It looks great in pics but I am curious for anyone who did it: is it noticeable day to day? Does it look good enough to justify the cost ?

 

I think so. Like it when the light shines off the indices..

 

When I bought mine years ago, a non A/C dial was included along with the orange tipped PO second hand as a bonus. I took it to my watchmaker and had him switch them out when he serviced it. I personally love the look.

 

Non a/c dial? Please forgive my ignorance and educate me.
@Nickyrods19 what bezel is that?

 

Non America’s Cup SMP 2230.50, original had a solid 18k WG bezel. The dial had applied metal lume plot surrounds and used to be available as a spare part so a few swapped it into their printed plot SMPs. It makes the SMP look more like the 2201.50 PO, which is what the bezel above is probably from btw. I believe you also have to swap crystals to make that bezel fit, so it’s not easy or cheap, most stop at the dial.

I used to like the dial swap a lot but now think it maybe blings the watch up too much. It also makes it much harder to sell vs a straight 2254, or original non AC as there is a much smaller market for a modded watch. One sat on TZ-UK at 2254 money for months recently.

I considered it but went down the route of getting a 42mm PO to go with my unmolested SMP.

 

Always wondered about swapping the dials. Would it be cheaper and/or easier to swap the bezels? The bezel of a 2254 on a 2230 and have the same look.
Modding is not my thing btw. I prefer these all original.

 

It would amount to the same thing. It usually happens the other way because back when sold new, the Non-AC was a rather more expensive than the 2254 due to the solid gold bezel being rather pricey, so the cheaper route used to be to start with the 2254. These models fetch broadly similar money these days, the premium for the bezel has lessened over time but if you want a new replacement 18K bezel be prepared for a big bill, last time I asked they were circa £900 so ~$1200. Just for the part!

 

The bezel has a WG insert, the actual bezel is SS. Either way, it's a killer-looking watch, and the dial is the one Omega should've went with for the entire SMP line IMO.

 

Yes as stated above its a 2201.50 bezel, a non a/c dial, po second hand.. Google ‘omega plan pro’ and you’ll see some beautiful shots of the mod. I know modding isnt some people’s thing, but I dont care, its all Omega parts, its mine and I like it. Here is the shot that made up my mind in doing it..

 

I like to look at mods but generally never seriously considered it but I feel like the non-AC dial is the one they should've used in the first place. I would probably leave the bezel and seconds original

HOWEVER

I was on watchuseek for the first time in years looking at something else and stumbled across this photo. It's a 50th Anniversary GMT with an aftermarket ceramic bezel insert.

I know its not Omega but jesus, this is the watch they should have made!

 

A fair point. What I was trying to stress is the the insert is solid 18K not plated or rolled gold and therefore expensive but yes the body of the bezel is still steel. I have some experience of this, see below. For those still curious about the name, this is the LE which the non-AC was named after, the SMP AC, the non-AC was logically this watch without the sailing branding and a nicer applied dial sold as a non-numbered release.

 

So has anyone bought a non-AC recently? What should I expect to pay?

 

From head only to a full set between US $ 1400.00 to $ 2400.00 roughly.
I paid Euro 1800.00 full set needing a service 4 years ago.

 

Ahh sorry. I meant literally a non-AC dial only.

 

Dial itself was $226 from otto frei..

 

I think you will find that price is very out of date. Omega has jacked their dial prices up substantially (along with some other parts) so this dial is closer to $600 now...

 

UGH!

 

Yea, paid that in 2014. Maybe keep an eye out on the forums or the bay..

 

Did the non AC dial and PO hand conversion into a titanium 2231 SMP with Bond band (below, don't own it anymore) and looked sweet!

 

I am wondering about the applied indexes on non A/C dial.
Did you guys have to replace a cannon pinion (for higher) to accommodate the non A/C dial?