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  1. GregH Mar 31, 2016

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    I've been trying to learn by reading as much as I can in the forms and by looking at dials on ebay, etc.
    I was looking around at various cal 351 & 354 Seamasters and came upon this cal 354 dial on ebay:

    s-l1600.jpg

    I've been trying to practice researching the details, so here is the process I have so far.
    This dial is in a Ref 2635-7SC case and in the 13 million serial number, dating to 1952 on Chronomaddox.
    I haven't seen too many dials in this pattern and most of them seem to be pretty obvious redials.
    (I actually posted a black one on the obvious redials thread, that looked like it was painted with a hi-lighter).
    This one looks like it could be original, but I still feel like I'm training my eye and .

    I searched the Omega vintage site and Naligazone, and all the pieces seem to belong together correctly.
    I've attached the reference at the end, with an image of a correct dial, but the statement "different types available".
    I've also attached some variants I could find on the Omega vintage site, but not for this reference.
    I've looked at AJTT as well and don't see this particular dial configuration. Google image search was not too helpful.

    My main question is where would I go next to research the "different types available" when I see a dial like this?
    Is there a "name" for this dial type? Are there other references I should be looking at for Seamasters?

    I'm also curious to hear from the experts whether this dial is original.
    I'll go out on a limb to say that I think it is based on patina and the lettering (be gentle, I'm new!).

    Thanks for any thoughts!



    1949 - 1954

    SEAMASTER


    CK 2635

    [​IMG]
    FEATURES
    INTERNATIONAL COLLECTION

    1949 - 1954

    DIMENSIONS

    Ø32,5 mm

    CASE

    Stainless steel

    CASE BACK TYPE

    Screw-in

    DIAL

    Different types available

    CRYSTAL

    Armoured hesalite

    BRACELET

    Leather

    FUNCTION



    MOVEMENTS
    TYPE

    Automatic chronometer certified

    CALIBER NUMBER

    351 / 354

    OTHER

    Cal. 351
    Created in 1949, 17 jewels, sometimes COSC
    Cal. 354
    Created in 1952, 17 jewels, COSC
    Both with central sweep-second hand

    TECHNICAL DATA
    WATER RESISTANCE

    30 meters


    s-14716.jpg
    s-14718.jpg
    s-14786.jpg
    s-14796.jpg
    s-15180.jpg
    s-15467.jpg
    s-20757.jpg
     
    Edited Oct 11, 2018
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  2. MSNWatch Vintage Omega Aficionado Staff Member Mar 31, 2016

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    Original dial. To learn you have to look and look and look. There are literally over a hundred cal. 351/354 dial variations. To be an expert you probably have to have seen many thousands. It takes time usually years and a few mentors.
     
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  3. GregH Mar 31, 2016

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    Thanks, @MSNWatch It's helpful to know that I just need to keep looking and absorbing and learning. I'm grateful for all the collected experience here.
     
  4. Canuck Mar 31, 2016

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    Here's a couple to add to your research, just in case the images may be meaningful. The dial on the left with the rose gold indexes is from a caliber 28.10 which is earlier than your 344. The other dial I believe is from a caliber 344. image.jpeg
     
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  5. GregH Mar 31, 2016

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    Those are both beautiful dials! Thanks for posting. I appreciate all the information I can get. This post is in some ways a thought exercise from an inexperienced viewer (but working on it) of these dials, tryin to get a better feel for what's right and wrong about them.
     
  6. MSNWatch Vintage Omega Aficionado Staff Member Mar 31, 2016

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    You mean 354 since 344 is subseconds. And dial on the right is a redial.
     
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  7. Canuck Mar 31, 2016

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    Yes! 354! You are correct! And I have owned that dial on the right for 50 years, and I can guarantee you it has not been refinished! You are incorrect!
     
  8. tamura Mar 31, 2016

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    A very old redial :D
     
  9. MSNWatch Vintage Omega Aficionado Staff Member Mar 31, 2016

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    Pretty comfortäble with my opinion.
     
  10. Canuck Mar 31, 2016

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    That dial is off a watch that was owned by my father before me. I am the second owner! I too am very comfortable in my opinion, say what you like! It is off an Omega that was marketed in Canada, by the (then) independent Omega agents.
     
  11. MSNWatch Vintage Omega Aficionado Staff Member Mar 31, 2016

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    Redials were sometimes done routinely during servicing in those days frequently without even getting the owner's consent. The refinishing unfortunately wasn't particularly accurate.
     
  12. kyle L Grasshopper Staff Member Mar 31, 2016

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    I agree with Mike...you can see the inconsistencies with the minute track numerals, especially with the 5s.
     
  13. Canuck Mar 31, 2016

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    A Scotsman convinced against his will is of the same opinion still! Let's drop it! I was only trying to help the OP. Perhaps I should pull the image!
     
  14. hoipolloi Vintage Omega Connoisseur Apr 1, 2016

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    I go in a different way, that means the Seamaster font, not dial styles.
    There were some earliest fonts that I should remember then the fonts from late 50's, early 60's, American market etc....

    The font on the dial you asked has a low R and a coat hanger S but not the early font like this one.
    Sea003.jpg 20160331_190812.jpg

    This one is for early Seamaster 351 and 354 and this is the one that match your font

    omega_image.1912401.jpg

    It was late 50's for American market.

    220302-445c3b8b56b24a04e411264b9189fd5c.jpg
     
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  15. VanDamme NOT "The Muscles from Brussels" Apr 1, 2016

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    Would the hands be original? The infill is roasted like some of the lume which could mean its been on the watch for some time but the minute hand does not reach the minute track even at the angle that it is at in the photo.

    My observation about the text is that the Seamaster text seems slightly darker in places while the other text and minute track seems very consistent. Should the coat hanger "S" be touching the "e"?
     
  16. GregH Apr 1, 2016

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    Thanks, @hoipolloi this is helpful and interesting; there are certainly obvious differences, but it's really learning to read the subtleties that is that are of looking at these dials. I've seen you comments in other threads and thank you for posting here.
     
  17. GregH Apr 1, 2016

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    Both interesting questions; I wonder what others think as well.
    It also looks like the lower case s is closed and that the s and t touch as well on this dial.
     
  18. GregH Apr 1, 2016

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    I've been interested in your comparison @hoipolloi and looking at other dials based on the Seamster rather than other attributes

    Would this dial fit into the "early" type you quote above? Or a different type (both S and s are different)? Or redial?

    seamaster.jpg
     
  19. hoipolloi Vintage Omega Connoisseur Apr 1, 2016

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    I would say redial.

    I also hate the straight M in AUTOMATIC (it's correct sometimes but "rare") :D
     
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  20. TNTwatch Apr 1, 2016

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    This looks exactly like the 2767 from Omega vintage website above including the *almost* same S and straight M. Another one having the same dial design and font types sold here last year: https://omegaforums.net/threads/seamaster-2767-waffle-dial.24076/. And another one: https://omegaforums.net/threads/black-waffle-dial-omega-seamaster-2767-cal-354.6638/.


    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
     
    Edited Apr 1, 2016
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