Original or repainted...???....

[AP77]

Original or repainted dial....???....I do have an opinion....What's yours....???....And the reasoning behind your opinion if you wish to opine....???....

[Kingface66]

This one? Not sure how long ago this sold

http://www.ukwatches.com/product/025...l-chronograph/

[AP77]

Appears to be the same one that's for sale again now....What about the dial...???....

[Dan S]

This watch is definitely not in my wheelhouse, but I'll play. There is no silver bullet, just a number of details that lead me to think it's a re-dial.

The dial is extremely fresh and clean for such an old watch, and the printing just doesn't look very sharp to me, but that's not concrete evidence, just a feeling. It's a bit strange to see so many different fonts on the same dial, but I guess again it's not impossible. I also think it's strange to ROLEX in a sans serif font, but probably not unique. The thing that looks really bad is the extremely uneven spacing of letters in ANTIMAGNETIC.

On the other hand, the alignment of the dials/tracks is quite good.

If one could find some other similar dials, that could influence my opinion. I haven't tried very hard.

[AP77]

Dan,

Hope you had a pleasant day....!!!....Sent you a note via email...That you might be interested in a GH....Little rough but the price is right...They're a tough find....No silver buller but you win the silver ingot....Frank.....:-).....

[offrdmania]

If thats a redial then hats off to the person that did it

[interestedwatcher]

What an interesting watch. Like the above post, if it's a redial it's very good.

[AP77]

I agree about the artistry being incredible....Just imagine the artisans who hand painted these more than 80 years ago....!!!...SINGER did a majority of these complicated dials for the larger watch companies...Always check for their signature on the back of the dial.....

[AP77]

Notice the two distinct shapes of the number "3" on this dial....???....

[AP77]

Here's another special request sector dial.....

[Dan S]

Originally Posted by AP77

Notice the two distinct shapes of the number "3" on this dial....???....

Interesting that you noticed that as well. As you may know, the topic of flat and round 3s is often discussed in the context of authentication of old Universal Geneve chronograph dials.

[AP77]

I agree, Dan....Usually the flat three within the registers and the round three elsewhere...Almost always a dead giveaway for me....These elaborate sector dials that are untouched usually consist of only one type when original...The round three being most prevalent....But consistent throughout....Yes, I saw it...You got the silver ingot so I know your keen eye caught it as well....I am going to have to block you from the quizzes as you're a ringer....:-)....

[vintagewatch]

My opinion to the dial on the watch in this thread being original: unlikely. The watch looks like a reference 2811 which was likely made in the 1930s therefore the dial being 80+ years old just looks to fresh. I'm fairly sure the dials were originally hand painted, which makes a repainted dial even harder to detect if done so by a highly skilled individual. The one below sold at an Antiquorum auction in 2017. The auction description doesn't comment as to originality of the dial.

[AP77]

Definitely were hand painted back then, Sir...This one is a first generation 2508...Circa 1934.....

[AP77]

The 2811's preceeded the 2508's...

[AP77]

2811's were 32.3 mm in diameter...The first generation 2508's were 37.2 mm and the second generation 2508's were 35.2 mm in diameter...Incidentally, the 2811's had a Valjoux 23 13 ligne movement as opposed to the Valjoux 22's at 14 ligne in both the first and second generation 2508's.....

[Vlad]

I'm not an expert, but I would guess that it's not original. Take a look at the constant second register. it is not properly centered. thus the second hand is way above the railroad track closer to 60 and right at the track closer to 30. Pictures on James Dowling's web site show the constant second point to 30.

[AP77]

Very observant, Vlad...!!!...It's way off...Thank you....Frank....

[miamiclay]

I know nothing about these, but am always happy to learn.

Is it significant that the second one’s text is all French (telemetre, fab.suisse), while the first one is mixed French and English (telemetre, but not antimagnetique nor fab.suisse)?

[AP77]

The dials were made for the European market and the North American and South American market....Hence the Fab Suisse vs Swiss made....Also see the spelling change in antimagnetic vs antimagnetique....Both have been repainted....Here's one that's original...Incidentally, also the most desirable configuration in sector dials....The antimagnetic characterostics were achieved by utilizing alloys the were impervious to magnetic fields...The Milgauss designed by Rolex in 1956 was that companies first antimagnetic watch that withstood appreciable amounts of magnetism solely based on the case composition and the incorporation of internal alloys, although they produced watches in the early 1930's that were magnetic "resistant"....If I am not mistaken Tissot made an art deco tank watch in 1929 with a caliber 20 movement that owns the title for the first antimagnetic "resistant" wristwatch....Here's a 2508 dial that is untouched and original.....Lastly, both of the above pictured dials have been repainted....