial with some sort of chemical, which washed off some of the lines, and un-stuck some of the indexes. You can see they have a facet on the 'outside' of them, which shows to me that they are intended to be further from the edge of the dial. Plus, they aren't evenly spaced, and a few of them aren't even straight. Mixed with the 12/3/6/9 indexes, I think someone re-applied these.
Also note the 'Omega automatic' should be under the Omega logo, so I think that was 'washed' off as well, which is causing the Omega logo spacing to be as wrong as it is.
Also note, the word 'seamaster' looks painted on afterwards, note the 'e' is inconsistent. WELL painted of course, but I think it is done after the fact (and perhaps traced!).
I believe the chemical they used cleaned particularly the top-right of the dial, which is why everything else is missing. The crosshair and the minute circle and swiss-made is possibly original, but the rest is a re-paint/re-apply.
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martincz0240
·That would make sense to be honest, OMEGA and Automatic can't be seen well on photo but IRL they definitely look washed off similarly as crosshairs, and seamaster as you said could be just painted on the old logo that's why it is so sharp but the indexes are really strange, I haven't seen similar indexes anywhere. Shame on it that someone damaged such cool watch, I was hoping for some more collectible value. However do you think it is worth searching/hunting for OG seamaster dial or can anything be done to this dial to make it anywhere better? Or rather leave it like that and just appreciate it as it is?
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ErichKeane
·That would make sense to be honest, OMEGA and Automatic can't be seen well on photo but IRL they definitely look washed off similarly as crosshairs, and seamaster as you said could be just painted on the old logo that's why it is so sharp but the indexes are really strange, I haven't seen similar indexes anywhere. Shame on it that someone damaged such cool watch, I was hoping for some more collectible value. However do you think it is worth searching/hunting for OG seamaster dial or can anything be done to this dial to make it anywhere better? Or rather leave it like that and just appreciate it as it is?
IF your goal is resale (which it sounds like it isnt <3), you'd either need to find a sucker, or sell it as a parts watch.
IF your goal is to find something that you can wear and will make you happy, then it is entirely up to you! I personally think it is a reasonably attractive dial as-is, and might consider just wearing it as-is.
You MIGHT have luck finding an original dial somewhere, though it most likely won't increase the value 'enough' to make up for the cost of the dial. That said, I'd consider doing this if I found a dial I liked, and it would improve my enjoyment out of it.
There is nothing that can be done on the dial that I can think of. There ARE some people who do dial restorations at some pretty high prices, but that of course doesn't increase the value of the watch, so only do that, again, if it will bring you joy (and it would look potentially brand new!). You might have to figure out what the indexes looked like originally though (I DO wonder though if there are 'number' indexes missing... those short ones seem to be from watches where there is a number next to them?).
In the end, it comes down to: "What would make you enjoy wearing this watch the most" and do that.
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martincz0240
·This is going to come down to what you want to do with it.
IF your goal is resale (which it sounds like it isnt <3), you'd either need to find a sucker, or sell it as a parts watch.
IF your goal is to find something that you can wear and will make you happy, then it is entirely up to you! I personally think it is a reasonably attractive dial as-is, and might consider just wearing it as-is.
You MIGHT have luck finding an original dial somewhere, though it most likely won't increase the value 'enough' to make up for the cost of the dial. That said, I'd consider doing this if I found a dial I liked, and it would improve my enjoyment out of it.
There is nothing that can be done on the dial that I can think of. There ARE some people who do dial restorations at some pretty high prices, but that of course doesn't increase the value of the watch, so only do that, again, if it will bring you joy (and it would look potentially brand new!). You might have to figure out what the indexes looked like originally though (I DO wonder though if there are 'number' indexes missing... those short ones seem to be from watches where there is a number next to them?).
In the end, it comes down to: "What would make you enjoy wearing this watch the most" and do that.
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ErichKeane
·I am definitely not going for resale as I am rather collecting but I just wanted to know what value is hiding behind this watch that's why I asked about finding dial/doing something with it to just make it more valuable and original for me as it is something i am looking for. I think that I will loosely look around for dial but leaving it as-is, as not-very-ugly vintage Seamaster with fine movement and case seems good enough for me 😉 Thank you very much for your help.
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martincz0240
·You're welcome! In that case, I'd suggest looking for said dial, and wearing the watch in the meantime. It probably needs a service, so you can have the dial-swap be part of the service, though I suggest people make sure they love the watch/wearing a watch/etc before paying the ~$300 for a service.
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X350 XJR
··Vintage Omega AficionadoI think the dial is original, just because it’s different doesn’t mean it’s refinished.
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martincz0240
·I think the dial is original, just because it’s different doesn’t mean it’s refinished.
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martincz0240
·
Yeah, it was repaired some time ago as it was in awful and not working condition initialy, and probably as you say I'll rather keep it original no to make it frankenstein and just stick with X350 XJR that it is original.
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MtV
·I think the dial is original, just because it’s different doesn’t mean it’s refinished.
This. Also, it's not a 2494 @ErichKeane - it's a 2657. 2494 were the center second variant.
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ErichKeane
·This. Also, it's not a 2494 @ErichKeane - it's a 2657. 2494 were the center second variant.
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Dan S
·I wouldn't touch the dial. Perhaps someone has already tried to clean it in the past, resulting in some printing loss. But it still has charm, especially for an heirloom family piece.
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