A bit too rich for my blood I'm sure, but I'll bet there's a few here whom may find this one quite interesting. I do have something of a deja vu with that damaged 12 hour register, anyone else?

http://www.carsandwatches.com/new-arrivals-2/

 

looks baked

 

The lower register definitely rings a bell here too - I'm sure it's been discussed here, or on SM101

 

Something isn't right on the movement. OP knows the asking?

 

The one with the blister on the dial, discussed here.

https://omegaforums.net/threads/2998-2-lollipop-on-ebay.40942/

Which sold (apparently) for $56K, and I think ended up at MB.

 

Nice ck2915 dial !

 

Wrong coupling bridge.

 

Why? Just curious for reasons. (As I say below I can't zoom in).

I'd like to see that extract. Bet it's old

Is this the famous "dribble dial" ? I'm on a mobile and it's the worst site in the world for a mobile. I can't zoom the pictures.

 

The 6 subdial is blistered.

 

Not just the 6 subdial:

 

Anyone notice this dial has an oval O (CK2915-3 or uber early 2998-1 only) making it too early for a 2998-2 or is it just me?

 

[emoji46] oh dear... bless the buyer

 

Our Pianist was in also...

 

Uh oh, the red circle of death has appeared.

 

Those crappy dials are a pain in the A... Will have to find a replacement dial for mine.... And hands too... Just because omega used a poor quality nafion... Will call them to replace my dial!!!

 

And this is evidence of baking because....?

I agree I don't like it but is it caused by man putting it in the oven to deliberately change the colour? (That is what you are saying isn't it? That someone is attempting deceit?)

Not trying to pick a fight, I am asking is your assessment based on previous known examples of heated dials or just a hunch?

 

Yes I agree that having blisters on the dial is not sufficient to say that the dial is baked.

Lets agree in one point first:
As collectors we want any kind of aging to be natural and not man induced. Agreed?

Now back to the dial,

Why colour changes?
Changes in dial colour are due to the presence of external factors such as heat, UV, moisture etc. Having it discoloured means it has been exposed to these factors more or less.
However without digital imaging in the 60s, we are unable to pint point exactly what the original colour was. Best example will be a nos piece that has been kept in a safe for 50 odd years.

Colour:
Typically we see black dial in many colours

1. Black dials, tinge of blue (Typically those that hasn't seen much daylight) I believe this is as close to the original dial colour.

2. Dirty dark brown, usually accompanied with moss coloured tritium, sign of moisture damage.

3. Dark chocolate, the colour we all love, only looks brown under direct sunlight. I see this generally in -69 refs, browning is uneven and starts from spots.

4. Extreme chocolate colour like the one in this thread, are the outliers. I do not believe these dials could change colour naturally unless the owner works in an environment with high heat, strong uv. So with watches that has these dials, I look for worn case + worn bezel and poor retention of tritium because these watches should have went thru a hard life. Basically the patina should match. Since the case bezel and hands on this piece looks too new, I can start to suspect that work has been done and if the dial did age naturally, it doesnt belong to this watch.

Why I suspect that it is baked.
1. Blisters, dial don't physically change unless exposed to very high heat.
2. Lume too perfect?
3. No uneven colour around the subdials, steps.


All the above are based on my observation and limited experience in vintage watches.

I have seen man induced tropical dial: Example: the one where the guy aged it with the hands on and cause tan marks on the dial. The colour was very similar to this if I rmb.

 

Looked at the photos again and Personally I am not comfortable with how "intense" the browning of the dial has become.

 

The dial isn't baked, no matter how hot you get it, it isn't going to turn that colour. The other sure way to tell is that the text is still white, a cooked dial has yellowed text.

Bubbling indicates to me this dial has been stripped and repainted or there is some kind of overlay. The brown is too even and the lume is too perfect. There are people out there with skills you would not believe....