well thought out Chuck, but... while i do like that dial, i don't like it in that case.

Nothing wrong with that.

doesn't look bad per say, but i've grown used to the autavia style case with that style dial.

There are probably three different reactions when one sees something that is out of context... "I always wondered what would X look like with a Y" and:

1. I love it, I wish they had made them like that originally...
2. Blearch! Man! am I glad they never actually made any like that...
3. Eh, it looks ok, but nothing worth getting excited about, I could take or leave it.

i'm kinda a stickler for originals, or maybe i should say the exact match or as close to exact to their heuer cousins.

Well, I can see that... I've seen similar things over on the Speedmaster end of things... Things like this:

Which is the marriage of a Speedmaster Mark II Professional dial in a Speedmaster Moonwatch case. To the best of my ability to uncover the facts, Omega never made a moonwatch with such a colorful dial for the public. But I've seen a number of them on Japanese (primarily) websites.

Now, I think this is an interesting look, and I do happen to own a spare dial for a Red/Orange Mark II... I've posted topics in the past over on TZ's Omega Forum discussing the ethics and morals of customizing vintage watches, and the consensus is that as long as the "donor" watch isn't rare or historically significant in some way, and as long as the watch isn't misrepresented if it's sold there is no real issue.

Perhaps someday, I'll find a used Speedmaster for a low enough price (perhaps with a damaged dial, but otherwise in good shape) and make a custom piece. But I haven't yet...

if it's questionable, i'd rather avoid it regardless of price.

And I can see that too. Nothing wrong with staying squarely in one camp or another.

thanks for your input, curious though why 7733,7734 aren't on the top of your like list?

The 773x (and 774x) Valjoux were economy chronograph movements, while they seem to work well enough (I own 3 or 4), I would prefer a Valjoux 72 or 7750 if going with a Valjoux movement.

Also the 7733 and 7734 are two-register movements. I generally do not care for two register movements, I prefer 3 register, with these exceptions:

1. I collect bullhead chronographs... Very few (I've only seen two or three brands) Bullhead chronographs feature 3-register movements, I own two of the brands... Benetone and Charles Nicholet which both feature 7750's. But most other Bullhead chronographs are two-register chronographs and with the exception of Bulova and Breitling micro-rotor movement Bullheads, most are only 30-Minute Chronographs.
2. I really don't care for 30-Minute Chronographs... In fact I call them, somewhat derisively "Half a Chronograph", but that's the way I feel about them. While I'd rather not part with one register, I can live without the small second register better than the hour register in most instances.

Thus the 7733 and 7734 have a couple of significant knocks against it, in my book.

-- Chuck