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Old 27 February 2011, 04:06 AM   #1
TheDude
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Advice needed on crackle dial

I don't know much about crackle dials. What do I need to look for? Are there pitfalls or traits to avoid?

Thanks in advance.
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Old 27 February 2011, 04:09 AM   #2
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Depends on who you ask.

Some say they're the most collectable dials on the planet and some say they look like crap.

Take your pic.
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Old 27 February 2011, 04:14 AM   #3
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Simply a design fault in the dial lacquer which made the dial surface crackle and craze. To me--I would probably not buy one when I can buy a mint gilt dial with no issues. As far as colectibility--yes-but definitely has to attract certain collectors. If you buy one - and ever want to sell - it will take a certain buyer-you definitely limit your market. I have seen and posted some very cool crazed gilt dials--that went totally tropical as well. I would prefer that over a so called crackle dial. In the end--to each his own though!! Cheers!
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Old 27 February 2011, 04:24 AM   #4
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Here is a shot of a crackle dial and a crazed carmel dial:

caramel 2.jpg

carackle dial.jpg
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Old 27 February 2011, 04:54 AM   #5
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Okay. 4 pics of the same dial. Anyone see any issues?











This would be going on my 8.3M serial 16660.

That serial could have come originally with either gloss or matte, but mine currently has a relumed gloss that I'm not happy with.




I'm being told that this one will increase the value of the watch since the non-hyphen is also rare.
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Old 27 February 2011, 05:09 AM   #6
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I should add I'm concerned by the lettering/font for "ROLEX". Also, the crown is a crown I didn't think was on gloss 16660 dials. The "SWISS - T < 25" doesn't look right either.

I have looked through the vrf dial archives and haven't found one like this...


The few other pics of non-hyphen dials I have found -do look the same- though.


One that Orchi found...

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Old 27 February 2011, 05:11 AM   #7
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I would not touch it IMHO. I have never seen a newer triple 6 dial that has crazed or cracked-only on older models like I posted above. Makes no sense to me. Just my opinion--If anyone knows different--let me know.
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Old 27 February 2011, 05:22 AM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SteelerFan1965 View Post
I would not touch it IMHO. I have never seen a newer triple 6 dial that has crazed or cracked-only on older models like I posted above. Makes no sense to me. Just my opinion--If anyone knows different--let me know.
I have seen watches from that era with crazed/cracked. I hope others can chime in.
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Old 27 February 2011, 05:29 AM   #9
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I can't say that I have ever looked either!! Not my thing though!
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Old 27 February 2011, 05:42 AM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SteelerFan1965 View Post
I can't say that I have ever looked either!! Not my thing though!
No problem. I have seen photos of black ExpIIs with crazed/crackled as well as 168000s.
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Old 5 March 2011, 12:10 PM   #11
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I like crackle/spider dials
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Old 5 March 2011, 12:27 PM   #12
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I used to have one before it got lost.

Here is my old crackle dial.



Can only be seen i a certain angle though.
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Old 6 March 2011, 12:49 AM   #13
Michael M.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SteelerFan1965 View Post
Simply a design fault in the dial lacquer which made the dial surface crackle and craze. To me--I would probably not buy one when I can buy a mint gilt dial with no issues. As far as colectibility--yes-but definitely has to attract certain collectors. If you buy one - and ever want to sell - it will take a certain buyer-you definitely limit your market. I have seen and posted some very cool crazed gilt dials--that went totally tropical as well. I would prefer that over a so called crackle dial. In the end--to each his own though!! Cheers!
Well said Ken
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Old 6 March 2011, 05:04 AM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TheDude View Post
I have seen watches from that era with crazed/cracked. I hope others can chime in.
My father gave me his 8.38 mil 16660 SD a few years ago. I asked him about its service history, and he said that almost immediately after he bought it from an AD, he had to have the dial replaced because it "started to crack." I knew exactly what he was talking about, but he's not a collector or enthusiast, so as far as he knew, it was just a freak thing with his particular watch. He doesn't have paperwork from the service. The dial was raplaced with an otherwise identical dial that's still on the watch (SWISS-T<25).
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Old 6 March 2011, 08:11 AM   #15
harry in montreal
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completely out of curiousity, are you being asked to pay a premium for a cracked dial? i really love a nice SD with a matte dial and a non-chromed surround dial. however, i dont think this would be correct for your watch.

regards,

harry
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