Repainted dials ?

It is dependant on what particular watch we are discussing.

The "Don Draper" as described by @Shabbaz is a prime example, as the main driver behind the relatively high price it commands is the group of new collectors who specifically seek it out, most of whom are looking for one good looking vintage watch to wear on special occasions. In opposition we have a watch like an Omega 33.3 Chronograph, which is a watch typically sought after by seasoned collectors who value traditional collector characteristics; the main buying pool of a Seamaster DeVille values differently and thus a redial (even a great one) of either will affect values differently.

I’ve really enjoyed this thread and the counter views all well made. I bought most of my Omegas about 15-20 years ago and back then fewer people were put off by redials - preference being an aesthetically pleasing watch. Fast forward to today and I can see a real stigma about redials - although of course I accept that there are exceptions and in some cases prospective buyers aren’t even aware that a dial is not original. I have a few but would avoid now at all costs and prefer to hold out for an original.

Original owners of vintage Omegas are probably a bit non-plussed about the whole argument. There are at least three distinct groups at play in the watch forum world, someone just buying a talking point watch to wear that looks stunning (plus for a redial or even better a custom dial or modifications), Someone who wants a brand new looking watch designed 50 years ago (Plus for case remanufacture, service dial, pin point original specs etc) and those who have a sense of history and strive for originality, no matter what it looks like (definitely no redial or case work). Hope I haven't missed a significant group and I have avoided trying to define the difference between love of fine machinery and love of the $$ that may be realised when the first love has mellowed.

I wonder often about what history has inadvertantly been lost in the fashionable rush to make what is old new again. Would you send your grandparents off to the plastic surgeon to be 18 again? Hope not anyway.

I hasten to add though that the watch world needs all three categories to provide that critical mass of different ideas and approaches. What we do need to do is agree that all have their place and no one preference is the ultimate outcome.

I appreciate everyone view points here, it’s what makes this forum interesting. I was just a bit thrown because OPs question was non-specific/general which I answered with a non-specific/general answer (which I still stand by in the general sense), then very specific edge cases were used to disagree with my general answer. We should compare apples to apples is my point I guess.

Interesting quote 😀