diamondjim
130
Seamaster cal 343
Hi, this will be my first try at posting photos, so please bear with me. This is the 343 that I found in a coin shop and I am asking for help with the dial.
What if anything should I do with this dial? It is very presentable the way it is but looking at other examples I seem to think its missing its heritage without
the correct dial. Should I repaint, just add the missing chronometer certification or wait and look for a used/nos dial. I probably won't keep this for long so
maybe the correct course would be to let whom-ever is the new owner. I like to wear my vintage watches and since I have retired I rarely have a need for a
"dress" watch, I prefer stainless and a more sports oriented style. I just feel this wouldn't get much wrist time since I have a favored connie that I wear when
needed. Well here goes the try to post photos, I've noticed quite a few people have had problems in the past. Jim
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Seamaster cal 343
Hi, this will be my first try at posting photos, so please bear with me. This is the 343 that I found in a coin shop and I am asking for help with the dial. What if anything should I do with this dial? It is very presentable the way it is but looking at o...
What a huge coincidence!
I have the same exact watch with a 14k gold case, 343 bumper movement, and the dial finished exactly the same way (except for some minor differences with the luminous)! Here is a picture of mine:...
serial#'s
Hi MSN, did you notice the serial#'s only 26#'s off! My is 12188946, sorry about the poor photo quality, Jim
Jim, i'm slightly confused. is this a refinished dial or one without 'chronometer' on it ?
it looks ok to me especially as there is another one like it. i'm not up on dials, but can usually spot a redial. if your not thinking of keeping it long then perhaps its not worth the expense getting a NOS dial. having it refinished IMO is a bad idea unl...
I agree with Graham...
This is probably the original dial, as we have two examples of a similar dial on these movements. I seem to remember that there have been other instances where chronometers were not so described on the dials. if your considering offloading it feel free to...
Hi Guys... i think that they are both redials....
Hi Guys I was staring at both watches... The Seamaster Script letter forms are not the same between the two ... as an example look at the ending "er" in Seamaster . The counter of the e ( the shaped formed in the center of the e) is not the same... and th...
Thats great!
Thanks it never occurred to me to do a side by side comparison, pretty plain to see now, Jim
i knew you'd know the...
i knew you'd know the answer Bill, the font of all Omega knowledge. interesting that the 19 jewel 501 was the chronometer and not the 20 jewel. Omega designs is not the best book in the world, but has some good movement pics in it. although both dials loo...
G, that is why i like it here...
Hi G This is the stuff that I find interesting.. I am glad you like it as well.. i would like to see a 20 jewel adjusted 5 positions 501 , i have not seen one as of yet. Good Hunting Bill sohne
Me too...
Lots to learn around here. Still, it is quite amazing that these two watches would be so closely resembling each other, close in production numbers, yet different... Very interesting post! Thank you all!
well completely confused
Now that I have had time to think about this, many more questions come to mind. I bought this watch a few weeks ago and the only thing I did was open it up. The reason I posted the photos was the condition of the dial was so good and I thought someone on ...
good luck with the research...
good luck with the research Jim, you'll need it to get a definative result. best Graham
But......
Bob, the intent of my original post was to have people voice their opinions as to the validity of the dial, no its not.... doesn't cut it. Would you care to explain why you feel its been refinished? What are the basic parameters that keyed this decision f...
Ok
I should have been referring to the watch you presented, not the both. -Yours has a very peculiar font especially in the word Seamaster -The writing is sloppily applied, including the minute calibrations on the outer track and the second calibrations on t...
fonts
Hi Bob, thanks thats exactly what I was looking for in a critique, now everyone talks about "fonts" but I have yet to run across a source for for them. Would you point me to a reference or does this all come from experience and observation? Thanks, Jim
Experience
Thousands and thousands of watches examined. Still get it wrong, however. Bob
Books...
Jim, if you're interested in collecting Omega watches, you probably should get the Bible: Omega: A Journey through Time, by Mr Marco Richon, who is curator of the Omega Museum in Bienne. There you will see hundreds of examples of vintage Omegas, and will ...
Be carefull!
The Omega "bible" is a good book but as always: be carefull about what you read and see! Not everything that is printed must be "the right thing" as we all know - Omega is not very picky in chosing pictures and there may be well some examples showing res...
All too true!
I agree with what Erich said. No substitute for self-study and consultation with forums and friends who have expertise.