whoopy12 Posted January 21, 2013 Report Share Posted January 21, 2013 Hey all, Thought I'd put some feelers out here to gauge interest on which vintage rollie dials are in demand. I'm a graphic designer by day and am considering trying my hand at replicating (to a high degree) several vintage dials. What are some dials you guys would like to see/need to improve? 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sgtguk Posted January 21, 2013 Report Share Posted January 21, 2013 What about some Tudor dials if you can too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whoopy12 Posted January 21, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 21, 2013 I'm open to recreate any vintage dial assuming the demand is high enough My limitations are: - 2 colors max (discounting the color of dial background) - no raised indices 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modelizer Posted January 21, 2013 Report Share Posted January 21, 2013 What about some Tudor dials if you can too +1 I would love to get my hands on a good but reasonably priced 7928 dial with ETA feet config! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
correctime Posted January 21, 2013 Report Share Posted January 21, 2013 (edited) I'd like to see some high quality early 3135 date wheel overlays with the open 6's and 9's produced. I think there's a high enough demand for them to make it worth the effort. It seems most of the ones currently available aren't aligned and centered....they tend to be high and left justified. Edited January 21, 2013 by correctime Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevedrk Posted January 21, 2013 Report Share Posted January 21, 2013 (edited) Rolex dials: 5512, 5513, 1680 (all varieties), 1665, 1675 Tudor dials: 9401 (black & blue), 9411 (black & blue), 7928 These would all be in demand and sell like hot cakes. Sent from my LG-P999 using Tapatalk 2 Edited January 21, 2013 by stevedrk 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbane883 Posted January 21, 2013 Report Share Posted January 21, 2013 16660 Matte dial Sea Dweller. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dieselpower Posted January 21, 2013 Report Share Posted January 21, 2013 I second what stevedrk says. You should check out ingod44's stuff and phong, yuki etc. The prices vary alot but overall I think the quality is rather good so pricing is going to be crucial, having said that if you can come up with good quality highly accurate reps of any of the above I think you could sell lorry loads. Good luck and I look forward to how you get on. I for one would like a decent 1665, 5513 and a 1680 - that's just for starters. Date wheels are also a very hot item. I'd buy five (at least) if you produced a flat top 3 open 6 and 9 with good alignment and fitted an eta movement. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whoopy12 Posted January 21, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 21, 2013 The biggest hurdle I'm encountering so far is sourcing blank dials with eta feet. I've tried Offrei and various others, but the gen dials seem to be smaller by 2mm (26.5 instead of 28.5). If anyone has any ideas on where to source gen spec dials (size wise/date wheel window location) with eta feet configuration, then that would bring this project one large step closer to becoming a reality. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whoopy12 Posted January 21, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 21, 2013 (edited) diesal power, I already have the vector artwork for a beautiful drsd 1665 ready Just need the dial blanks figured out. Here's a sneak peek Edited January 21, 2013 by whoopy12 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbane883 Posted January 21, 2013 Report Share Posted January 21, 2013 diesal power, I already have the vector artwork for a beautiful drsd 1665 ready Just need the dial blanks figured out. Here's a sneak peek That looks great! Key is to get the printing nice and crisp. Coronet a hair fat, but otherwise that's a tremendous start! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freddy333 Posted January 21, 2013 Report Share Posted January 21, 2013 A truly accurate (preferably, non-Oyster) 62xx Daytona dial would be a breakthrough. However, the keys for a proper Daytona dial are - 1. good, thick paint. Ming seems to be heading in the right direction here, but his dials have other issues. 2. properly deep-set subdials (&, as a bonus, the chapter ring area) 3. correct fonts, especially the 3 in the minute totalizer. None of those western (cowboy) style overly serifated fonts, which are a dead give-away 4. correctly shaped coronet As others have suggested, an accurate double red 1665 would also be nice. But the aftermarketeers have been getting very good on just about everything, but the Daytonas. Produce a proper Daytona & you will be legend. Also, I have never seen a nice gold Daytona dial. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeyB Posted January 21, 2013 Report Share Posted January 21, 2013 The biggest hurdle I'm encountering so far is sourcing blank dials with eta feet. I've tried Offrei and various others, but the gen dials seem to be smaller by 2mm (26.5 instead of 28.5). If anyone has any ideas on where to source gen spec dials (size wise/date wheel window location) with eta feet configuration, then that would bring this project one large step closer to becoming a reality. That is the problem. I've acquired a couple of really messed up Sub dials just to make the blanks. I had to solder the marker holes closed, thin it out for clearance of GMT hand, and solder dial feet to a spacer ring, then epoxy that to the back of the dial. It's a pain, but it works. I use water slide decals. I'd think your way would be sharper. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
panerai153 Posted January 21, 2013 Report Share Posted January 21, 2013 There are lots and lots of folks who have the old MBW "polex design" 1680 cases that are really a 5513 case. genuine 1680 dials won't work without a lot of either dial shaving or case reaming. And then you still have the problem of the dial feet in the wrong place for an ETA movement. Build a good quality white letter 1680 dial, and a silver or white (Prefer silver) date wheel that fits the ETA and aligns properly, and I bet you could sell all you can produce. This is a build that every vintage Rolex guy wants , but thus far most of us have been stymied by very poor DW alignment. As Freddy said, lots of the aftermarket folks are getting the dials for 1675.1665's 5513's etc. right. I really believe that a lot of these dials are going into genuine Rolex watches, if not why are they producing all of them with dial feet to fit a Rolex movement? There are millions out there, and lots of folks inherit or buy an old Rolex, but cannot afford the price of a NOS genuine Rolex dial. If you don't believe it, go over to the Vintage Rolex market and look at what those guys are asking for old dials. Heck, common ones in average condition are a grand, and if you want something special like a really good 1665 or 1675 dial, 2-3k and that's not for a DRSD or a gilt, chapter ring, underline,etc dial. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomhorn Posted January 21, 2013 Report Share Posted January 21, 2013 I would love a 1016 Explorer dial. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joshthedoc Posted January 22, 2013 Report Share Posted January 22, 2013 1675 and open 6/9's on the date wheel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ck5533 Posted January 22, 2013 Report Share Posted January 22, 2013 Pleaseeeeeeeeeeee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rower Posted January 22, 2013 Report Share Posted January 22, 2013 I have had a thing for the 5517 for a very long time now. Let me know if you end up getting this off the ground. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ephry73 Posted January 22, 2013 Report Share Posted January 22, 2013 7922 and 7924 Tudor dials for eta feet will be ideal to get Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whoopy12 Posted January 22, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 22, 2013 I'm thinking I might try to source base dials from Trevor or Mary. If I can get dials that are identical to the ones that come in the cartel watches (many fit the eta 2836) would that be satisfactory? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeyB Posted January 22, 2013 Report Share Posted January 22, 2013 I'm thinking I might try to source base dials from Trevor or Mary. If I can get dials that are identical to the ones that come in the cartel watches (many fit the eta 2836) would that be satisfactory? That depends on where the date window is, and the diameter of the dial. You can easily reduce the diameter of the dial to size, but the date window is the issue. If someone can show us how to make a beveled date window then the blanks from Otto Frei for ETA would work at a cost of about $4 each. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Akira Posted January 22, 2013 Report Share Posted January 22, 2013 1016 dials would kill and sell like hot cupcakes! Also everything gilt would be a big seller since those aren't as well replicates in my eyes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danielv2000 Posted January 22, 2013 Report Share Posted January 22, 2013 Why not make dials that fit the gen movement as opposed to ETAs? In any case, best of luck. As others have said, If you can make something worthwhile, you would have lots of buyers for sure! Keep us posted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olivax Posted January 22, 2013 Report Share Posted January 22, 2013 62xx dayto and 5508, 5510, 5512 and 1680 dials :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wiesn089 Posted January 23, 2013 Report Share Posted January 23, 2013 Great project, have you tried contacting Phong etc. for blanks, maybe they'd be willing to sell some to you... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.