this one from the omega archive is not correct. it shows the original 40`s alloy case and a reprinted dial with the 1956 font , used for the black re dialed 1956 watches. correct crown. there is a lot of confusion with these. 1940`s must have swiss made on the dial. because they came that way from switzerland. if that is missing, redialed. ALL were white/creme`ish dialed. the alloy case ( steel was needed for the war...) perished early, but movement was brilliant. therefore the british MoD decided to give them a second life and re-cased them in 1956 with S.Steel cases . now it gets tricky. S,Steel cases were made. watches picked for the movements and sorted that way. but some had water damaged white dials, but good blued hands. so, in 1956 most Mil. Watches had black dials. to blend in, the damaged white dials were re-dialed black in the UK with that mickey mouse omega sign.....black dial and blued steel hands are no good, so: the hands on the new black dialed examples were smothered in Radium and behind each numeral was a radium dot. problem solved cheap. price wise : the original white dial , blued hands original version in the 1956 steel case is the most expensive. if you buy the original with the alloy middle case, be careful with the small alloy rim in the middle case, that holds the snap back in place. often deteriorated and therefore the snap back does not click in properly. and many of these were decommissioned in snapping of some lugs..... ask for a detailed picture of all lugs and if they have the same lenghts. and often the fixed steel lugs in the alloy middle are worn and will break the lug off as well. apart fom that, brilliant watch to own. kind regards. achim
