Forums Latest Members
  1. bebow6287 Mar 31, 2016

    Posts
    2
    Likes
    0
    Hello, I have a question about my newly acquired vintage Omega Seamaster. My untrained eye could use some help determining if the dial is original. The crown and glass are missing the Omega logo so they have obviously been replaced, but the dial is a little less obvious.

    The watch shows some signs of use but overall is in pretty good condition. My question about the dial arose because it’s lacking the “swiss made” printing below the 6 o’clock marker. After a little searching online, it seems like most old Seamasters do in fact say “swiss made” on the dial, but I have come across a few similar looking watches that don’t say it. The small amounts of dust under the glass and signs of wear would lead me to believe that if the dial was refinished, it was done a while ago.

    So what do you all think? The serial and case numbers date the watch to 1959 or 1960 (case #14701 1 SC, cal 562.). Were any Omega’s from this time released without “swiss made” on the dial?
     
  2. ulackfocus Mar 31, 2016

    Posts
    25,983
    Likes
    26,968
    Not original. It's a redial. :(
     
    Waynepjr likes this.
  3. bebow6287 Mar 31, 2016

    Posts
    2
    Likes
    0
    Is that because of the missing "swiss made" or are there any other giveaways?
     
  4. fjf Mar 31, 2016

    Posts
    766
    Likes
    743
    Google "omega 14701" and look at the pics. The right one is like this:

    [​IMG]
    The fonts and line thickness are different. The minute ticks are uneven.
     
  5. cristos71 Mar 31, 2016

    Posts
    7,134
    Likes
    32,881
    Thick and poor quality printing of the text and minute hash marks
     
  6. Waynepjr Mar 31, 2016

    Posts
    389
    Likes
    266
    Just by looking at a known good example, you will be able to see the poor quality of work. Terrible!
     
  7. vinn2 Mar 31, 2016

    Posts
    441
    Likes
    65
    so then, a "re dial" could be an original that has been cleaned and "re painted" ? vinn
     
  8. fjf Mar 31, 2016

    Posts
    766
    Likes
    743
    Yes. Many out there are...People dont like patina on old dials, and sellers destroy them by repainting them...
     
  9. Waynepjr Mar 31, 2016

    Posts
    389
    Likes
    266
    Redials should be avoided at all costs. Yes, they can be repainted but it will NEVER be original as when new and just kills value of the overall piece. AVOID!!!!!'
     
    dwndler likes this.
  10. cristos71 Mar 31, 2016

    Posts
    7,134
    Likes
    32,881
    What makes a dial a dial is the printing, otherwise it's just a disk of metal. It may be the original disk of metal but all "originality" and collectability are lost with the cleaning
     
  11. vinn2 Mar 31, 2016

    Posts
    441
    Likes
    65
    there are profeninall dial restorers ( and dial cleaners). has any one tried them?
     
  12. redpcar Mar 31, 2016

    Posts
    3,669
    Likes
    7,725
    Kirk Dial and International Dial would do a better job than what you have. If this is already your watch, it won't hurt the value to have it re-done again. Re-finish alone will cost about $50 from these places. Then you need a watchmaker to do the work........
     
  13. Structguy Mar 31, 2016

    Posts
    4
    Likes
    0
    Thanks

    Got to like the cursive "m" in seamaster.
     
  14. vinn2 Apr 1, 2016

    Posts
    441
    Likes
    65
    yes ! Kirk dial did an excellent job for me. " sellers work" is some one who is just ruining a potentially good watch. I have bought a few of these for parts. (less than $50). vinn