Omega

I would like to take up a thread that started and also ended in November 2008 in this forum. The thread was obviously related to the Omega Seamaster "Cross of Merit" and it ended with two pictures of the watch that I now own since about two years (at leas...  

. . . or original to the watch, and the same goes for the hands, too. There's at least one current third party dial maker that refinishes XVI dials. My sense is the dial of this one came from another watch, and was refinished to fit an original SM XVI cas... 

But, as you say it is from a known Omega dial maker, although the XVI dials do not have the multiple ZJ embossing on the reverse, and my feeling is that it is not refinished. There are variations of XVI dials including a solid gold version, but this is th... 

. . . a XVI sent in for service way back when with a cracked dial. After rummaging around the parts bin and finding none of the correct dials available, they might well have tapped a reject or prototype instead. Most cordially, Art

Thank you Desmond for sharing your wealth of knowledge, your thoughts are very very interesting. I tried to take some makros from the original size pictures, not sure this helps as to the question of lacquer or paint. Best regards, HSTE ...  

my feeling is that this is a painted dial. Not being able to see it under a loupe, I still think it's thinner than lacquered dials I've seen. So service replacement or sample are the two best options I can come up with. It certainly does look a fine piece... 

It toke me much efforts to find these two versions of the Omega. Hope it could shield some lights in the discussion. ...  

At the back of each watches, there were name engraved of the receipents.. ...  

Hi Max, I don´t want to rain on the parade, but (as far as can be judged by the small picture) the right watch in your photo does not have a dial in original condition - it is an obvious re-dial.

I wouldn't mind your rain as I feel happy with the watch as it was a gift... ...  

These are questionable dials ...  

Photo from Omega ...  

A bit of a thread resurrection here. For future reference, just in case someone else has one of these watches with this dial. I have only seen a few of these dials in many years of collecting. Here is another one. Thanks Michael ...  

Thanks for posting, this is very interesting. Cheers, HSTE

Although I tend to speculate for prototype, they were certainly built in smaller quantaties. Heres an old shot of my Pink Gold XVI (probably replacement dial, but comfirmed Omega dial by my watchmaker) but it has an interesting delivery location and date ...  

. . . of an original (save the crown) pink gold XVI. [my wrist, JI's Ω, davudvl's photo ca '05] Note the hands; I don't recall seeing pink gold originals for sale recently, but they would be worth searching for. Art ...  

JI's is a beautiful example of the first dial (of the non-Olympic cross versions) that is more common and the crown missing, well it happens they live rough lives but it is beautiful in what some would call "imperfection' it gives the piece character. I h...  

At a famous auction house

. . . that went for ~ $4K US. I wonder what level this one is going to reach. Art

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