Seamaster vintage - original dial ? your opinion...

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Leostaicalmo

·Dec 11, 2021

Hello guys,

I'm looking after this beautiful seamaster from 1954 on Chrono 24 but I've got a doubt about the dial...
The seller (a watch shop in Tokyo) says that it's original but something disturbs me and I would like to hear your opinion.

Look at the hour marks at 1 and 2... they are not aligned with the inserts... plus there is no seamaster written on the dial, which could be possible as I know back in these years, some of the watch were not marked with a collection.

Thanks to give me your advices.

Leo

 

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sleepyastronaut

·Dec 11, 2021

Minute track at the top is closer to the edge than the minute track at the bottom.

 

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Leostaicalmo

·Dec 11, 2021

sleepyastronaut

Minute track at the top is closer to the edge than the minute track at the bottom.

Hi, so you mean it’s just a matter of repositioning the track?

 

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Noddyman

·Dec 11, 2021

The photo with the case back removed tells a story of how this watch looked pre redial.

 

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Dan S

·Dec 11, 2021

Just move on, the watch is a mess. Repainted dial, over-polished case, rotor rub.

 

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Leostaicalmo

·Dec 11, 2021

Noddyman

The photo with the case back removed tells a story of how this watch looked pre redial.

Can you please explain?

 

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AtomicGrog

·Dec 11, 2021

Leostaicalmo

Can you please explain?

I guess the gist of the comment is: Look at the filth on/around the case/movement, looks like they plonked on a replacement dial and haven't cleaned or serviced the movement.

 

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sleepyastronaut

·Dec 11, 2021

Leostaicalmo

Hi, so you mean it’s just a matter of repositioning the track?

From https://hiconsumption.com/glossary-watch-terms/

"Minute Track: The markings around the outer edge of the dial, of which there are 60, that allow the hands to track minutes."

So, in a sense, it is a matter of repositioning the minute track, as that's what happened when this was redialed. Now you just have to redial it again. Simple, right?

 

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Noddyman

·Dec 11, 2021

Leostaicalmo

Can you please explain?

What I mean is the dial looks “pristine” (read cleaned & redialled) when compared with the view from behind. The case back is pitted and filthy with the lugs being badly scratched from years of strap changes. The case has also been heavily polished in prep for sale. As Dan S says avoid and move on.

 

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nkhandekar

·Dec 11, 2021

Leostaicalmo

Can you please explain?

There is no way that a case that has sustained the level of pitting and corrosion around the inner edge of the case can have a dial that is so pristine, Watches, as a collection of parts, travel through time and space together and if one part stands out as being noticeably different from the rest then its either a replacement or refinished.

Edited: Dec 11, 2021

 

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Leostaicalmo

·Dec 11, 2021

It’s still very useful to ask your opinions, thanks a lot, very appreciated I’ll definitely move on

 

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TIMElyBehaviour

·Dec 11, 2021

It reminds me of an old car salesman flogging off a clapped out car with a fresh coat of paint and new wheels.
Stay bloody clear.

good thing you checked here before you pushed the button in it.