Seamaster dial: is it refurbishable?

[ryaku]

Hello everybody,

i bought or few bucks a gen seamaster dial with some visible wear.

Do you think there's a simple way to make it better?

The lume is great (the pic sucks), would be a shame to trash it.

Thank you

[highoeyazmuhudee]

id try cleaning it with some isopropanol and a microfiber, with sapphire glass i notice a lot of scratches dont show up once the crystal is installed unless theyre REALLY deep.

[fakemaster]

Some of that is just dirt.

[ryaku]

i'm just a little afraid to try to clean it because it's a black matte dial.

It's very true under a sapphire these imperfections won't be much evident unless i want to get the crystal ar coated which was my first option (single side though).

highoeyazmuhudee, do you think i can try very gently to rub it with a cloth we use to clean glasses?

Thanks again

[danolectro]

I would use a piece of rodico and carefully go over the entire dial. Use a loupe and gently dab the rodico against the dial. I wouldn't try to rub a matte dial with anything, it may just scuff more. For a gloss dial a bit of auto detailer and a soft cloth can be used, still risky, however.

[prb]

Dials are supposedly VERY hard to refurbish. I'm all for DIY, but thats one thing i would DEFINITELY send out to have done for me.

http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Budget_Watch_Collecting/Selecting_a_watch

"1. Dial condition--It is very difficult to improve the appearance of most watch dials. They are designed to be protected, and anything strong enough to remove dirt is also likely to remove markings or coatings. Sometimes spot cleaning with a toothpick can reduce some marks, but it is just as likely to make things worse. Watch dials can be "redialed"--This is basically repainted. Quality can range from very good (although rarely as good as the original) to very obviously re-painted. Prices begin at $20 or so, not counting removing the dial and shipping."

[Bike Mike]

What about having the dial stripped and reprinted, given they have the dies? I think typically it is only $20-$50. You would probably need to have it lumes again.

[ryaku]

I sent it to Domi and this is the result:

[rytox]

that result looks great mate! Nice job of domi!

[FxrAndy]

Strange dial there A

Being a railmaster but with seamaster, now i have seen gen dials like that at one point i am sure

[ryaku]

Andy i'm surprised as well, once i found on internet a gen adv with this exact dial and chinese made the same rep version (i own one, gift for my father) but i have never seen a Aqua Terra in the flesh or for sale with this dial.

The lume is not as good as in my gen SMP but very close.

[Jkay]

Hooray for Domi! I'm glad you could get this dial sorted out.