I purchased this Seamaster about 15 years ago, basically because i liked the look. I posted some pictures today on the Facebook group trying to find out a little more about it and the general feeling is that its not a genuine watch. Itd a Cal 471 and serial number in 1956, just wondered if anyone here could provide some guidance?
Thanks in advance
Rob.

 

Your watch is perfectly genuine, however the dial has been refinished in a style which never appeared on this model.

You bought it because you liked it, so wear it and enjoy.

 

Yeah, the dial is what is referred to as a fantasy dial- it was never issued by Omega and is a modern contrivance. There are sellers in the east that take original Omegas and redo the dials like this. They are all over eBay. They look cool, but if you are a nut for originality then you wouldn’t want one. Your watch would have looked like this from the factory-


As you have been enjoying it, continue to enjoy it. If you want a completely original Omega, then hang around and welcome to the conversation.

 

Thanks for the comments guys, appreciate the honest feedback. Im more than happy to wear it and enjoy, i didn't pay very much for it so no great loss, it just seems a lot of trouble for someone to go to to reproduce the dial, is there that much money in them?. I will hang around here too as i have a modern Speedmaster a Railmaster Trilogy and a Seamaster 2254.50 to compliment it.
Thanks again.
Rob.

 

The redial business in India would make a fascinating topic for a documentary. I imagine that one or two people at the top of the redial-pyramid make some good money on their venture. I count my blessings that I have the luxury to spend time and money on historically correct watches, when the folks making these redialled pieces are likely making so very little. I wonder if they would collectively make so much more money if they just restored watches instead of turning them into horrid ones.

 

Well I think you should start a new thread and introduce yourself! Of course pictures of your toys are mandatory

 

I agree its fascinating. How is it done, if i look through a loupe it looks printed, but ive never seen another red one. Lots of effort for a low number of products?

 

Thanks, I will do.

 

My first Omega was a fantasy redial like that one, except in black, not red, and with a manual wind 286. I knew going in it wasn’t real, but the price Was good. I enjoyed it for years until i sold it (with full disclosure of course).

It maY be a fantasy redial, but they are really well done. Does your have luminous markers? Mine did, and they were clearly tritium and still glowed very brightly.

 

My attitude is if you have a decent case/movement and a trashed dial, then I’m all for giving a sad watch a new life. The slippery slope is when shady sellers market these watches as genuine Omega products and the uneducated believe it. If you know going in, then awesome-they make for a cool unusual watch with a great movement.

 

Hello Donn,

Yes it does have luminous markers and they do glow well. Im amazed that anyone would go to this trouble to redial this watch, I bought it about 15 years ago so it was before the current craze.

Do you know how the dials are prduced, it looks very nicely printed?

All the best
Rob.

 

Thanks, it was purported as "real" when i bought it, i cant remember exactly how much i paid but it wasn't silly money. I don't think i would ever sell it, i wear it occasionally and to be honest im quite attached to it. If i ever decide to sell it would be with a total disclosure.
Thanks again
Rob

 

You bought it for a sum you are comfortable with, it's given you many years of enjoyment, and you still like it. As far as I can see that's all that matters

 

Hi Mouse,
Completely agree, just keen to find out more about the dial production now.
Regards
Rob

 

Many of them were coming out of India, and not only on Omegas. I have seen them on Encicar and West End watches and a few other brands that were popular in the east back in the day. There are several variations and colors but they all had a “mil” style theme.
Many were actually attractive and some, very well done. What I appreciated about them was that they weren’t trying to copy an Omega design so they were easy to spot. What is disturbing is that many of them made it to the US and now I’m
seeing them pop up on eBay from US sellers as being original watches.
I agree that it would be intersting to do an article/documentary on the watch rehab/flip industry in the east and follow the process from acquisition to sale.

 

And apparently there is real money to be made here:

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.com/ulk/itm/192929501308

Pics and description for posterity- listing is at $999 USD. They do say the dial has been repainted so they aren’t fraudulent on that.

“All of our vintage pre - owned watches are authentic watches that have been restored, polished and serviced to perfection by our master watch technicians.Each of these items is a "One of A kind" product that has been verified to be an original vintage of its brand. All of our items are in immaculate condition, a classic watch to be loved and passed down. Our team has sold thousands of timepieces worldwide. Buy with confidence”

 

Thanks Jw, Ive been looking with interest at Ebay since yesterday evening. Would i be correct in saying this one is equally a redial too? https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/264334648479?ViewItem=&item=264334648479Purchases made through these links may earn this site a commission from the eBay Partner Network In which case i have learned something.....

Regards
Rob.

 

That guy seven or eight almost identical black dialed Seamasters of various cals!! Either very unlucky or very suspicious. https://www.ebay.com/sch/fusionelem...08&ul_noapp=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2562Purchases made through these links may earn this site a commission from the eBay Partner Network

 

For posterity, also post a pic of the watch you link so when the eBay link disappears the thread is still relevant- this is the one you linked:

And this is what it looked like originally


It seems they are trying to mimick the Ranchero look, not really that close but in spirit at least. There are some seriously good copies of the Ranchero out there, some that have fooled forum members -many threads on OF that will occupy hours of reading but it’s an intersting read.

Like you I can understand trying to do a really good copy of rare watches to get real money, but it’s these lower end models that I find intersting as they are aren’t highly profitable...but I guess I’d tou sell them en mass and the cost of labor is cheap, there is profit to be made.
This reminds me a lot of the Tudor Red Ranger lore- I own one (and my watchmaker has verified that it is a Tudor dial, it is a Tudor case, it is a tudor movement, hands and lume are era correct, fonts all match etc). Many say the watch never existed and it was a contrivance to make money...but when the “fakes” were coming out, an actual Tudor Prince was only worth about $250..why would someone go to all that trouble for a $250 watch?!!

 

I think this is one of the vendors for these things. He’s listed in the Uk, and is either sourcing his dials from the east and building them himself, is based out for the east and using a UK eBay address, or is a new variety of western based chop-shop