Question on an old (?) looking new dial

Puma_135o · Mar 7, 2024

Hi all, I have in my hands this watch, it should be a 2639-1, movement 265. I am aware that this could be a franken, a watch built with parts. My question here is about the dial.
Everything looks ok but not the dial, which is obviously newly done:

You might say: Repainted! yes, it's obviously so. What is strange is the back side if the dial, which seems sooo new to me. My idea is to look for the correct dial for its age (the movement is 12 million SN, so back to that time) and replace it.

I would like to have your opinions about this dial: does Singer make dials on request? Where this dial comes from?

Thanks all!

JimInOz · Mar 7, 2024

The answer is evident.

Somebody took the original dial, cleaned it thoroughly and then repainted it and followed up by polishing the paint off the hour markers.

As to asking if Jean Singer & Cie SA could make you a dial "on request", I think they may be a bit busy.

https://www.singersa.ch/

Puma_135o · Mar 7, 2024

JimInOz
The answer is evident.

Somebody took the original dial, cleaned it thoroughly and then repainted it and followed up by polishing the paint off the hour markers.

As to asking if Jean Singer & Cie SA could make you a dial "on request", I think they may be a bit busy.

https://www.singersa.ch/

Thanks @JimInOz, appreciated.

SOG53 · Mar 8, 2024

Maybe you will find a 2639 with nice dial and trashed case. They are plentiful do saved search on eBay and have fun.

Puma_135o · Mar 9, 2024

SOG53
Maybe you will find a 2639 with nice dial and trashed case. They are plentiful do saved search on eBay and have fun.

I hope so, I’m already looking for it, thanks! Nice one, btw! I literally love black dials with gold indices, numbers and hands!

Syrte · Mar 17, 2024

I would not spend time or money on this watch, and if it’s been recently acquired I would try to return it.
I hope in any event that it was very cheap.
I find the case horribly polished, the comparison with the other watch makes it very obvious the edges have completely disappeared.

Puma_135o · Mar 18, 2024

Syrte
I would not spend time or money on this watch, and if it’s been recently acquired I would try to return it.
I hope in any event that it was very cheap.
I find the case horribly polished, the comparison with the other watch makes it very obvious the edges have completely disappeared.

Thanks for your answer. Yes, the case has been polished, but not so deeply as it seems from that photo. Unfortunately I can't return it (this is the policy when you buy it from a private seller on Ch***24 - and I discovered this buying this watch), I've just obtained some money back due to the incomplete and misleading information of the seller. According to the seller the watch was serviced in 2023. This could have bee true if I hadn't find oil on the pins of the pallet fork, this indicates clearly a not-expert hand or - worse - an attempt to make it run more smoothly. At the chronocomparator (or watch testing machine) the graph was a disaster. I had to service the watch to get back a decent graph.
The buckle is a clear fake and the crown is a generic one (but this was indicated and shown).
He took deceptive pictures where the dial looked almost black, and you can imagine that was very upset when I got the watch in my hands. A lesson learned, I assure you.

Now I can't sell it, I would feel like a burglar. I prefer to try to find its dial and an Omega crown, in order to restore it. After that, I could sell it, knowing that the money I've spent will never be regained.

Syrte · Mar 18, 2024

We’ve all paid once what we call the « newbie tax », ie wasteful or expensive mistakes, there are several lessons here to be had, one is clearly to learn more before you pull the trigger.

Without any offense intended, your account makes me think you’re not quite ready to buy vintage watches safely, and you should at least the sticky thread entitled «Learn how to fish».
Also you need better research on who you buy from and how.
if you find a wrecked donor with an original dial, great, but you shouldn’t throw too much money at it. Again you risk spending more than you can recoup.
Best regards

Puma_135o · Mar 18, 2024

Syrte
We’ve all paid once what we call the « newbie tax », ie wasteful or expensive mistakes, there are several lessons here to be had, one is clearly to learn more before you pull the trigger.

Without any offense intended, your account makes me think you’re not quite ready to buy vintage watches safely, and you should at least the sticky thread entitled «Learn how to fish».
Also you need better research on who you buy from and how.
if you find a wrecked donor with an original dial, great, but you shouldn’t throw too much money at it. Again you risk spending more than you can recoup.
Best regards

Thanks for your reply, I started only in 2020, and yes, I've to learn more. I know the thread you're mentioning, but it's clear at this time, that I miss some skills, yet. Surely I've to ask for better pictures and more details and - above all - politely ask this community for help in case doubts still remain.

Question on an old (?) looking new dial

Puma_135o

JimInOz

Puma_135o

SOG53

Puma_135o

Syrte

Puma_135o

Syrte

Puma_135o

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