zOwie Omega Discussion Forum

The dial back does indeed show that the rivets have not been removed from the applied Omega and XVI nor the applied indices. The script is looking good. Notice how the rivet ends have been brushed so as to ensure that no minute particles would fall into the movement. There's only one person I know who actually removes dial furniture and re-rivets and so I would think that the dial is original.

Everything appears correct about this watch. There are a number of dial variations in this model, the chinese lacquer dial perhaps being quite common (producing fabulous patina these days) but there were also two tone and other dials, and while I canl;t find any reference to solid gold dials, there is no reason that I know of why there shouldnt be.

Never-the-less you have a rare dial IMO and when you hear from OMega (They should be able to confirm from their records the dial type after matching the serial and case number) confirming the dial, I'd like to add your story to the XVI essay I wrote.

Omega should also be able to tell you the shipping destination of the watch too.

If I were your friend I would be seriously considering keping this watch as an heirloom. :)

Cheers

Desmond

: My friends,step father passed away,...taking most of the story with
: him!.My,friends,mother gave it to him,along with a few other
: watches and we had no clue of the significance of this watch
: untill i started enquiring about the history of these beautiful
: timepieces! We do know he was living in Germany when he bought
: it,hence....the 471 calibre and 19 Jewels (My understanding was
: 470 calibre and 17 Jewels were for the US market). He travelled
: throughout Europe so he could have purchased it anywhere!. The
: unusual part about this watch is...the dial is made of 18 K
: solid gold,and all the other XVI watches had either the buttery
: colour lacquer dial or the Cross and Rings style dials!. Why and
: Where this watch had the Gold dial put in is a mystery as all
: indications point to this dial not existing!. However,....it
: does exist, and some people have been doing some a lot of
: legwork for us!. Desmonds,article,.. on the XVI Olympic watch
: was just one of the very informitive articles we have found and
: couldn't of moved forward without this info!!!!. The back of the
: watch is only worn slightly compared to alot of pics we have
: seen!. I have also seen a lot of fake or improperly restored
: dials,as i now know of what to look for!. Our Omega dealers
: watchmaker,has taken a keen interest in this as he said there
: were no Gold dials made,...but..he feels this is the real
: deal,and he was contacting someone from the H.O. about this,and
: i have e-mailed Omega with the info also!. I just love mystery's
: and can't wait till we solve this one!

: Glen