Much discussion and confusion occur over dating and identifying Omega Constellation dials of various periods. Recently, Ive received numerous emails from Omega afficionados and indeed neophytes with queries about the authenticity of dials.
Ive composed a longish and detailed piece on dials, and while it could never be the Last Word on the subject, it goes some way to establish some benchmarks on identifying authentic dials.
This is the first of a series of three posts I'll devote to dials, cases and movements. Ive have since updated the article as a consequence of some very interesting conversations of the on-line watch forums
This article has been updated and now appears in another post
Poscript: Its difficult to put a definitive percentage on the rate of devaluation caused by dial refinishing, and thats why I suggest "up to 40% decline in value" with a re-dial. The oft-quoted figure in watch and collectors magazines is 30 -40 percent. I thought I'd test that by taking samples from the auction records of antiquorum in Hong Kong, Tokyo, London and Milan and comparing like with like. I had a work experience student do the leg work. In some high-end marques where originality is king, it can be more than 40%. In upper-middle end brands the discount ranges from around 20 - 40 percent.
Note that I also specify which markets and leave eBay out of it because eBay is an unregulated and often uninformed buying market, and it's often when buyers go to re-sell a watch that they have difficulty is recouping their investment, particularly if the dial is refinished.
How did you come up with 40%
ReplyDeleteI have two comments;
ReplyDeleteIm not sure if you mean that all original dials on constellations with lumnious material on either hands or markers should have one or two "T"s along with swiss made ? IMO that cant be right according to what I´ve seen, they must have used radium on some occasions or up until som date. A lot of not redials do not have Ts.
What is your source for your claim that sans serif font never appear on originals ? Would really like to hear that.
There was a discussion on just this on TZ Vintage forum - http://forums.timezone.com/index.php?t=msg&goto=2349962&rid=28998#msg_2349962
I added a link (not sure if Im allowed) -
Anyway - this is a very nice and useful blog
Agree re tritium - the earlier 300 models and poss the early 500 series had radium. I have a record somewhere of when it changed - must dig it out.
ReplyDeleteRe your second question, I dont quite understand it as noweher in that post can I see reference to serifs not appearing in the script.
Thanks for answering
ReplyDeleteTritium/radium: If you can dig that out it would be very useful. My hunch is that they put out radium dials until around 63.
Try to put the other question clearer..
Sans serif: Is it your opinion that the type font on all connie dials have serifs ? I read it that way.
The post on TZ shows a dial with letters in sans serif. Someone points to that, and then another TZr further down posts a pic of a identical, claiming to be absolutely sure that his dial is not a redial.
Hope that was clearer...English s not my mothers tongue..
Hi Thanks for yoour repost.
ReplyDeleteI believe that all 300 and 500 series had serifs in the upper and lower case script. The pic of Bob Jordans is not clear enough for me to ascertain if it is a genuine dial or if the serifs are absent. They kinda look as though theyre present. The lack of Ts is standard on arrowheads unless redialled and then its often the refinisher who has a T Swiss Made T block who puts them on.
Regards
desmond