What time is it? Watches and horology

New watches are a lot easier

Thanks. So purely based on one picture it looks legit to me, though I am in no way an expert on ploprofs and most of what I know comes from http://ploprof.com/ and https://www.omegaploprof.com/ rather than having handled a lot of these. Any collector worth his salt will tell you that there's no substitute for actually seeing several / many examples of a model in the flesh, preferably with a loupe to get intimate.

However, the blistering dials which is a feature on early ploprofs would put me off personally. It definitely looks black which would also be correct for this period, but my monitor isn't colour corrected so maybe that's me. The price is fine for this considering it's from a dealer. Make sure you get it in writing that this is all original on the receipt.

There's one for sale on OF with a service dial, seller wants £5250 but that's pretty optimistic IMO (it might fetch £4750), it comes with the original dial and an extract and has a fabulous case.

If you need more input get some high res photos of the front, rear and sides and post them on OF requesting an opinion.

from what I've read it's a type 1 bezel and D3 (not D5) dial but it's not clear that this configuration is inconsistent which is consistent to my understanding.

Can't comment on the movement as you haven't posted that info!

This is worth a read https://omegaforums.net/threads/vintage-ploprof-600-roll-call.19277/

Edit: These are tool watches which often had hard lives, so it's to be expected that parts get replaced at service. Back in the days watch collectors didn't value provenance over condition as they do now (it's actually quite a new phenomenon) and it wasn't unusual for a watch repairer to replace parts more liberally than they might do today.

Also, there are rumors particularly of a bunch of ploprofs being unsold in the 70s when Omega almost went bust, and disassembled for parts. So provenance for any Omega from 73/4 onwards is a bit more complicated.

D3 black, which according to the author of the Omega Ploprof site is Mark 2 period.

Time for a think, absolutely no need to rush.

Yep, skip if it's inconsistent

Google is amazing

The case is a mark 1, as is the bezel, but the dial is from the mark 2 period. That said, it's one of the rarer dials - never officially produced, but found in sufficient numbers to be given a specific identity (D5, Ploprof fans).

D3 black, which according to the author of the Omega Ploprof site is Mark 2 period.

I can't see that the D3 is a Mk2 only dial on omegaploprof.com - can you point me to where this information is? The watch you've posted seems to be entirely consistent with the Mark 1 design, all parts are mark 1 including the dial.
Here's a couple of Mk1 examples from well respected collectors:
https://omegaforums.net/threads/vintage-ploprof-600-roll-call.19277/#post-209759
https://omegaforums.net/threads/vintage-ploprof-600-roll-call.19277/#post-209774

The movement is too early - it's of a series that were never put into the Ploprof at manufacture, so it's been swapped in likely at a service.

What is the movement in the watch?

Google is amazing

To be a bit more specific, people who have invested time and are willing to share their knowledge are amazing ;)

Google is just a massive, for-profit people farm :D

Watchfinder already selling over list.
I have a seamaster 300 left in my safe . Number 2568/ 3557

Party pooper

I can't see that the D3 is a Mk2 only dial on omegaploprof.com - can you point me to where this information is?

It's in an email from the chap who created that site.

What is the movement in the watch?

290XXXXX 1002 - too early for the watch, again according to the author of the Ploprof site.

Seems like getting a ‘correct’ plop plop isn’t easy.

All this PloProf talk and reading is really making them grow on me. FFS.

I browsed all the vintage shops in Burlington Arcade the other day, so much Rolex and Omega pron, also tried on the new Bell and Ross GMT which is fresh as too...

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Any better?

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He's making a very contentious statement and many people would disagree. This is the nature of vintage collecting, there is only consensus, not absolute truth. For example, I posted several examples of D3 dials on 1 style cases with B1 bezels above, held by other respected collectors who consider these as complete Mk1 watches. Anyway, I don't care much to disagree with your conclusion, just be aware that there are fewer experts than claimed experts in the field of vintage watches.

Are the Ocean 7 and Helson 'homage' Ploprof frowned upon?

Burn the heretic!!

Actual LOL

290XXXXX 1002 - too early for the watch, again according to the author of the Ploprof site.

29,000,000 serial number is correct for 1970 manufacture (1971 sale) according to Sheldon Brown Chuck Maddox.
http://chronomaddox.com/omega_serial_numbers.html
Which is consistent with a Mk1 Ploprof...

Reproduced from the email (your observation on experts is acknowledged) "I have the archive copy so I know it’s a replacement movement the 29millions were not Ploprofs"

ok cool. like i said these are tool watches, many parts were replaced. You could ask for an extract if that was the only thing holding you back, that would confirm it.

The Helson ones are lovely.

When I bought one about five years ago, the mesh bracelet was on a par with the Omega one but I think the bracelet quality has dropped a bit in recent years. Still a solid (literally) watch for the money.

ok cool. like i said these are tool watches, many parts were replaced. You could ask for an extract if that was the only thing holding you back, that would confirm it.

The shop suggested that I could apply for that if I wanted too, which strikes me as odd sequencing. It'd be what I might do if everything else checked out, not something to do in order to make sense of contradictions.

I'd still like a Ploprof, just not, I think, this Ploprof.

Well done, it looked pretty average to me from the pic, and its a reference where there are plenty of watches available..