Omega Speedmaster cal.321 Blue Grey Dial

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This one had an impressive result, 5x what a similar one hit 2 years ago.
 
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I found another one of these weird dials. This time another 105.002-62. It looks like the hands have been replaced. I wish I could say I was buying it, but the seller's asking price was surprising, let's call it. He is advertising it as "tropical". Wondering how many of these exist. Enjoy the pics:
 
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I too just saw another Grey, off-market. I wonder if the high prices will bring some more out of the woodwork.

The price at Watches of Knightsbridge was surprisingly high, but then again I think it was better than anything on this thread. The reference was rare and the dial in better condition.

I am still inclined to think these are service dials as I have yet to see an extract. The same goes for the Solei dials, which get extracts saying the reference and "Black Dial", and like these greys, they are seen across several references.


And to confuse matters here is a slight curve ball. Note on each end is the Grey and the Blue Solei.
In the centre, is a metallic steel grey dial. Was this a Blue? Or yet another example of these short run service dials?

Just when I think I have a handle on these dials I see another variation, or is it a fade of a blue?
 
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I recently received a 105.012-66- HF from another forum member (although we did not meet on this forum oddly enough). Movement serial is a bit late and wrong chrono hand. But everything else appears to be original to this reference.

As soon as I received it, I could not help but notice that the dial is more of a matte grey. It is not nearly as black as the 69 Speedmaster, I previously owned, which brought me here. However, it does not have the short indices like the others here.

It is pretty hard to capture, but check out my pic below. I think my eyes may just be fooling me, but what do you guys think?

There is a thread on the watch from the prior owner with respect to the dial looking a little funky in general. The previous thread is here: https://omegaforums.net/threads/advice-on-vintage-speedy-pre-moon.60625/. The dial doesn't look grey at all in these pictures like it does in person.
 
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I dunno, @nalexi just sold a -64 speedy with a grey-ish dial, it is possible that some of these just faded with time. Very hard to tell if they left the factory as a grey dial without any other distinguishing features IMO. This one for example, owned by the omega museum:
https://www.fratellowatches.com/speedy-tuesday-blue-dial-omega-speedmaster-professional-145-012-68/
I believe has the same markings as your standard professional dial but is "blue" and hard to capture in photos.
 
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Thank for the response @Cad290. @nalexi could you share a photo, I couldn't find it on the forum.

Honestly, I don't really see how it would have faded this evenly, but I'm really no expert on it.

I must say it's a pleasant surprise for me, I really love the grey-ish look. Now all I need to do is source a period correct movement!
 
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so, not sure how to put this:::::
from the moment, i saw the first sunburst finish metallic blue dial, i instinct told me it is oxidized . not painted.
so, first question: which material is the dial blanc ? can we have some pics of their backs? brass or alloy like material?
the difference between gray and blue to me is a difference within the vaporizing process.
it is similar to this Wikipidia entry:
"Thermal evaporation ".
many companies experimented with coating for weapons ( blued steel ) , different ways to PVD materials, watchcompanies did the same. Orfina with the porsche chrono tried the first examples with a very thin layer of black oxidation on brass and other case materials. aged quickly around the edges ( like the blue dials are aged around the steps in the dial...) and was replaced later with thicker, paint like , PVD. so, look up all the different ways to add layers of alloy to different materials and anodize them, once the layer is on top of the blanc. would make sense to me , that this trial for new techniques was started and proofed too expensive and the results not consistent with Omega`s quality control..... just a theory. worth to look into it. other watch companies experimented with this as well; mostly for cases and bands. can`t add more; don`t know more; just a train of thought in a different direction. kind regards. achim
 
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Singer did make sunburst metallic dials. I am sure some of these dials left the factory different, certainly the ones with different spacing of markers on the dial. There are many different variations though, so some could be the result of aging.
 
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I recently received a 105.012-66- HF from another forum member (although we did not meet on this forum oddly enough). Movement serial is a bit late and wrong chrono hand. But everything else appears to be original to this reference.

As soon as I received it, I could not help but notice that the dial is more of a matte grey. It is not nearly as black as the 69 Speedmaster, I previously owned, which brought me here. However, it does not have the short indices like the others here.

It is pretty hard to capture, but check out my pic below. I think my eyes may just be fooling me, but what do you guys think?

There is a thread on the watch from the prior owner with respect to the dial looking a little funky in general. The previous thread is here: https://omegaforums.net/threads/advice-on-vintage-speedy-pre-moon.60625/. The dial doesn't look grey at all in these pictures like it does in person.
regular speedy
 
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Hey guys,

just bought that German Omega catalog with an interesting pic of a Speedmaster 145.022 with a blueish dial.
Here is a small preview from the seller.



Best Nico
 
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Hey guys,

just bought that German Omega catalog with an interesting pic of a Speedmaster 145.022 with a blueish dial.
Here is a small preview from the seller.



Best Nico
Wow, this is very cool. I can't read German, do they say something about the dial colour ?
 
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Hey guys,

just bought that German Omega catalog with an interesting pic of a Speedmaster 145.022 with a blueish dial.
Here is a small preview from the seller.



Best Nico
interesting..it really looks blueish and it's clearly a pre 145.022.
 
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Wow, this is very cool. I can't read German, do they say something about the dial colour ?

No, just the normal stuff, like Ref. Number and price (500 Deutsche Mark)
 
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But the mark has already some blue tint... Not sure it is not just a photo effect..
 
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Hi,

Pardon for my bad English. I just want to share one of my pre 145.022-69 which looks more blueish than black/grey. It's a matte dial, not the metalic or glossy blue. I have a thought it is a lighting or the crystal effects. So i took out the dial and take a close look and shot. It looks like a very deep blue. On some occasions with certain lighting I can see the blue effects emerged more. Is this common to other dial on this era?
 
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seems to be just a crystal and artifical light combo which makes it appear blueish...
Agreed. It's a nice watch though