Hello all, new member here and wanted to introduce myself. Lindell was kind enough to call me and walk me through the registration process and I look forward to participating with this great group of collectors!

I'm from North Carolina and I'm a full time police officer and have been doing that for nearly nine years. My chief horological interests are modern mechanical wristwatches and the older RR pocket watches.

I've been surfing the 992B forum and have already learned a lot I didn't know. My question is about the melamine dials. I would like to get a nice 992B to go with my old 1911 production 992. I would prefer a stainless model 15 case for a sturdy, robust daily wearer. After reading all the negative comments about the melamine dials, I'm wondering if I should consider an older porcelain dialed 992B for a "using" watch and what exactly the pitfalls of melamine would be for a watch worn on a regular basis.

Would it be an option to redial a later 992B with a repro or NOS porcelain dial for such use? Any input is appreciated and thanks for such a splendid resource as this chapter and forum for "watchaholics" like me!

Hi Clyde and welcome:

As you will soon be told (many times, I'm afraid), the earlier 992B's were sold only with enamel dials. Then the latest models were only sold with Melamine. In between, there was a period, when the watches might have had either type of dial.

The "proper" dial for your watch will depend upon its date of manufacture based on its serial number.

I'm afraid that 992B dials are no longer easy to find.... at least reasonably priced. The enamel ones usually cost far more than the Melamine. The Melamine, by their nature, are aging themselves into oblivian.

Personally, I hate melamine. They fade and crack even if they are not touched or abused in any way. When I repair watches (I've learned), even a touch of a tweezer on a melamine dial will leave a permanent mark. Remember, you will have to remove the bezel to set the time on a 992B, and each time you will risk damaging the fragile melamine. And... even if you are 100% perfect in taking care, the melamine will fade, stain and yellow.... anyway!

All this just shows that you should pay special attention to the quality of the dial on any 992B that you buy. You will probably be stuck with that dial... unless you have money to burn.

That said, I think that the 992B is an excellent carry watch. I am a student-watchmaker and I regard the 992B as one of the most accurate pocket watches ever made. It represents some real advances in watchmaking technology and had the benefit of all the models that came before it! In fact, I have carried a 992 for 3 years and now I'm seriously thinking of switching to a 992B (IF I can find a replacement dial)!

Hello Clyde and welcome to chapter 185..

I Like the eariler 992b,s beacuse of the enamel dials .The 992b is a great watch to carry they are one of the best railroad watches ever made..

Thanks for the images. I've been reading the various posts about melamine and the problems associated with its aging. I'm having a ball puttering around the archived posts and learning a lot that is new to me. The 992B board is a wealth of information about these watches, too. The 992B is my new project, and my old 992 is awfully lonely and in need of a later "friend."

Thanks for the input, guys.

Welcome to 185 Clyde.
Brian C.

I use a 992B in a stainless model 15 case as my carry watch. But, the melamine dial it came with was in pretty sad shape. I was able to find a "new" replacement Montgomery dial on eBay for about $50. An original porcelain Montgomery dial for a 992b would be hundreds of dollars. So, I get to look at what I want and know I've got arguably the finest railroad watch ever made keeping time for me. Just a thought.

You know, I've long thought a 992B in stainless case would be an ideal daily carry watch. I was pleasantly surprised to see after I joined Chapter 185 that so many members thought so, too.