New 352RG 2577 Seamaster Chronometer...

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Have been looking for a good 352RG piece for a while now, and this 2577 popped up. Not the greatest pics from the seller and none of the movement, but every one I’d seen with this dial configuration was a 352, so I hedged my bets and won it. Looked ok from the potato quality pics, I had noticed it had been relumed at some point in the past but I was ok with it for the price.

It arrives, and I’m pleased with the apparent condition - doesn’t look like it’s ever been repolished, a 50s/60s period leather strap with the original Omega buckle. Case back was on there *tight*, I can see why they didn’t try too much more to remove it for pics, but sure enough I got it open and saw a 352RG in there with the gloopy original/ very old gasket that was making the case back so stubborn.

Satisfied, I flipped it over to get a closer look at the dial I thought was original apart from the lume. The font looked correct, but something seemed off... and then I noticed how “officially” was spelled ::facepalm1::



I’ve never seen a redial (and presumably an old one at that with the patina it has) as good as this one, except for the spelling. If it hadn’t been for that I would have totally thought it original. I hadn’t ever seen one with the mirror printed numerals and contrasting dial finish outside the chapter ring done so well...

My fault for not doing my due diligence before pulling the trigger, but that makes me 2 for 2 for ending up with convincing redials lately 🤬

It’s not the end of the world though - I have an original parts dial for a 352 Seamaster, although it’s not in the greatest condition and I’ll have to somehow source a marker for it. That’ll be the real waiting game to see if I can manage to find one of those or some refinished donor dial to cannibalize it from:

 
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Are those markers gold or silver on the dial missing a marker?
 
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Are those markers gold or silver on the dial missing a marker?

That’s another confusing matter on its own, they’re gold which have somehow turned black/ blue. The applied omega emblem is gold, so how they ended up that way I have no idea
 
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The horrible numerals are at least as big of a redial giveaway as the misspelling. The mirror infill should have no gaps or misalignment as we see on OPs dial.
 
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That’s another confusing matter on its own, they’re gold which have somehow turned black/ blue. The applied omega emblem is gold, so how they ended up that way I have no idea

It's pretty common for vintage watches to have been "improved" by having the hands coloured black for better visibility, my guess is that someone painted the hands and inked the markers to improve legibility on yours.
 
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As soon as I saw the first dial photo I though "redial". Then I looked closer and saw the misspelled word, which confirmed it. In general the text isn't as clean/ sharp/ even as original. Many of the serifs look like they pulled up the pen a little too late.