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Is this vintage Omega real? 30T2/1939

JimInOz
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I think the dial is original, based on the quality of the print, the period correct Ω, the surface finish of the centre section contrasting with the outer section (between centre and rail track). The numerals are all correctly proportioned and positioned in the main ring. The major minute ticks are all identically positioned (not quite touching the second inner ring), all other minute marks are equally spaced and cleanly inked. Third inner ring perfectly positioned for the tip of the hour hand. Can't see enough of the sub seconds dial though.

As to the disparity in condition between the dial and the rest of the watch, I could live with it.
 
gbesq
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JimInOz JimInOz
I think the dial is original, based on the quality of the print, the period correct Ω, the surface finish of the centre section contrasting with the outer section (between centre and rail track). The numerals are all correctly proportioned and positioned in the main ring. The major minute ticks are all identically positioned (not quite touching the second inner ring), all other minute marks are equally spaced and cleanly inked. Third inner ring perfectly positioned for the tip of the hour hand. Can't see enough of the sub seconds dial though.

As to the disparity in condition between the dial and the rest of the watch, I could live with it.
I guess I’m persuaded and I’ll change my vote to original, but the dial condition for a watch this old is simply amazing. Was it stored in a vacuum? 😕 I used to work in the rare book room of a major university library. If only some of that collection looked like this dial!
 
Olhenry56
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Here is the subdial. A little light reflection off the 4 and 5 reveals their texture. Sharing for the experts to analyze, but I'll say it looks very nice.
upload_2022-8-22_21-4-34.png
 
Olhenry56
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Something seems fishy to me, though. Here is a different watch on WUS from 2020 with nearly the same wrist shot (maybe one photo is digitally altered, which seems common practice for some dealers).
OP watch (I assume from the images): https://www.carousell.sg/p/omega-art-deco-dress-watch-oversize-1939-38mm-1076704503/
WUS watch: https://www.watchuseek.com/threads/...-vintage-2609-9-with-archive-extract.5256505/

The WUS watch ad has photos of what seem to be two different watches, unless it's just the light accentuating the vertical grain in some photos and horizontal in others. The WUS watch ad states "The dial has been professionally restored with all original Omega parts correctly signed."

Edit: upon looking closer, I still think the OP watch is authentic or very, very nicely redone. The WUS watch dial has some clear problems, and the OP watch has none (that I can see).
Edited:
 
Scarecrow Boat
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Olhenry56 Olhenry56
Something seems fishy to me, though. Here is a different watch on WUS from 2020 with nearly the same wrist shot (maybe one photo is digitally altered, which seems common for dealers).
OP watch (I assume from the images): https://www.carousell.sg/p/omega-art-deco-dress-watch-oversize-1939-38mm-1076704503/
WUS watch: https://www.watchuseek.com/threads/...-vintage-2609-9-with-archive-extract.5256505/

The WUS watch ad has photos of what seem to be two different watches, unless it's just the light accentuating the vertical grain in some photos and horizontal in others. The WUS watch ad states "The dial has been professionally restored with all original Omega parts correctly signed."
It’s the same wrist shot (someone edited it differently for WUS) but the WUS listing shows two different watches. On WUS, look at the sub dial in the first image (the wrist shot) compared to the very next image.

8A46AEC3-4954-4097-8C25-E5F4C66B14B3.jpeg BF5896D5-967C-4BCE-B5AA-9EC9548187F3.jpeg


As you saw, the graining on the OP’s watch is vertical while the graining in the WUS listing is horizontal, not to mention other discrepancies. I do wonder why the WUS user edited the wrist shot of another person and used it for their listing.

Carousel
87D9CB54-AA4C-4AAA-81F6-8FAA2BF5DB34.jpeg


WUS. Skin tones are super grey and lacking life.
C9331822-65CE-406F-AE00-8124A95448FE.jpeg
 
Olhenry56
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Scarecrow Boat Scarecrow Boat
On WUS, look at the sub dial in the first image (the wrist shot) compared to the very next image.
Yeah, I completely missed that - different track and different hand.

So probably just shady shenanigans on WUS, and says nothing about the OP watch.
Edited:
 
Franco
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The one on WUS could be a step of the excellent refinisher towards better work. May have read that should be vertical brushing, may have seen that needed better printing of the sub-dial. There is a chance that the OP one is the pinnacle of his/her production, and the others are steps towards it. Or it could be an original somehow preserved 70-80 yrs, and then transplanted.
 
mac_omega
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Franco Franco
The one on WUS could be a step of the excellent refinisher towards better work. May have read that should be vertical brushing, may have seen that needed better printing of the sub-dial. There is a chance that the OP one is the pinnacle of his/her production, and the others are steps towards it. Or it could be an original somehow preserved 70-80 yrs, and then transplanted.

Franco, if your theory proves to be right I would like to get the address of this "possible" dial-restorer...
I highly doubt that any restorer is able to do this job. I had too many attempts with different (long in the business and professional) restorers and none of them came remotedly near such a result.
I still lean to swapped old stock dial.
Another option we may think of:
A batch of dials has been ordered from (and executed by) a professional dial-manufacturer (one of those who is in contract with the big players).
I have seen several different perfect Omega dials (some in batches) on the market: for 30 mm chronometres, for 30 T2, for 33.3 chronos, for Ranchero,...
But it is still a secret who did the job or who ordered the dials.
And also Vietnam comes to mind... Hoy showed some perfectly manufactured Conny-dials from Vietnam.
Edited:
 
B
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Dan S Dan S
The reddit listing specifically says that the dial is refinished. Do you have some reason to think it is the same watch?

Couldn't find any other examples so thinking it's the same watch.

TBH I am fine it's a refinished dial as long as it was an original omega design and not something someone came up with
 
Franco
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Franco Franco
The one on WUS could be a step of the excellent refinisher towards better work. May have read that should be vertical brushing, may have seen that needed better printing of the sub-dial. There is a chance that the OP one is the pinnacle of his/her production, and the others are steps towards it. Or it could be an original somehow preserved 70-80 yrs, and then transplanted.
Erich
mac_omega mac_omega
Franco, if your theory proves to be right I would like to get the address of this "possible" dial-restorer...
I highly doubt that any restorer is able to do this job. I had too many attempts with different (long in the business and professional) restorers and none of them came remotedly near such a result.
I still lean to swapped old stock dial.
Another option we may think of:
A batch of dials has been ordered from (and executed by) a professional dial-manufacturer (one of those who is in contract with the big players).
I have seen several different perfect Omega dials (some in batches) on the market: for 30 mm chronometres, for 30 T2, for 33.3 chronos, for Ranchero,...
But it is still a secret who did the job or who ordered the dials.
And also Vietnam comes to mind... Hoy showed some perfectly manufactured Conny-dials from Vietnam.
Erich, you know quite well of “never say never”. My skin feeling initially was “wow, what a beauty”, and my feeling stays that it is a proper new-old-stock somehow survived. But keeping the door open to other hypotheses is IMHO always wise, and although improbable, a magic restorer may have joined the party. If so, would love to know his name.
 
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