Watch Dial: Vintage California
Featuring a distinctive composition of half Roman and half Arabic numerals, along with dashes at 3, 6, and 9 o'clock, the California dial has definitely earned its status as an iconic design.
But what's the California connection you may ask? It's a wild one. According to Fratello Watches, during the 1970s vintage watch boom, a Los Angeles-based dial refinisher, Kirk Rich, started refinishing Tudor dials with this distinct design. The biggest problem? Tudor watches that were rebranded “Rolex Tudor” to supposedly increase their prestige. The term “California Dial” then became known among scammers to denote a “redone” dial. In other words, it was a term that applied to fake dials. Read all about it here.
This Vintage California dial is filled with a special blend of C3 Super-LumiNova® Lume and pigments to produce a creamy, vintage lume colour. Note: To achieve this lume blend, the lume intensity will not be as strong or last as long as dials with original C3 lume.
Our dials are 28.5mm in diameter and compatible with Seiko movements such as 7S26, 7S36, 4R15, 4R35, 6R15, NE15, NH25, NH26, NH35, NH36, NH70, NH71, NH72 etc
Each dial has 4 legs for either 3 or 4 o'clock crown positions. To fit either crown position movement, just snip off the 2 legs accordingly.
Our dials are compatible with Seiko models that are using the above movements, such as SNK803, SNK805, SNK807, SNK809, SKX007, SKX009, SKX011, SKX013, SKX015, SKX017, SNZF15, SNZF17, SNZF19, SNZG13, SNZG15, SNZH55 and more.
Quality is excellent and shipping to Canada is reasonably fast but the pricing is high. I would buy from Namoki much more often if the pricing were more competitive. This is the second time I’ve purchased this particular dial. The first time in BGW9 Blue, this time in C3 Green. I was ever so slightly disappointed to discover that the the C3 green lume version has a pale yellow’ish vintage hue in daylight. I was hoping it’d be like the blue lume version and appear pure white in daylight like the product listing photo.
Very nice and unique dial
Really satisfied with this dial! the sunburst color really plays well with the light and the lume is great!
Nice and clean looking dial
Had an issue with using this dial in the compressor case. CS was helpful in getting a solution (most dials are too thick for the case... use sandpaper to grind down the nubs on the bottom of the gray movement spacer to make room)