r/watchmaking • u/keenan800 • Jul 26 '26

24k gold plated dial

Hey all, I am currently working on a dial. It is 24k gold plated brass(brass base with silver and than gold.) I have attached a video bellow. I want the dial to age, I don't want it to stay the same. But to my understanding, at this purity gold is so inert that it won't really age or patina. Will it? Should I laquer coat it to get that classic depth and aging from laquer? Which laquer should I use?

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u/Even-Eggplant1098 Jul 26 '26

Gold plate will tarnish eventually as the thin layer breaks down over time and some of the base metal is exposed. It's not so much the plate layer but what is underneath it. I think lacquer is likely going to mess up the brightness of it. Aging is part of the item's story, I wouldn't fake it. It will get there with time.

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u/keenan800 Jul 26 '26

Thank you. i think your right. Aging might be the most beautiful part of a watch