Well THAT's interesting, assuming with most certainty replacement dials are not available.. A few questions raised indeed. Don't forget the stunning new bracelet!

 

Serendipitous that the 'original' dial was located prior to the recent auction.

 

Certainly not the same dial.

 

I prefer the signature of the Antiquorom iteration. Note the "G" and the "S".


For what it's worth, here is a Longines that I own from 1936 (serial # 5327xxx).

 

Also noticed that these three examples appear to have a similarly melded "40" (outer minute track) and the bottom of the "5" in "50" (seconds subdial) does not extend significantly past the top. This is in contrast with the Phillips iteration.

 

Scary. I would be curious to run the Phillips dial on a Geiger counter. Not sure that the paint would register some radioactivity from radium decay... Note that the Antiquorum photograph is particularly bad and a talented photographer could have brought some life to that dial.

 

I recall reading that a particularly adept dial "restorer" can put a dab of radium(?) paint behind the dial so that it registers on a Geiger counter. A black light might be more useful though I am not well versed in the mechanics.

Yes, the Antiquorom photo is definitely over-exposed.

 

@DirtyDozen12 Good research!

 

Thank you.

I lack the required expertise to confidently say that the dial is not genuine. However, the watch has certainly been refreshed. Was Phillips aware of this refreshment? Either way, it does not look good.

 

That "G" and that "S" on the "Longines" signature are troubling.
Although I can't say if this dial is the same one which might have been refreshed, the discussion calls to mind this "sympathetic restoration" performed on a JLC military dial, which shows what a talented restorer can do:

http://www.classicwatch.com/phpbb3/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=48&p=54&hilit=restoration#p54.
(I have no relation to the dealer --repairer who did this but he graciously provided me very precious advice).

 

Hi all,

I´m sure that the dial of the 52,5k watch is a fake. It was not dicussed in Omega Forums but by writing numerous emails, sending pics and so on and on. As LouS stated that watch has been already sold with another, less "original" fake-dial in 2011.
I believe one can detect fake/original by regarding the length of the minute markers: longer = correct + original.
Also by looking for the accuracy of the printing, because the original/old dials were anodized (first the complete dial was silvered, then the areas which will stay silver-colored were protected, then the dark colour was "electrocolorated - pardon, my english is not as good as it should to describe this process more understandable) and not, as shown on the pics of the 5457387, simply printed silver-on-(pre-patinated)black.



rgds - h.u.

 

Sorry, one mistake: I´m NOT sure if the 1st version of the 5457387 (Antiquorum) was refinished or just molested...

 

Some more pics from the 5429126. I believe the dial is OK and there is (typical for the three romanian ref. 6476/3811 dials with "long" minute-markers) no lume. I´ll try to take some new photos of the 5429165 during the next days. rgds - h.u.

 

Wow. Thank you for the fantastic images. A very special opportunity to see such a dial in this level of detail.

As you have stated, the printing is highly precise. Also, it seems that the darker parts of the dial are more prone to deterioration.

 

Despite the different production methods (black dial versus white dial), your 5429165 and my 5327968 have very similar signatures.

 

And the problematic Romania 13zn is back again for auction, at Phillips again!

https://www.phillips.com/detail/LONGINES/CH080118/211?

 

They have corrected their condition report to state that the old dial was damaged and replaced with a period correct dial. That’s a stand-up thing to do in my view and puts Phillips in a much better light. Kudos to Phillips for doing that.

 

Well done to Phillips. But still some question marks over their claim that the replacement dial is a "period correct original dial", as quoted from their condition report.