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Refinished Dial on a Geneve?

WhatYourWatchSay
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Hello everyone, new member here. A friend suggested this forum to post a question about an Omega Geneve dial. I don't have a pic of the watch I saw as I wasn't permitted to take one, but I found a similar watch dial and will post it here.

It's a Geneve model ST 165.070 in a steel case with a 552 auto movement. It has the original Omega box and warranty paperwork dated 1973.

That's all wonderful but the dial gave me pause as I don't know if it's a refinished dial or original. I was hoping the more experienced members here could give me their thought before I buy it.

Here's the picture of the similar dial I found online. The only difference with the watch I saw was the Omega symbol looked a bit thinner than this fat O symbol. To me the dial in this picture looks refinished. I was hoping to find out of Omega ever made a dial that looked like this for the Geneve line in the late 60s to early 70s:

s-l1600.jpg
 
BlackTalon
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You will really need to post a pic of the actual dial to get meaningful feedback on the specific watch you are asking about. Why the heck were you not allowed to take photos????? I would be sure you have the right to return within x amount of days if it turns out to be a redial, etc., so you have a chance to post real pics. But I personally would run -- not walk -- to the nearest exit if a seller disallowed photos.
 
WhatYourWatchSay
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Hi BlackTalon

It's an antique mall and they don't allow pictures because they think people will sell the items before buying them and the dealers don't like that.

Did Omega produce an Arabic dial like this for the Geneve line?
 
kingsrider
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WhatYourWatchSay WhatYourWatchSay
Hi BlackTalon

It's an antique mall and they don't allow pictures because they think people will sell the items before buying them and the dealers don't like that.

Did Omega produce an Arabic dial like this for the Geneve line?
say what.gif
 
WhatYourWatchSay
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I went back and spoke with the manger who was there when I showed up and she allowed me to take pictures. Looking at the dial now it looks just like the one I posted above. Here they are:

omega_552 002.jpg omega_552 001.jpg omega_552 003.jpg
 
kingsrider
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I cant imagine that is the original caseback. It looks like it was wiped clean for the inscription. How much is this watch?
 
WhatYourWatchSay
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I'm starting to lean towards refinished as I can't find anything even close to this dial. Could it be a Swatch replacement dial? The watch appeared to be serviced with a new crown and crystal both with the Omega emblems and the case looked to be professionally polished.
 
dx009
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The dial doesn't look refinished to me but could it be that it is a service replacement or a custom made watch (since the case back is also engraved)?

The reference you give should have a different looking dial and even hands I believe... Case and crown looks good.

Not sure what the deal with the case back is but I did read that sometimes they would use special case backs for custom engraved watches, I just don't remember if it was Omega that did this or someone else..)

Maybe they buffed it out a bit to remove the WATERPROOF text and added the engraving...I'm not sure if this is the finish that it originally had.

If you want to go ahead with the purchase I suggest you see the movement as well as this watch already has a few possible red flags and there is a possibility that it might be a franken (the movement is made out of parts from a number of movements).
 
X350 XJR
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Case back looks just fine, brushing all looks correct. Geneves didn't typically have much if any engraving.

I'm going to say the dial is original or at least a service dial.

Huge number of dial options offered on these, for different markets etc.
 
BenBagbag
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If the watch speaks to you, get it. $236 USD for a watch like that is fair and honest. If you don't think it looks good on your wrist don't take it.
 
WhatYourWatchSay
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Thank you to everyone who stopped by to give their opinions on this, very much appreciated 👍

Well, I ended up buying it. I've bought much worse watches for more money, and I've had a few purchases that turned out to be absolute crap, which is why I came here for opinions from more experienced Omega collectors.

I took some more pics when i got home. Let me know if you need any other pics especially of the dial.

omega_552 004.jpg omega_552 008.jpg omega_552 009.jpg omega_552 010.jpg
 
omega_552 011.jpg omega_552 012.jpg omega_552 013.jpg omega_552 014.jpg omega_552 015.jpg
BenBagbag
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Well that is strange, because the watch is stamped with a 166.070 and looks like later may have been stamped with a 165.070 which doesn't make sense for it to then be on the sale papers. Strange for it to have both numbers on the back in my opinion. Interested to hear what others have to say...
 
X350 XJR
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Completely OK, 166.070 would be for one with date feature.
 
WhatYourWatchSay
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As X350 XJR wrote above, doing a search online shows the 166.070 is a date version while the 165.070 is the non-date version. I know Omega would use the same case back for similar watches in their various lines often with two lines of numbers. Could this indeed be a special order watch? DOFASCO was a huge company in it's prime and is still a pretty big company today. Maybe they were giving out so many of the watches that it made sense to custom order them?
 
WhatYourWatchSay
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I recently bought and sold another Omega DOFASCO watch, but a Seamaster case number 2802-1SC with a 471 movement. As you can see the dial is similar and was dismissed as a refinished dial by everyone who looked at it. My concern about this one being refinished was coloured by that other watch:

Edited to add: Actually looking at both dials the Seamaster is very different and looks very much refinished with the pebbled surface and wrong fonts.

omega_471 001.jpg omega_471 003.jpg
 
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