I just noticed these, both having mahoosive issues: A 2998-61 I am deeply suspicious of that dial. Hands too short, but already at $12,000 bid The next is a Soyuz, missing original bracelet, pushers and MOVEMENT! This is currently at $16,000 The condition report is nearly as scary as the one for the 2998-61.
I'd like to know...what comes across as so off about the dial? Sorry for the noobish question. Is it because the ref is too late for a non T swiss? I think I kinda know what happened...something like that actually happened to me once. While the chrono was stopped, I accidentally flipped the reset pin holding the hammer, without pressing the chrono reset pusher... and then yep it didn't exactly become a flyback, but basically the start button started to behave something like the reset pusher. I forget exactly how it was but something like that happened...
I am suspicious of the dial because the particular degradation of the plots, in combination with the bright white printing, is something I have seen before on deliberately degraded service dials. But without looking at the back I could not say. Just that I would not be a bidder based on that suspicion.
it looks like a correct dial (it seems to have a step), but the colour of the lume and mention of water ingress in the condition report imply to me that this dial has seen a lot more water action that they'd like you to think. compare it to seamasters of the same vintage that *have* been fully exposed to water (as in flooded), and you'll see similar green / mossy lume. I don't think it's a modern dial, but hard to tell from this pic.
I thought 2998 dials have more of a micro step? This looks like more a smooth domed dial. Also, I noticed before that the reissue dial had a flat profile on the applied logo while the vintage ones have more of a concave look. I think some of the font serifs were weaker on the reissue dial as well. But of course..can't do much without a better pic, I agree.
I don’t know if it is modern. I’m just suspicious. The plots are really bad but the printing is bright white and clean. The watch is really bad but it’s from bad watches I learn a lot. Just how did that dial get like that. Just water? Maybe.
Here is a pic I got from an old OF listing some years back. It was one of those amazing photos that make you immediately go Right click...save as... So there is that very slight line(?) separating the flat area from the sloped area that I thought should be in 2998s. And the concave logo I am talking about Again, credit to the original lister(s)....still amazing pics!
What do you mean with movement is missing (since i don't want to create an account for see the report)? I hope you were sarcastic....
The 2998 condition report doesn’t a give warm feeling either. “The chronograph is only functional through the top pusher and is working as a flyback chronograph at the time of cataloguing. The bottom pusher is non-functional.” Basically means the chrono badly needs a service with hard to source parts.
Ok. They are two piece of crap watch, But at least one can be serviced (with all the related problems finding the correct parts ) rather than buying a special edition watch with an incorrect serial number movement which i bet is much more difficult to find.
So if the suspicion is that water has damaged the dial, What is likely to have been the effect on that old 321 movement??? (I'm calling to mind that Tony Coe, at STS, warned me not to let even a single drop of water get inside my own Speedmaster) Is it possible that water can get in and damage a dial, without adversely effecting the movement?