Community Stories

White Speedy - step on the dial?

Appleseed6
Posts
21
Likes
40
Good morning.

Visited an OB and got some hands on time with the white Speedy 3861.

It's a beautiful watch. That said, the "step up" on the dial at the circumference of the minute hashes seemed prominent.

It's not something that ever stood out to me in pictures, but now I can't unsee it.

Am I alone in thinking this is an odd design choice? I was sure I was going to buy the watch, but I walked out without it.

best
A6
 
josiahg52
Posts
1,479
Likes
3,006
The step dial is the most awesomest Speedmaster dial there is. Other dials seem flat and lifeless. It's not an odd design choice to me. It's a wanted attribute.
 
bsowers34
Posts
1,990
Likes
8,487
It has the concentric circles in the subdials too. The step dial is more visible on the white dial, and the hesalite black dial.
I foresee cats in the future if this thread gains traction...........
 
Appleseed6
Posts
21
Likes
40
I appreciate the feedback - the mocking icons, not so much.

My only hesalite is a 3560.50 from 99 - the Apollo 11 anniversary watch. I don't recall seeing the step there, so maybe it's just newer feature?

The feature was so prominent in person I was surprised.
 
bsowers34
Posts
1,990
Likes
8,487
Appleseed6 Appleseed6
I appreciate the feedback - the mocking icons, not so much.

My only hesalite is a 3560.50 from 99 - the Apollo 11 anniversary watch. I don't recall seeing the step there, so maybe it's just newer feature?

The feature was so prominent in person I was surprised.
That's why it's awesome.
 
YY77
Posts
5,986
Likes
28,633
Appleseed6 Appleseed6
I don't recall seeing the step there, so maybe it's just newer feature?
Stepdials are applicable before 1975 and after 2019.
 
padders
Posts
10,440
Likes
16,324
Appleseed6 Appleseed6
I appreciate the feedback - the mocking icons, not so much.

My only hesalite is a 3560.50 from 99 - the Apollo 11 anniversary watch. I don't recall seeing the step there, so maybe it's just newer feature?

The feature was so prominent in person I was surprised.

It’s an older feature which has been resurrected.

It’s Cat o’clock somewhere!

IMG_2149.webp
 
4011021
Posts
192
Likes
326
Love the stepped dial. One of the things that makes the 3861 better than the previous generation.
 
NotJackson
Posts
334
Likes
277
I hadn’t noticed the step as a pronounced feature of the white dial. I guess I just took it for granted as a design element of vintage Speedmasters that had been resurrected for the current generation.

That said, I’m still trying to wrap my head around “cat o’clock.”
 
bsowers34
Posts
1,990
Likes
8,487
NotJackson NotJackson
I hadn’t noticed the step as a pronounced feature of the white dial. I guess I just took it for granted as a design element of vintage Speedmasters that had been resurrected for the current generation.

That said, I’m still trying to wrap my head around “cat o’clock.”
It's ALWAYS cat o' clock. Actually, to me the step doesn't seem as pronounced on the white one because there is no shading difference like there is with black.
 
bsowers34
Posts
1,990
Likes
8,487
Mine. If I were to have only one 3861, this is it. You can really see the outer taper and the sub dials in this (lucky) shot.
IMG_5346.webp
 
Appleseed6
Posts
21
Likes
40
I went back and in different light, the step was less prominent - more proportional.

So... it came home with me.

IMG_0123.webp
 
Jemagloh
Posts
2,253
Likes
8,588
Congrats, wearing mine today as well. Fantastic reference!
 
W
Posts
34
Likes
13
josiahg52 josiahg52
Flat dial on my 3894.50:
IMG_20250710_123116.webp IMG_20250710_123125.webp
Is this flat, doesn't look flat? When I google the ref it does show a flat dial.

I also thought the 3594.50 had a similar and a not so flat dial? Or is my definition wrong lol.

Omega-Speedmaster-3594.50.003.webp
 
YY77
Posts
5,986
Likes
28,633
W Wahlberg
Is this flat, doesn't look flat? When I google the ref it does show a flat dial.

I also thought the 3594.50 had a similar and a not so flat dial? Or is my definition wrong lol.

Omega-Speedmaster-3594.50.003.webp
Yes the dial is flat if you look at the area of the hourmakers, maybe you're focusing on the subdials which have depth but that's not what differentiates a stepdial from a no stepdial.
 
padders
Posts
10,440
Likes
16,324
There is no step on the ‘Replica’ dial. Or any other model from around 1974 to 2020
 
6 More Posts...
Sign up or log in to reply...

Similar threads

Zolatniec

Omega Stingray Cobra without “Swiss Made” on the dial.

Zolatniec Vintage Omega Watches Help, Discussion and Advice
Dan S
Dan S
Posts
4
Views
179
MDraganov

Brand new Seamaster 300m with unfinished text on the dial!?

MDraganov Modern Omega Watches
bsowers34
bsowers34
Posts
26
Views
4K
Andreas-am

Vintage Longines 14k gold from the 1940s: Your opinion on the dial?

Andreas-am Longines Watches
Hert3
Hert3
Posts
7
Views
1K
goudaville

Dynamic 5240.50 With Crest on the Dial

goudaville Vintage Omega Watches Help, Discussion and Advice
goudaville
goudaville
Posts
2
Views
662
cmsslee

Ultra Deep - marks on the dial

cmsslee Modern Omega Watches
PandaSPUR
PandaSPUR
Posts
10
Views
4K
Puma_135o

Unknown symbol on the back of the dial

Puma_135o Watchmaking
Puma_135o
Puma_135o
Posts
3
Views
730