I would like to take up a thread that started and also ended in November 2008 in this forum. The thread was obviously related to the Omega Seamaster "Cross of Merit" and it ended with two pictures of the watch that I now own since about two years (at least: I suspect that it was the one I now own as it had the same "strange" dial). The thread ended with the question: "is it a fake"?
I purchased this watch because I got it for a very reasonable price and because I actually like this particular dial more than the "official" ones as I think this is less "gothic", more clean and lean. An un-typical purchase for me as I normally only go for up-front visible- fully detailed and undisputed authenticity.
The experts will know the (few) variations of dials that came with the OT 2850. Given the special dial of mine I did some further exploration including having my watch-maker to remove the dial so that I could take some pictures. So, by now I can share the following facts:
If you look at the close up pictures of the dial, it is clear that this is not one of those "Thai-versions" nor the "index-markers-glued-onto-the-dial" type of stuff: the Cross of Merit emblem stands 3D-like out of the dial, it is very detailed and very precise. But then we all seem to know that Omega started to use the baton/onyx type of dials at the earliest at around 1958.
So, the big question is of course: fake (I guess not), prototype (?), custom made upon request as later replacement (must have been expensive?), other? Food for thought. Whatever the outcome, I really like this watch with this particular dial. But I am very curious to hear your comments, theories and feed-backs.
Cheers