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Old 29 September 2013, 08:13 AM   #1
springer
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GMT 1675 Dials

Below are some photos that I have put together regarding the progression of the GMT 1675 dials from the various eras of production from 1960-1980.

Since I do not have every GMT dial variation in my possession, I relied on the internet for some of the photos which are depicted here.

The gilt (or gold font dials) era for the GMT 1675 began with the original model and continued until it was discontinued around 1966. There were a few variations of the gilt dials with the early ones reading SWISS at the the bottom and the last ones from the gilt era with SWISS - T 25 printed at the bottom. There were also variations with the SWISS dials. There were the early "exclamation point" dials which looked like an exclamation point at the number six marker (see photo G-1 and G-2). There was also another variation where the dial contained an underlined score directly beneath the OFFICIALLY CERTIFIED font and the circa 1964 radial dial with the double marked SWISS identified in the G-rail photo below. The exclamation point dials and the underline scored dials would probably be considered the rarest of the gilt era dials. (There could be some other variations that I have over-looked.) Most of the gilt dials all have a distinct coronet which helps identify them further. Below are photos of the gilt dials identified as G-1 through G-6 and what I believe is the progression of the dials.

The dial marked G-5 or G-6 was the last variation of the gilt dial and the G-4 preceded it. G-1 seems to be the earliest gilt dial and the G-2 and G-3 fell somewhere in between.

After the gilt dials, the printing became white on the GMT dials. Each era for the various white dials found on the GMTs is easy to identify by the coronet printed on the dial. There are also luminova/super luminova service dials that contain a very distinct dial coronet and are marked SWISS - T 25 and or SWISS at the bottom (the dial coronet is the same on both dials).

The white dials are identified below as W-1 through W-5 along with a photo of the GMT 1675 service dial. The dial marked W-3 is what is commonly referred to as the "radial dial" made for one or two years during the mid 1970's. Dial W-1 was used during the late 1960s thru 1971, W-2 followed next for a few years, then W-3 for a couple years and the same for W-4 and W-5. It appears that during the 1970s, the dial was changed every two or three years. I do not want to place exact dates on the production era for each dial variation but instead prefer to show the progression of the dials.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg 89xxxx.JPG (60.7 KB, 7872 views)
File Type: jpg gilt.1961.JPG (85.5 KB, 7889 views)
File Type: jpg gilt underline.1961.JPG (71.1 KB, 8084 views)
File Type: jpg gilt 1963.JPG (69.0 KB, 7843 views)
File Type: jpg gilt.1965.small.jpg (134.0 KB, 7853 views)
File Type: jpg G-6.jpg (60.3 KB, 7798 views)
File Type: jpg W-1 dial.sm.jpg (136.8 KB, 7884 views)
File Type: jpg W-2 dial.jpg (132.8 KB, 7853 views)
File Type: jpg W-3.sm.jpg (140.0 KB, 8115 views)
File Type: jpg W-4.sm.jpg (142.0 KB, 7826 views)
File Type: jpg W-5 dial.sm.jpg (145.4 KB, 7816 views)
File Type: jpg service dial (f) (2).JPG (56.4 KB, 7804 views)
File Type: jpg G-rail.JPG (78.5 KB, 7764 views)
File Type: jpg service dial (f).JPG (53.5 KB, 7740 views)
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Old 29 September 2013, 10:20 AM   #2
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Excellent post, thanks
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Old 29 September 2013, 10:34 AM   #3
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Great informative post. I have a question regarding the so called W-3 dial. Why it is called the rail dial?

Thanks
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Old 29 September 2013, 10:44 AM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by nycpassat View Post
Great informative post. I have a question regarding the so called W-3 dial. Why it is called the rail dial?

Thanks
I can't answer that for you but I can explain the difference when compared to the other white dials.

On the radial dial (incorrectly typed as rail dial), if you look at the second marks, they are much longer than those found on the other dials. Additionally, there is a larger gap between the circular plots and the second marks.
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Old 29 September 2013, 10:51 AM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by springer View Post
I can't answer that for you but I can explain the difference when compared to the other white dials.

On the rail dial, if you look at the second marks, they are much longer than those found on the other dials. Additionally, there is a larger gap between the circular plots and the second marks.
RADIAL...not RAIL.

Radial dial Gmt is often referred to as a the MK III dial and is often seen around the low 5.0 mil circa 1977.

The Rail Dial is seen in some rare 1655's and 1665's and is when the "C" in Chronometer is directly over the "C" in Certified. These dial were made by the Stern Company.
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Old 29 September 2013, 10:54 AM   #6
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Great post! Ought to be a sticky! Thanks, Springer!
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Old 29 September 2013, 11:03 AM   #7
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I thought the "rail dial" referred to the two lines for
Superlative chronometer
Officially certified

Where the gap betweens both words on each lines were perfectly align in the middle.

See for more about "rail dials"
>>> http://www.doubleredseadweller.com/rail_white_sd.htm on the excellent DRSD website
>>> http://www.newturfers.com/vb/showthread.php?t=2256 on TRF

;-)
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Old 29 September 2013, 11:15 AM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by laphroaig007 View Post
I thought the "rail dial" referred to the two lines for
Superlative chronometer
Officially certified

Where the gap betweens both words on each lines were perfectly align in the middle.

See for more about "rail dials"
>>> http://www.doubleredseadweller.com/rail_white_sd.htm on the excellent DRSD website
>>> http://www.newturfers.com/vb/showthread.php?t=2256 on TRF

;-)
Post number 5 is a pretty good explanation.
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Old 29 September 2013, 11:21 AM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Beaumont Miller II View Post
RADIAL...not RAIL.

Radial dial Gmt is often referred to as a the MK III dial and is often seen around the low 5.0 mil circa 1977.

The Rail Dial is seen in some rare 1655's and 1665's and is when the "C" in Chronometer is directly over the "C" in Certified. These dial were made by the Stern Company.
I meant radial, not rail. Sorry for the confusion.
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Old 29 September 2013, 11:23 AM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by laphroaig007 View Post
I thought the "rail dial" referred to the two lines for
Superlative chronometer
Officially certified

Where the gap betweens both words on each lines were perfectly align in the middle.

See for more about "rail dials"
>>> http://www.doubleredseadweller.com/rail_white_sd.htm on the excellent DRSD website
>>> http://www.newturfers.com/vb/showthread.php?t=2256 on TRF

;-)
Sorry for the confusion. I did mean radial and typed rail instead.
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Old 29 September 2013, 11:34 AM   #11
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Great post John...Very informative!
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Old 29 September 2013, 11:38 AM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by springer View Post
I meant radial, not rail. Sorry for the confusion.
no worries, I thought so too just making sure.

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Old 29 September 2013, 11:59 AM   #13
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Great post thanks for the details
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Old 29 September 2013, 12:30 PM   #14
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nice post
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Old 29 September 2013, 01:04 PM   #15
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Great post for dummies like!!!

Just use your photos to spot out a MK1 dial from a MK3 case newly advertised else where......very useful!
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Old 29 September 2013, 01:07 PM   #16
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Great post for dummies like!!!

Just use your photos to spot out a MK1 dial from a MK3 case newly advertised else where......very useful!
You lost me at the MK3 case. I guess I'm a dummy.
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Old 29 September 2013, 01:11 PM   #17
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You lost me at the MK3 case. I guess I'm a dummy.
Oh sorry typo I meant mk4 instead of mk3
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Old 29 September 2013, 05:47 PM   #18
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excellent post, thanks for doing this
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Old 29 September 2013, 10:25 PM   #19
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Excellent John.

Here is an earlier Luminova variance to the 1675 "Swiss" Service Dial you posted. Picture came from one of our Sellers on the Forum. This one has the "Swiss - T<25" on the dial:
.
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Old 29 September 2013, 11:06 PM   #20
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Great post thanks!

Always looking to learn something new. Great reference material!

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Old 30 September 2013, 01:12 AM   #21
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Why isn't this stickied in the reference section??!! Beautiful!
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Old 30 September 2013, 02:00 AM   #22
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Great post John! I have been searching for informative posts on the dial variance of the GMTs but found most to be lacking. This is one great post that deserves to be mentioned and referenced to where GMTs 1675 are concerned. :)
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Old 30 September 2013, 02:18 AM   #23
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Nice information John. I find the most variable styles in the GMT sport watches and dating the proper dials to case years almost impossible sometimes. Always good to have a refresher course of information. :-) M
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Old 30 September 2013, 06:57 AM   #24
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Nice information John. I find the most variable styles in the GMT sport watches and dating the proper dials to case years almost impossible sometimes. Always good to have a refresher course of information. :-) M
Thanks Mike. I find some of the gilt dials hard to date since there were so many variations in that seven year run. There was definitely some overlap with the dials from year to year.


Doesn't look like I'll be making it down to Miami but you guys have fun! I haven't spent much time there since I moved from Broward County many years ago and was looking forward to a return visit to see some old friends.
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Old 30 September 2013, 07:10 AM   #25
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Excellent John.

Here is an earlier Luminova variance to the 1675 "Swiss" Service Dial you posted. Picture came from one of our Sellers on the Forum. This one has the "Swiss - T<25" on the dial:
.
Thanks Norm.

The GMT 1675 service tritium dial and the service luminova dial are both marked SWISS - T<25 and look identical except for the plot/hands material. There is also the service dial with super luminova material marked SWISS at the bottom. Photos of the service dial with tritium and super luminova are in my first post.
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Old 30 September 2013, 10:15 AM   #26
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Excellent post John! I agree should be stuck as a sticky!

Tom
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Old 30 September 2013, 10:48 AM   #27
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Good post and great photos!
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Old 30 September 2013, 01:04 PM   #28
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Great post john.


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Old 30 September 2013, 01:09 PM   #29
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Great post john.


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Thanks Dave and everyone here on TRF. Hopefully I didn't cause additional anxiety for anyone here.
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Old 1 October 2013, 12:10 AM   #30
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Too bad you won't make Miami John. Should be fun! We will miss seeing you.
best regards, M
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