any views as to original or redial-thanks,MikeB

 

Look it Mike

 

thanks for that-still looking for good example.............................................

 

I agree a redial but am not sure about it not being the correct dial blank. The pattern is completely wrong but I would guess the blank is correct.

 

my gold 281 has metal batons as well as an all steel one that I used to have. however, neither of those came with a bezel. It looks like some one either added the bezel or swapped the dial but the blank of the dial looks like it could be authentic to me.

 

Looks like they took a dial off an older rectangular pusher tri compax and had it redialed (horribly) for the later model case. The hour, minute, and seconds hands are also incorrect for the case. Likely all taken from the same donor watch.

 

It'd be interesting to see if they have a correct casing ring to house the 285 caliber movement in that case... The rectangle pusher versions usually had the movement fit to the edge of the case, while the later versions require the casing ring to hold things down.

 

hard to see on these two pictures but all that I have with me at work. Here is a gold 281 tri-compax with the same hands and dial style (not print) as the one above. It appears that the one above is a frankenwatch of original parts with a bad redial - in my opinion.

 

I decided to wear the gold one today and took a few more pics. sorry they are not crisp but my dial is a little rough. It is original though so could be a good reference so you can see what I am talking about. The first photo I held in the light to show the reflection off the gold batons.



The second is of the dial so you can see the hands as well.



To me it looks like the watch was probably the steel version of my gold one, redialed and then maybe had a bezel added. I have seen several steel versions with bezels over the years. They may have even come original on certain models but I don't know one way or another.

 

Love that gold one.

You can't "add" a bezel to a case that isn't designed for one (short of soldering/radically modifying the case). The original watch in question is a franken that had a donor movement and dial added to the steel case.

 

good to know. I was never really sure if the mid case was the same on the bezel and non-bezel versions of the 281 with twisted lugs. They look exactly the same but I never removed my bezels to check. I agree with Franken as it looks like one watch from two different 281 models.

 

thanks to forum for all the opinions..........................my take is -original case and bezel but franken/hands redial-pity as the dial is kind of attractive----------BTW-great get with the tricompax-slate dial is fantastic and looking to get one myself-----------------missed one in Japan by minutes-is the case size 37mm rather than the 35mm normal?-those extra mm's make the difference as the tricompax at 35mm wears a little small..................

 

I agree with Lou on that. I think they wear even better on a strap - for some reason that makes them appear larger.

 

here is a pic of my collection of tri-compaxes next to a submariner so you can see the size differences. You will see straps and bracelets that show you how they look on both as well as a comparison with a 40mm vintage sub. While smaller, I still like to wear them. In today's large watch world I think they kinda stand out some because they are a little smaller and unique - a little more elegant than some of today's offerings

 

sorry, here are the pics. I hit post too quickly.

Group photo:


on straps


Size comparison: