Super Weird Speedmaster Mark II Dial

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wsfarrell

·Feb 15, 2017

I'm 99.9% sure this dial left the factory like that. Most markers have feet that go through holes in the dial and are soldered or glued from the back. It's inconceivable that a watchmaker could drill holes and place those markers that accurately. Note also that the 3, 6 and 9 markers are shorter, and are the exact length required to fit those spaces. The markers are reminiscent of the ones on this 1970 Seamaster (not my picture), where the 3 marker is shorter in this case for the day/date feature.

 

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Foo2rama

·Feb 15, 2017·Keeps his worms in a ball instead of a can.

wsfarrell

I'm 99.9% sure this dial left the factory like that. Most markers have feet that go through holes in the dial and are soldered or glued from the back. It's inconceivable that a watchmaker could drill holes and place those markers that accurately. Note also that the 3, 6 and 9 markers are shorter, and are the exact length required to fit those spaces. The markers are reminiscent of the ones on this 1970 Seamaster (not my picture), where the 3 marker is shorter in this case for the day/date feature.

Look at the 6 and 7 they are on incorrect. The angle of the shot should show a bias to the left, instead they appear biased to the right.

 

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wsfarrell

·Feb 15, 2017

Foo2rama

Look at the 6 and 7 they are on incorrect. The angle of the shot should show a bias to the left, instead they appear biased to the right.

I see what you're saying, but this still looks like factory work to me. I do wish there were a couple other examples floating around.

Any chance OP could get his watchmaker to pull the dial? If the markers are glued on (no holes in dial), I'll concede it could be a really good aftermarket job. If the dial has holes and the markers have feet that are soldered on the back, no way.

 

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fzhu052

·Feb 15, 2017

Sorry. Not at this moment.

 

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pascs

·Feb 15, 2017

A side by side of standard 145.014 and gold 145.034 dials and 145.034 dial back

 

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siguzzi

·Feb 16, 2017

Theres is also difference in the printing:
on the totalisator at 3 o clock the 1 is different.
on the toatlisator at 9 o clock the 4 is different

 

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wsfarrell

·Feb 16, 2017

So the factory took an 034 dial blank, printed a black Mark II dial on it, and attached silver-colored markers---perhaps for an Omega exec, a head of state, etc. Right? 😀

 

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siguzzi

·Feb 16, 2017

i´d be interested in the backview of the weird dial

 

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Mark5

·Feb 16, 2017

Now this is getting very interesting.
If this one is not a "crazy watchmaker" work, it might then be a very very unique watch.

 

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fzhu052

·Feb 16, 2017

I am working with the seller to return it. But given all the interests here, I might just keep it and do a total dissemble to get to the bottom of it.

 

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Foo2rama

·Feb 16, 2017·Keeps his worms in a ball instead of a can.

You guys are missing an important point. The watch case was not done by Omega. They would never strip a gold plated case.


I'll admit there is an extremely small chance it's prototype dial and if it is it was never in that case. My guess is that the furniture exists somewhere that is not gold and matches. The fact that you can see at 7 o clock where the original lume was scratched off someone "repaired" the old lume on the dial by removing it and putting this furniture on it at the same time. It's a Frankenstein guys.

Edited: Feb 16, 2017

 

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Archer

·Feb 16, 2017·Omega Qualified Watchmaker

wsfarrell

Most markers have feet that go through holes in the dial and are soldered or glued from the back.

Although markers do have feet on them, they are not glued or soldered from the factory (at least not on watches of quality anyway). The act of grinding the feet off creates a burr that keeps the marker in place...



Cheers, Al

 

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fzhu052

·Feb 16, 2017

Update: I will have a picture of the dial back soon.

 

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fzhu052

·Feb 17, 2017

Guys! The moment of truth! The back of the dial.

 

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X350 XJR

·Feb 17, 2017·Vintage Omega Aficionado

Looks like glue to me.

 

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fzhu052

·Feb 17, 2017

Calling Al @Archer.

 

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Andy K

·Feb 17, 2017

Although not a Mark II, there was a thread last year about an unusual dial with a good discussion of how and why some of these "prototype" dials came to be.

I'll quote from @mondodec in that thread:

For instance, Gerald Genta told me in a series of exchanges we had that dial manufacturers, suppliers of bracelets and case manufacturers would provide Omega Creations with numerous iterations of dials, cases and bracelets in order for a panel to make an ultimate decision. My fear, and indeed suspicion, is that many more of these loose examples presented for inspection have ultimately found themselves in marriages ordained by others.

I'd say it's entirely plausible that this dial is one of those sample or test parts that found its way into the wild.

 

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fzhu052

·Mar 4, 2017

I got the dial back with me and borrowed a 145.034 for side by side comparison.

Pic1: front
Pic2: back. Same position as front
Pic3: 145.034
Pic4: the weird one
Pic5&6: the weird one. Hour 6 and 7.
Pic7: 145.034
Pic8: the weird one

So hour 7 mark seems good. Still not sure about hour 6. The angle is tricky.

Opinions?

 

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Tmorehouse51

·Mar 17, 2017

I was also amazed when I saw the dial on Franks MKII. Someone did a heck of a good job placing the emblem and feet on the dial. The case was a 145.034 that someone had nickel plated. There was brass showing next to the caseback. They even plated the inner bezel ring to match. If anyone on here is in search of 145.014 Mark 2 cases, I have 3 that are completely restored to original finish and have all new omega parts installed. Message me if interested or want more info.

 

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pippy

·Mar 18, 2017

There have been a lot of good points brought out about this deal. I don't think that it was a special order dial by Omega. I also don't think that it left Omega's factory in this condition. I think that if Omega had anything to do with it it would look similar in condition to the following post. The quality of Omega's work is just not there.