| A SMILE ON YOUR DIAL?A dial is, arguably, the | | | | original intact dial that may have a nice |
| most important visual feature of a watch. | | | | patina.Why is this? Well, generally, |
| Irrespective of the excellence of the | | | | refinished dials are not of the same quality |
| movement or its timekeeping qualities, if the | | | | as the factory originals. Many refinished |
| dial is badly discoloured or flaking it makes | | | | dials don't last as long and are not as |
| the watch look sub-standard, tired or worn | | | | durable as original dials. Factory dials may |
| out and certainly diminishes its value.Often | | | | have baked-on, anodised and other |
| Collectors are put off by flaking and badly | | | | manufacturing finishes such as clear coatings |
| discoloured dials on otherwise quite original | | | | covering both the dial and markers to inhibit |
| Omega Constellations. Many shy away from such | | | | the ageing process.Refinished dials are often |
| watches because of the general assumption | | | | painted, have ink stamped script and are |
| that moisture is the primary cause of dial | | | | finished to a lower level of quality and |
| disintegration. The theory goes, that badly | | | | durability. They may mark more easily and |
| discoloured dials provide a good outward clue | | | | often do not contain the level of detail of |
| of a possibly rusty movement and are best | | | | the originals.Also, many original dials have |
| avoided.There is another possible cause of | | | | the markers soldered to the dial, whereas in |
| dial discolouration that behoves the canny | | | | quite a number of refinished dials I have |
| buyer to look more closely at watches with | | | | seen, the markers have been glued back rather |
| discoloured dials.Sun damage is another cause | | | | than soldered (for the obvious reason that |
| of paint failure and sun can mimic water | | | | the soldering process could damage the paint |
| damage to the dial paint in many cases.A | | | | on a re-dial) On occasions the glue is so |
| beautiful movement with no water damage can | | | | thick on the back of the dial that it |
| lay below, and this type of paint failure, | | | | interferes with the running of the watch, |
| while not good for collectors of original | | | | particularly with date models.A bad re-dial |
| watches, is a wonderful candidate for | | | | with inaccurate detailing can have the value |
| restoration. However, even seasoned buyers | | | | of your watch dropping quicker than a souffle |
| need to be careful when buying watches with | | | | placed in a refridgerator! It's fair to say |
| badly deteriorated dials - you need to | | | | that there are many more slap-dash, |
| determine very carefully whether the watch | | | | incompetent and inferior refinishing houses |
| dial is damaged from sun or moisture.So, the | | | | than there are high quality re-dialers. So, |
| first thing that needs to be done when | | | | if you chance upon one, treat him like |
| chancing upon an Omega with a badly | | | | royalty.Now, to the exception mentioned |
| discoloured dial is look under the bonnet | | | | earlier. Because of the globalisation of the |
| with a jewellers loup. A clean, rust free | | | | vintage watch market and accessibility of |
| movement is easily identified, and if the | | | | stock, many more people have the opportunity |
| seals on the case have held up well, there | | | | to buy Omega watches. A new niche has emerged |
| will be no tell-tale rust spotting on the | | | | in the vintage watch market for vintage |
| non-copperised parts of the movement and no | | | | watches that look almost showroom new. This |
| corrosion of the case, particularly at the | | | | market is driven, largely, by newcomers. I |
| caseback seam.If the movement has stood up | | | | can attest to that from a continuous flow of |
| well to the elements and history or use, you | | | | emails from such individuals, and, to them, |
| have a choice: Buy and restore (or have | | | | 'look' is very important and 'patina' and |
| restored) or continue on your journey to find | | | | originality is often overlooked. These buyers |
| a vintage Omega with an original dial. If you | | | | will pay big money for look and wearability, |
| take the restoration route, you could have | | | | so you will see on occasions quite high |
| the watch sent to Omega in Bienne, wait for | | | | prices being paid for watches with refinished |
| quite a while, and ultimately receive the | | | | dials.I imagine though that quite a number of |
| watch back with a new factory dial.In the | | | | newcomers to collecting, if they're serious, |
| case of Pie Pan Constellations, however, it's | | | | will ultimately develop a greater level of |
| believed that Omega has run out of factory | | | | collecting sophistication and become |
| dials and will replace old Pie Pan dials with | | | | interested in the finer points of detail, |
| convex Constellation dials from the same | | | | originality, richness of patina and other |
| period. Given the increasing likelihood of | | | | collectibility factors.Because of the |
| not being able to source an original Pie Pan | | | | diminsihing supply of new-old-stock Omega |
| dial, you may choose to opt for a re-dial.So | | | | dials, particularly Pie Pan Constellations |
| if you choose to re-dial, what are you | | | | and other early models, re-dialing will |
| letting yourself in for? If you can source an | | | | increasingly become a fact of life. |
| excellent re-dialler - they are few and far | | | | Never-the-less, from a long-term |
| between - then a dial refinished to look | | | | collectibility standpoint, re-dialling should |
| exactly like an original will indeed make a | | | | be an option when you have no other |
| watch look much more attractive.But, from the | | | | options.(c) desmond Guilfoyle 2006Desmond |
| standpoint of collecting original Omegas it | | | | Guilfoyle in an award winning commentator on |
| may not improve the value of the watch - | | | | influence, persuasion and charisma. He has |
| there is an exception and we'll review that | | | | written three books on those subjects and his |
| later. From a vintage collectors point of | | | | book 'The Charisma Effect' has been published |
| view, a refinished dial diminishes the value | | | | in seven languages around the globe. |
| of a watch when compared with a watch with an | | | | |