Speedmaster Came Back From Service With a Different Dial

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krogerfoot

·Jul 9, 2026

The watch I sent in for service some months ago:

The watch I got back:

I would have been wearing my glasses had I driven to the shop but it was one of a handful of watches I was picking up and dropping off and didn't take a close look at it. The watchmaker insisted, when I called later, that he hadn't changed the dial and the bezel and case do seem to be the right ones. I seem to have a situation on my hands now.

 

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Mark020

·Jul 9, 2026·not the sharpest pencil in the ΩF drawer

Wow. That is a very interesting situation.

 

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JimInOz

·Jul 9, 2026·Melbourne Australia

I'd be contacting the local chapter.

 

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Passover

·Jul 9, 2026

Holy shit! 🙁

 

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50kopek

·Jul 9, 2026

If that is supposed to be the same bezel, he absolutely butchered it.

 

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Duracuir1

·Jul 9, 2026·Never Used A Kodak

Hoping you sort it out and that it was an honest mistake.

A Speedmaster service is not like a propane tank exchange.

 

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alam

·Jul 9, 2026

there are documented cases where worse has happened in labor and delivery units at hospitals 😂

 

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Charlemagne1333

·Jul 9, 2026

Have you shown your watchmaker the differences in the lume pre/post service? Even taking into account white balance and lighting, that’s indisputable.

 

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Ron_W

·Jul 9, 2026

He cant be serious...., look at the pictures for comparison.

 

M

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mountainunder

·Jul 9, 2026

It definitely looks like a different watch. 😬 If your watch has already been handed over to someone else, that would be a pretty serious situation. If it was given to an honest person by mistake, you might still get your watch back.

 

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lenndon

·Jul 9, 2026

If you haven't had it relumed by thi sperson, it is a clear case.

 

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50kopek

·Jul 9, 2026

M mountainunder

It definitely looks like a different watch. 😬 If your watch has already been handed over to someone else, that would be a pretty serious situation. If it was given to an honest person by mistake, you might still get your watch back.

Someone, somewhere is now posting about bringing his somewhat tired looking Speedmaster in for service and his watchmaker working miracles on the dial and bezel. It looks like a completely different watch!

 

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bardamu

·Jul 9, 2026

WTF! 😨

 

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padders

·Jul 9, 2026·Oooo subtitles!

The factor that is indisputable is the missing T marks either side of Swiss Made. Those don't just fall off. You got back a Superluminova dial so in a big way your watch is no longer as original as it was.

 

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YYTIN

·Jul 9, 2026

Wow I Hope this Will be resolved quickly to your satisfaction. If this is a mistake, I Hope your Watch has not been given yet to a dishonnest personne.

 

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pkaye6

·Jul 9, 2026

I would need some time to simmer down before I returned to the watchmaker or I'd just make the situation worse. I feel for you. Hoping all is worked out and resolved to your satisfaction.

 

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krogerfoot

·Jul 9, 2026

I have my tools with me so I could open it up and confirm the movement is the same, but I suspect it would be better to take it back to him and have him open it up in front of me. I have photos of the movement.

50kopek

If that is supposed to be the same bezel, he absolutely butchered it.

The bezel deteriorated a fair amount since I took the first photos, but the damage visible in the before photos is identical to the after photo.

It's absolutely a different dial—no step, no tritium lume, different S and r in Speedmaster and different PROFESSIONAL font. Looks like different hands, too. I've sent him the photos but he says he didn't receive them, so it looks like I'm trudging out there again on Monday to show him the pictures and I guess pick him up by the ankles and shake the original dial out of him.

 

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bgrisso

·Jul 9, 2026

you don't have to debate about the serifs and the lume, etc, as @padders already said, just reference the missing T's on either side of swiss made, end of discussion

 

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STANDY

·Jul 9, 2026

Bezel spent a few days in the ultrasonic cleaner 🛁

 

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krogerfoot

·Jul 9, 2026

bgrisso

you don't have to debate about the serifs and the lume, etc, as @padders already said, just reference the missing T's on either side of swiss made, end of discussion

The step doesn't typically fall off a dial either.