While mucking around ebay, I came across this one: It's a ref 4914-47 (according to the caseback, with a 12.68z inside. I was intrigued by the dial - have you guys seen such differential 'tropicalisation' where the subdial appears to be largely spared? Or did this dial start off with a white subdial on a black dial? I googled but couldn''t find any such 'white-on-black' vintage 4914's. Thoughts & comments welcome, tks!
If you look at the Longines logo, it appears there is a jagged outline suggesting to me the dial has been painted
Thanks and yes that also gave me pause. In fact I wondered if the dial has been repainted black and white, then artificially aged, but I'm not sure if that could generate that pattern of patina. Either way, a somewhat odd dial indeed.
I am guessing the paint is removed (cleaned?) around the logo and hour batons. Missing minute track is consistent with this possibility.
Interesting. Not sure about this, but the discoloration could be the result (maybe chemical?) of an early redial that did not extend all the way to the edges of the logo and batons.
I'd say it's been cleaned, but they avoided cleaning the logo since they knew the printing would come off. Now all the pats they cleaned have turned tropical.
I have seen this type of discolouration around the logo more than once, and this can surely happen without any manipulation of any kind. Here is a Certina from my own collection.