Is this dial unrestorable?

[schnurrp]

The "printing" found on most dial faces is not on the dial itself but applied to a coating of clear varnish, etc. so that it will print uniformly and clearly. Unfortunately when this varnish goes bad and spots and discolors it is impossible to clean the spots off the coating without "cleaning" off the printing applied to the coating as well.

[Anthony]

This is weird.... Just talked with official watchmaker, they said that they can not give me the dial for restoration since after its restored, the dial is no longer "genuine" and its against their policy to put it back in the case. They recommended me to take the watch to some other watchmaker if I really want this to happen.

Its "high quality" place, and in a way I understand this a bit, but this is just little silly in my opinion.

So it seems that paying customer needs are no longer served. Weird.

[trim]

So it seems that paying customer needs are no longer served. Weird.

It is Rolex's needs/requirements that are being met, not yours.

Frankly, with a watch of this potential value, I would be looking hard for a good secondhand dial, while it will cost you a lot - a redial will cost you far more in the long term.

[Anthony]

a redial will cost you far more in the long term.

Why?

Short term costs are low : I just asked International Dial in Ohio and their cleanup operation for the dial is around $50-$100.

[trim]

Why?

Short term costs are low : I just asked International Dial in Ohio and their cleanup operation for the dial is around $50-$100.

Lost resale value.

[RainMan 777]

Why?

Short term costs are low : I just asked International Dial in Ohio and their cleanup operation for the dial is around $50-$100.

Is that the total cost? Or there is different fees? What were factores for the rang?

[Anthony]

Is that the total cost? Or there is different fees? What were factores for the rang?

I think its case by case. The offer what I gof for the dial was : Re-lacquer the dial and the re-lume the dial, total cost 30.00us. Complete refinish was 50.00us (stip entire dial, re-print, re-lume)

[dacattoo]

For the uninitiated, Rolex policy is to not work on watches that have after market parts installed without changing the aftermarket parts for authentic. Stores with parts accounts that violate that policy and get caught risk losing their accounts. After market bezels, generic crystals and even spring bars mean changing to Rolex parts before they will agree to overhaul or repair a watch. Substitute the word Ford for Rolex and the word car for watch and reread that sentence. Would you ever​ buy a Ford again?

[ec633]

I tried to clean the dial on my grandfather's / father's old Omega Bumper which was badly stained by my grandfather's tobacco smoking habit.

BE VERY CAREFUL. Even with me taking very great care, I found I was lifting paint off the dial just by wiping delicately with a damp qtip. I don't have a clue what that dial damage on yours is caused by, but dials are extraordinarily delicate.

BEFORE ->


Attachment 672572

AFTER (note the loss of minute markers around the 7 o'clock marker

Attachment 672573

This is a classic example showing that one can easily ruin the quality of the watch : firstly by cleaning the dial removing the petina quality of the vintage watch; secondly to make it worst, by changing the original style of the hour & minute hands. Just compare the two images of 'before' & after' ,one would see the devaluation or the damage being done! Not to mention the divisions already disappeared at the dial face between fig 7 & 8. It should have been left as it was - What a pity.

[tony1951]

This is a classic example showing that one can easily ruin the quality of the watch : firstly by cleaning the dial removing the petina quality of the vintage watch; secondly to make it worst, by changing the original style of the hour & minute hands. Just compare the two images of 'before' & after' ,one would see the devaluation or the damage being done! Not to mention the divisions already disappeared at the dial face between fig 7 & 8. It should have been left as it was - What a pity.

Well now, that's your opinion. Of course, since the watch is mine, I can do what I like with it, and since it will never be sold, its value is in fact entirely what I think of it, isn't it?