Omega Constellation 14393 black dial with unusual Omega lettering

[ecarpino]

Dear all,

I am opening this thread because I am trying to shed more light on an unusual configuration that came with my latest purchase.

It is an Omega Constellation 14393 with a black dial and with the gold letters of Omega stamped as one, but somehow rifinished in black. Below the picture of how they look.



By analysing the rest of the dial, everything seems to point towards it being an original dial, but I would like to get your expert opinion about it.



Below a thread where a 14393 with the same OMEGA lettering:

https://omegaforums.net/threads/1962-pie-pan-black-dial-constellation-cal-561-gold-cap.40306/

I am particularly proud about this one because it came as a full set, sold by a jeweller in Zurich where I live, so the confirmation of the originality of the dial is something that would make me even happier about this purchase



Thanks in advance,
Enzo

Edited: Oct 29, 2023

 

[Fallout Boy]

Hi Enzo, can you explain more detailed your concern?

The "connection" in OMEGA should be like the red lines:



Are these black now?

 

[ecarpino]

Fallout Boy

Hi Enzo, can you explain more detailed your concern?

The "connection" in OMEGA should be like the red lines:



Are these black now?

Yes indeed, I was probably not clear in the explanation. Usually you see them with the yellow colour and here they are somehow painted in black, where they "unite" the letters, as you pointed out with the red marks.

 

[Fallout Boy]

IMO OK, authentic and logical: but lets wait for the black-dial specialists....

 

[X350 XJR]

Probably just oxidation, although who knows, someone could have painted the connectors.

 

[ecarpino]

Thanks guys for your contribution.

Any other opinion from the dial experts here?

 

[Bruce235]

Were the sides of the letters also painted or is that just shadow?

 

[ecarpino]

Bruce235

Were the sides of the letters also painted or is that just shadow?

I am not sure of what you mean but looking at it with a loupe it appears only the connectors are somehow blacked.

I will have another look with the loupe when I’m back home to check the letters in detail.

Edited: Oct 30, 2023

 

[Fallout Boy]

IMO just shadow

 

[Peemacgee]

@ecarpino

If you look at a selection of black dialled constellation images, you will find that most have the connections in Omega visible.
However, there is a significant cohort which have correct looking dials but have the connections blacked out.

The blacked out connections are not limited to one reference.
They do appear to start with 14381/14393 but are also on doglegs and go at least up to a 1966 168.004.
If you look you may find other/later references.

My best guess is that there is a particular dial manufacturer that produced black dials like this (and you can see why)

I personally have no concerns about the dial on your watch.
Congratulations on a nice set.

 

[hoipolloi]

My 14900.

 

[ecarpino]

Peemacgee

@ecarpino

If you look at a selection of black dialled constellation images, you will find that most have the connections in Omega visible.
However, there is a significant cohort which have correct looking dials but have the connections blacked out.

The blacked out connections are not limited to one reference.
They do appear to start with 14381/14393 but are also on doglegs and go at least up to a 1966 168.004.
If you look you may find other/later references.

My best guess is that there is a particular dial manufacturer that produced black dials like this (and you can see why)

I personally have no concerns about the dial on your watch.
Congratulations on a nice set.

Thanks a lot for your valuable contribution, I am happy to receive this confirmation

hoipolloi

My 14900.

Looks like I am in good company

 

[MSNWatch]

Looks good.

Here is one in steel:

 

[qazwsx1]

Fallout Boy

Hi Enzo, can you explain more detailed your concern?

The "connection" in OMEGA should be like the red lines:



Are these black now?

Hi, @Fallout Boy.
Is it what you mentioned, like my 14393?


I totally agree with @Peemacgee that OP’s black dials was produced by another manufacturer.
Please compared three examples without the connections in “OMEGA” versus my watch.

Please note the shorter arm of “G”, also the shorter mid-arm of “E” in “OMEGA” from those three examples.

Edited: Oct 30, 2023

 

[Peemacgee]

qazwsx1

Hi, @Fallout Boy.
Is it what you mentioned, like my 14393?


I totally agree with @Peemacgee that OP’s black dials was produced by another manufacturer.
Please compared three examples without the connections in “OMEGA” versus my watch.

Please note the shorter arm of “G”, also the shorter mid-arm of “E” in “OMEGA” from those three examples.

Good call @qazwsx1

The watches with blacked out connections all appear to have 'short Gs'.

But note that, just to confuse matters, there are 'short G' black dialled Constellations that do have exposed connections also.
But they do appear to be on earlier references

 

[ecarpino]

Peemacgee

Good call @qazwsx1

The watches with blacked out connections all appear to have 'short Gs'.

But note that, just to confuse matters, there are 'short G' black dialled Constellations that do have exposed connections also.
But they do appear to be on earlier references

As far as you know, would the dial be somehow signed in the back? If so, during the next service it could be checked who was the manifacturer of this specific design.

 

[Peemacgee]

ecarpino

As far as you know, would the dial be somehow signed in the back? If so, during the next service it could be checked who was the manifacturer of this specific design.

Yes, dials generally have the makers mark on the back.
However, to prove the point you would also have to see the back of other similar black dialled Constellations.

 

[cristos71]

Nice to see that Omega was ahead of the curve with its 1950's "blackout dial"