Hello everybody,

there's a new arrival to my flock and I figured it might be worth sharing, as this specific configuration isn't seen too often. Meet a ca. 1958 Seamaster ref. 2846 with a black "half waffle" dial and arrowhead indices:



Apologies for a bit of dust on the plexi, black dials always seem to highlight that. Anyway, I'm excited: The auction pics didn't quite show the quality of the dial, but I cannot seem to find any blemishes whatsoever. The arrowhead indices are obviously better known from Constellations of the period, and usually not in combination with 12-3-6-9 numerals and lume plots. I'm aware of a few examples with luminous arrowhead dials on Connies and never quite warmed to them - on this Seamaster, though, with the numerals creating a slightly more "busy" impression anyway, I find them... cute.

Alpha hands are also an unusual but welcome little design aspect, but the highlight to me is the "half waffle" dial. Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't say no to a nice full honeycomb example. But ever since seeing one for the first time - thanks, @cristos71 - I've wanted one. The flat outter circle of the dial seems to highlight the honeycomb structure on the inside by contrasting it.

And as an additional bonus, there's the large hippocampus case back:


The case isn't the best anymore and I'm not a huge fan of gold-caps, I must admit. The dial is definitely the party piece here, and I might try it out in a sharp SS case. In the meantime, here's some close-ups of the dial to drool over:



And a closer look at the text:


Plus the obligatory wrist-shot:



Also, a huge thanks to @seekingseaquest and @RevZMan123 for helping with finding/receiving it!

 

Very nice piece!
Dibs

 

Congratulations, but it’s seem too small for your wrist.

 

Great addition to your collection @MtV !

 

Nice try Teerapat.

 

Teerapat's wrong. It's too big for your wrist. I can help.

 

Killer watch!

 

Gorgeous watch, Matt. The combination of the "half waffle" dial and the alpha hands is really attractive. And a crosshair too!

 

Beautiful!

 

I saw it at the auction but had other priorities! Good we didn't engage in a bidding war.
I quite agree, it is much too small for your wrist. Let us people with stick wrists buy it

 

Very nice addition Matt, congratulations!

 

Congratulations, my friend. Another great addition to your amazing collection.

 

The auction house didnt exactly make it easy, by the way. For some reason, the lot included a 70s Omega box (haven't forgotten your dibs @flqt-9000 ) and some random generic bracelet links. They shipped the watch loosely in the box with the metal links flying around in it, too. They also just picked one of the addresses I had saved in my account with them and ignored all my mails that urged them to ship to a specific of those addresses. Thankfully, the one they took also worked out, but it's by far the most unprofessional auction house I've encountered so far. Oh, and when they inquired afterwards if everything went smoothly and I forwarded my criticism, they basically just said "Thanks, glad you were happy".

 

Epic. And something I have experienced as well. In my case they shipped a watch (the wrong one btw) from Spain to the USA....

 

I feel queasy now. Name and shame them please.
Btw even by your standards, that watch is just beautiful!

 

Thank you! It's Les Collectibles in Canada.

 

It really irks me that the term "waffle dial" is being used for watches with this finish, and being used incorrectly.


A dial as beautiful as this deserves the correct appellation, i.e.: "Clous De Paris", which is the term you use in sophisticated "watch nerd" company. Much more elegant than "waffle" don't you think?

If, on the other hand, you're down at the pub and your mate comments on your stunning dial, it's acceptable to reply "Yeah, nice isn't it, it's called hobnail".

 

Need to say it looks much more better on your pictures than on the auction house ones

 

Very nice, Matt! Congratulations

 

AFAIK "Clous De Paris" is the French term for what we call a hobnail dial, not a waffle.

https://www.watch-wiki.net/doku.php?id=clous_de_paris