These are both 1892 dials yet the holes on the single sunk are larger.

At first I thought someone had reamed them out but I looked with a loupe and that does not appear to be the situation.

I haven't tried to mount either on a movement yet.

Is there a significance to the difference?

What do the backs look like?

right one looks to be reproduction Swiss made
the center hole is not round.

Lorne,

You might want to take a 2nd look at the one on the right. When I enlarged your photo - it looks like there is minute "chipping" (not a normal smooth finish) around the not so round original hole. However, since the dial is not in hand that is all we are working with here...

I have seen this on dials where the dial feet just needed to be bent a little or straighten to give the right fit. However, someone just took a rat-tail file to the openings and created a "custom fit" to stop the 4th wheel pinion (2nd hand) from rubbing on the dial or the m/h hands from dragging at the center post.

Just a note of caution. Waltham 18s 1883 movements were laid out with the 4th wheel about 1 mm farther away from the center than the model 1892. In short, DO NOT try to force that dial onto the wrong movement. Aside from breaking the 4th wheel stem for the seconds hand, you will damage the dial.

That said, the dial on the right appears to be "modified" from a replacement dial not of Waltham Manufacture.

Thanks guys, It looks legit from the back but I will take some pics an post later today.

Lorne, Waltham advertised a dial ~1900 like the one on the right, so if the back looks legit inspect the holes. They do look messed with a little.

Thanks Dave, my trusty camera gave up the ghost so I am in photo limbo for a while.

Just an FYI but I took out my dials and all my big Boxcar dials have a larger hole in the center like yours where it be an '83 or '92. Why I do not know just an observation. I know for fact some of these are not reproduction ie. '83 Santa Fe Route so I'm going to say it's the norm.

Thanks Daniel, yes the hole is pretty big on these although it appears a few chips make this one look larger, left and right are the ones in the first post.

Given the size of the hands usually seen on these dials the eye(?) covers the hole well.

As is my custom I didn't notice the chips before I bought it.

Hi Lorne
Here is one more on ebay,
Hub.

Thanks Hubert.

I don't know that a determination can be made from a catalogue images, (Catalogue of Waltham Watch Material 1909)but the centre hole on the catalogue image of the 24-hour dial looks oversize as well.