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DirtyDozen12
··Thanks, mystery donor!Much has been written about the so-called 'Majetek'. Apart from the history, it is well-known that three different calibers were used. It is also common knowledge that earlier examples, with the cal. 15.94, have enamel dials while later ones, with the cal. 15.68Z, are found with metal dials. Some may know that examples with the cal. 15.26 can be found with two very different enamel dials. However, the details surrounding dial variation and movement/dial pairings, are worth investigating further.
Since dials must be mounted onto movements, we must first study the three calibers. Looking below, it becomes clear that the cal. 15.26 is an evolution of the cal. 15.94. The two movements share a number of traits including the quantity and location of the holes for dial feet (highlighted below). In contrast, the cal. 15.68Z is largely unrelated and has only two dial-foot holes, which do not overlap with the equivalent holes of the other two movements. This suggests that dials could theoretically be shared or swapped between first (cal. 15.94) and second series (cal. 15.26) watches but not between third (15.68Z) and second or third and first series watches.
Based on my research, the third series is the most straightforward. No dials are shared with the other two series and only one dial variant seems to exist (M1). The second series is less cut and dry. The earliest examples are found with one type of enamel dial (E1), while later examples have another (E5). The dial variant (E1) that is found in early second series watches is also found in first series pieces across a wide range of serial numbers. The first series is the most complex. In my estimation, there appear to be four correct dial variants, all of which are enamel (E1, E2, E3, and E4). As of yet, there is no clear order or connection between these four dial types and the serial numbers of first series watches.
Given the increasing value of the 3582, there is a strong temptation to replace a damaged dial with a better one. Immediately below is an enamel dial (E1), mounted on a first series movement. The dial feet are clearly visible (highlited below). Next is a metal dial (M1) that has been incorrectly mounted on a first series movement. As you can see, no dial feet are visible.
Not only are dials being swapped, they are being refinished and possibly faked. Below is a small selection of inauthentic dials for your perusal. I hope that this has been informative.
Since dials must be mounted onto movements, we must first study the three calibers. Looking below, it becomes clear that the cal. 15.26 is an evolution of the cal. 15.94. The two movements share a number of traits including the quantity and location of the holes for dial feet (highlighted below). In contrast, the cal. 15.68Z is largely unrelated and has only two dial-foot holes, which do not overlap with the equivalent holes of the other two movements. This suggests that dials could theoretically be shared or swapped between first (cal. 15.94) and second series (cal. 15.26) watches but not between third (15.68Z) and second or third and first series watches.
Based on my research, the third series is the most straightforward. No dials are shared with the other two series and only one dial variant seems to exist (M1). The second series is less cut and dry. The earliest examples are found with one type of enamel dial (E1), while later examples have another (E5). The dial variant (E1) that is found in early second series watches is also found in first series pieces across a wide range of serial numbers. The first series is the most complex. In my estimation, there appear to be four correct dial variants, all of which are enamel (E1, E2, E3, and E4). As of yet, there is no clear order or connection between these four dial types and the serial numbers of first series watches.
Given the increasing value of the 3582, there is a strong temptation to replace a damaged dial with a better one. Immediately below is an enamel dial (E1), mounted on a first series movement. The dial feet are clearly visible (highlited below). Next is a metal dial (M1) that has been incorrectly mounted on a first series movement. As you can see, no dial feet are visible.
Not only are dials being swapped, they are being refinished and possibly faked. Below is a small selection of inauthentic dials for your perusal. I hope that this has been informative.
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