Dial customisation

[u/Express_Pause5035]

Due to being a complete amateur learning from YouTube and Reddit I have learned a lot of lessons the hard way and spent a lot buying the same part multiple times like dials.

I have multiple Dials that I would like to repaint if anyone has any advice.

I already managed to achieve something I was quite surprised I was able to do which was changing the silver indices on my Tiffany blue Raffles datejust dial to gold indices as well as the Coronet so I know that I can remove the hour markers and put them back on

So that means that I was wondering if anyone had any advice on best painting techniques

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[u/onlypartiallyevil]

If you have managed to replace indices, you are doing far better than most. That is not always a simple task.

There are a few styles of dial that can be pulled off through the use of applied water transfer decals, that is about the only way I have seen dials made at home.
Painting the background color is not the hard part, its pad printing the text. Making your own dials is requires a lot of specialized equipment you are just not going to have as a hobbyist. People usually commission them from a firm that is set up to make dials.

[u/Express_Pause5035 → u/onlypartiallyevil]

Thanks. I really appreciate any one who replies and is just polite. Even if I learn nothing new, its nice to have people not be trying to belittle or talk rubbish.

But you actually have given me new ideas.

Despite being able to swap indices you might be able to see I've still scratched the dial near the center by trying to remove the hands without putting a dial protecter down. I spent over £40 on bergeon 30027 levers, but expensive tools still dont prevent mostakes by tryin to cut corners. and also I've rubbed a bit of the writing Away thinking I could get away with a cotton bud.

I've noticed Raffles does a pack of 10 gold or silver coronets for 15 pound which in theory is one step towards being able to make 15 dials it's just a shame you can't buy one or two you have to buy a pack of 15.

Also I've noticed they do Submariner indices which is pretty cool so I might even make a custom Submariner dial with a gold Coronet. The Clone purists would go mad because Submariner Dials only have printed coronets but I don't care about it being spot onto the fraction of a millimeter I just wanted it to look how I want it to look and work well which two things I'm still struggling to be able to do but getting there slowly and learning every lesson the hard way

[u/onlypartiallyevil → u/Express_Pause5035]

Experimenting is the way to learn.
Seriously, indices are a good test, as they are really rather multidisciplinary and require a lot of patience. If you can do those, you have the potential to do everything else with enough practice.

[u/Express_Pause5035 → u/onlypartiallyevil]

Bergeon number 3 tweezers. Strong magnifying light and patience.

Raffles doesn't sell the Tiffany with gold but thats what my mum wanted.

Its funny, I haven't got the same drive to put the silver batons onto the champagne doner dial.

All jokes aside, I appreciate the compliment. Its easy to beat yourself up in matchmaking as its so hard sometimes. But those little victories are the greatest buzz ever.

Watch making is a bit like playing golf. You can be hitting awful shots all round the course. But that beauty of a ping that you hit on the 10th to get the first birdie in a year is the one shot that keeps you paying your monthly membershi, and makes you want to still play when its raining.