Hey Guys, I need some help figuring out what I have here...and if this watch is correct or franken.. case approx. 38mm Your thoughts and criticism are welcomed- TIA Todd
Looking at the macro makes me think redial.... The more I look makes me think bad redial.....oh well..
I thought the 5s and 2s in the subdials don't look consistent. I believe the tissot font looks too thick as well? My 2 cents.
100% redial, albeit not a bad one. The Telemeter "tracks" that rather look like spots are clear giveaways. Not to mention the odd color scheme which is also not something I've ever seen on a vintage chronograph.
Thanks, that's pretty much what I was thinking.. And the movement? Anyone know what it is? Any thoughts about the hands, crown and pushers? I'm trying to figure out if the redial is the only issue with this one.. Really appreciate all your help! Cheers, Todd
OK, thanks everyone for confirming my suspicions about the dial. Anyone know if anything else is incorrect?
Is there a serial number engraved on the outside of the caseback? What does it read? Besides being a poor redial, this watch has the feel of a bitsa watch.
yeah, that's my big concern. that it was slapped together. if so, I believe it would have been done 15-25 yrs.ago based on what I know about this watch's whereabouts.. serial #1047448 The third 4 is very worn and really hard to tell if it really was a 4 or blank space....at some angles it looks like there once was a 4 there.....
An original version of the OP dial might have looked like this (reference picture): These dials more commonly came in black, like this:
Both beauties! Thanks.. The minute and hour hands on mine look similar to the top picture. Both blued steel w/some oxidation (mine) with the exception of the three chrono hands which (on mine) are black.
The serial number on the caseback would date the watch to 1940. At the time, Tissot (Lemania) was generally using a version of the 15TL that looked like this (from serial 1,047,502) with a curved bridge:
Caseback and case lugs matches (stamped 48, last two digits). This was done with "waterproof" case variants. Basically the case and casebacks had to be matched in order to provide a good enough seal. Round pushers was as well used to achieve some degree of waterproofing. Movement is a Lemania cal 15 (Omega 33.3). Correctly signed baseplate. No shock protection corresponds well with 1940s. Apart from the dial being refinished, I see nothing much wrong with it.
Tissot are offering an extract from the archives service now. I ordered one just before Xmas..... there was a flurry of correspondence and photo requests but no extract yet.... might be worth a try.
The back snaps on nice and tight.... And then spins freely once it's in place?! Is that because it's missing a gasket?