In many threads there have been debates about redials, and often a thing that is brought up is the presence of a notch somewhere on the dial, and it is often seen as a sure sign of a redial. While it certainly can be a something that happens during a redial (used to orient the dial properly during printing), I have seen plenty of dials fresh from the factory with these notches in them.

Since I have two such watches in my shop right now, I thought it would be a good time to share these with you - the first is a Jenny Caribbean watch I'm servicing, and you can see the notch at 3 o'clock here:



This is the first service this watch is getting according to the owner, so although it's possible this is a redial, it is highly unlikely.

Often the term "factory fresh" dial is used when asking if one has ever been seen. It just so happens that I ordered a brand new dial for a Sinn U1, which arrived last week. This dial has never been in a watch, so it is even more unlikely that a dial coming from Sinn, through their distributor, would be a redial:



Now not all dials I order from brands have notches, but I've seen enough of them to be pretty sure that dials do certainly come from the factory this way.

When talking about vintage watches, I think the absence of a notch likely tells you more than the presence of one does.

Cheers, Al

 

Once it’s said on the internet….it’s true mentality…

 

Yet another notch in Al's belt...

 

On Omega watches its more often to find these notches at 12 o´clock as I have observed multiple times. Though when a dial has 2 notches (one at 3 and one at 12) you can be pretty sure its a re-dial...

 

This is a top notch thread

 

Anything you tell me three times is true.

 

Don't forget that notches are not only used for printing. Often necessary for Lume shapes placement/replacement on dials. Original and repainted. Like in your Carribbean .

 

Beunos notches.

Some original Omega dials definitely have notches.

 

Let's take this down a notch.

 

Natch.

 

Damn. I sold a lovely jumbo because I thought it was a redial, because it had a notch at 12.

 

This is making me hungry, I’m redlialling my local Mexican for some noches