Watch enthusiasts will agree that a beautiful bracelet, unique bezel or extravagant adornment may make a watch stunning, but it is the dial that truly makes it one of a kind. Whether it’s many complications or an ornate design, watch dials are truly captivating. As we unpack from last week’s  IWJG show in Brooklyn, we are celebrating all of the amazing vintage dials we found! Here are a few of our favorites –

Vintage Rolex Daytona Dials

Vintage Rolex Daytona Dials are some of the most sought after Dials in the Vintage watch world! According to Hodinkee.com “Paul Newman [dials] with pump pushers can come with a black dial that has three colors. But Paul Newmans with screw-down pushers were barely made with black dials. And when they were, the 12 o’clock signature should read “Rolex Cosmograph Oyster.” But these are very rare, and when a real “RCO” Paul Newman comes up for sale, they bring serious money. In fact, it was this style of Daytona that broke $1,000,000 last year at the Christie’s Lesson One Daytona sale.”

New Old Stock Universal Geneve Tri Compax

This new old stock Universal Moonphase dial is as complex as it is beautiful! According to TimepieceChronicle.com “The Universal Geneve Tri-Compax was first released at the 1944 Basel Watch Fair to commemorate the brand’s fiftieth anniversary. A common misconception is that the “Tri” refers to the three subdials when instead it refers to the three complications: moonphase, calendar and chronograph. The calibers used throughout the Tri-Compax line were UG Caliber 481, 287 and 281 which were supplied from Ebauches Martel and customized by Universal Geneve. These calibers would be used throughout the lifespan of the Tri-Compax with the difference sized movements allowing for a variety of case sizes ranging from 34.5mm to 39mm. ”

A rare or limited edition dial can double and even triple the price of a watch, as we see in the case of this Rolex Daytona that will be auctioned off this weekend at Phillips. The piece is expected to sell for over $1.5 Million dollars. The auction house describes the piece as “An exceedingly rare, highly important and very attractive yellow gold chronograph wristwatch with “lemon” grené dial, white graphics and bracelet”. This watch features the ever elusive Paul Newman dial, which some scholars and collectors have debated the mere possibility of a yellow gold one existing! This specific model with yellow gold screw down pushers is considered the most important Paul Newman dial in existence, and its rarity is unparalleled.

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