General Description:
D dials follow traditional Speedmaster design. Matte black dials with painted lume, painted logo, open date window. Two earlier dials were non-professional dials with no text at 3:00, the later third variant was professional with the word “AUTOMATIC” moved to 3:00. Dial D1 is referred to as the SPAM dial due to the unique text order, “OMEGA Speedmaster AUTOMATIC MARK III”, and is uncommon. That dial is featured in AJTT, early ads, and the Mark III manual but not often seen in the wild. It is also notable for the use of blue in the 24 hour subdial at 9:00.
Update November 2019: I’ve now seen a fourth version of this dial type, D4, which is very likely a service dial. It is designated as a Professional dial and uses blue in the 9:00 subdial.
Information about the frequency of Mark III dials and which were produced first can be found here.
Dial D1: “SPAM Mark III”
Color/finish: Black
Product Family: Speedmaster
Subfamily: Mark III
Most commonly seen in ref. 176.002ST
How common? Uncommon – Possibly Non-Production
Other Dial Features
Text at 12:00: OMEGA Speedmaster AUTOMATIC MARK III
Text at 3:00: None
Hour Markers: Painted narrow lume
Logo: Painted
Date Window: Open
6:00 Subdial contrasting color/texture: Same as Dial Stepped
9:00 Subdial colors (top/bottom): Blue/Grey
Minute Numerals: Painted on dial
Swiss Made Text: NONE
Notes
Text order is unique. Prominently featured in AJTT and period materials, but uncommon in the real world. I’ve never seen a photo of one in the real world, and have only heard one other collector claiming to have seen one. It might never have made it into production or available to the public consumer. Note the lack of Swiss Made text on the dial.
Dial D2: “Black Non-Pro Mark III”
Color/finish: Black
Product Family: Speedmaster
Subfamily: Mark III
Most commonly seen in ref. 176.002ST
How common? Common
Other Dial Features
Text at 12:00: OMEGA AUTOMATIC Speedmaster Mark III
Text at 3:00: None
Hour Markers: Painted narrow lume
Logo: Painted
Date Window: Open
6:00 Subdial contrasting color/texture: Same as Dial Stepped
9:00 Subdial colors (top/bottom): Black/Grey
Minute Numerals: Painted on dial
Swiss Made Text: T SWISS MADE T
Notes
Earlier, non-professional version.
Dial D3: “Black Mark III Pro”
Color/finish: Black
Product Family: Speedmaster
Subfamily: Mark III
Most commonly seen in ref. 176.002ST
How common? Common
Other Dial Features
Text at 12:00: OMEGA Speedmaster PROFESSIONAL MARK III
Text at 3:00: AUTOMATIC
Hour Markers: Painted narrow lume
Logo: Painted
Date Window: Open
6:00 Subdial contrasting color/texture: Same as Dial Stepped
9:00 Subdial colors (top/bottom): Black/Grey
Minute Numerals: Painted on dial
Swiss Made Text: T SWISS MADE T
Notes
Later professional version. This is the most common of the professional dials.
Dial D4: “Black Mark III Pro – Touch of Blue”
Color/finish: Black
Product Family: Speedmaster
Subfamily: Mark III
Most commonly seen in ref. 176.002ST
How common? Uncommon
Other Dial Features
Text at 12:00: OMEGA Speedmaster PROFESSIONAL MARK III
Text at 3:00: AUTOMATIC
Hour Markers: Painted narrow lume
Logo: Painted
Date Window: Open
6:00 Subdial contrasting color/texture: Same as Dial Stepped
9:00 Subdial colors (top/bottom): Blue/Grey
Minute Numerals: Painted on dial
Swiss Made Text: T SWISS MADE T
Notes
This is a service dial that I have not seen until November 2019. It is very similar to the Touch of Blue service dial for the Mark IV, H2. Although the “T”‘s surrounding “SWISS MADE” suggest the use of tritium, this dial is almost certainly a service dial and appears to be a luminova dial.