How to age a dial....

[Ben]

Hi,

I've done some searching but so far all I can find are great pictures of vintage dials, but no explanation on how you have achieved the look of the dial, so if someone could shed some light I would be eternally grateful.

Thanks Ben

[blade007]

not directly related but have you tried dipping it in coke overnight or a couple of nights?

[Ben]

I've not done anything yet, I had heard of tea bags, smoke and the like but was unsure of how to actually do this to the dial, so should I just pour some coke into a cup and leave the dial in it for a while?

has anyone tried this what sort of results am I likely to get?

[Slartibartfast]

I have re-lumed the markers with a slightly yellower coloured lume, and sprayed the dial with Humbrol matt varnish. That works quite well IMO.

[blade007]

here is a good thread about aging metal in general. perhaps this may be of some help

example pic attached

There are many reciepes out there. For the little you have to do, just a couple of [censored]s, now do not laugh but put the [censored]s in urine, dogs, or cats or your own. Dip them in and then let them dry. Couple of days they will tarnish etc. The acids in the urine will work to make the tarnish.

Old days they use to use horse manure.

http://www.artmetal.com/blog/lostheart/200...d_a_nice_patina

Edited August 8, 2008 by blade007

[Ben]

thanks for the advice everyone, I think I will try dipping it in coke overnight, simply because that's all I have on hand at the minute, if it works i will try and get some pictures for you all.

however if anyone else has some advice let me know!

[Raijor]

I have used coffee to stain the lume markers and it worked well. I left rep Sub dial sitting in the remains of a coffee in the bottom of a cup for a few hours. It did give the dial an aged look. The coke ides sounds good as well. I have read of members aging Sub bezels by soaking them in bleach. Good luck and do post the results. Cheers

[blade007]

make sure your watch is waterproof before leaving it in coke overnight.

[freddy333]

I would recommend against using Coke as it is likely to damage the paint. Try matte varnish, shellac, tea, coffee or, 1 of my favorites, a diluted iodine solution. I would recommend doing some testing on scrap pieces before you attack your dial.

[Nightstroker]

Try leaving it out in the open for about 15-20 years....I hear that works really well....results are very convincing....

[Guest Carl]

Nanuq is the expert on this entire topic so hopefully he will chime in.

He has given a lot of good advice to those of us who warp toward the vintage Rolex stuff.

Carl

[blade007]

opps, i misread, i thought u were looking to age the watch case, aka the metal body. I hadnt realised you were after aging the DIAL.. hence my reply about again metal.

as for the dial.. coke might just dissolve the whole thing..

[Sir-Lancelot]

DOH!

[Ben]

good thing I'm too lazy and never got round to dipping the dial in the coke, however I might try the coke or urine on the case and get some dregs of coffee and let the dial sit in it for a while, but if Nanuq can shed some light that would be great aswell

thanks everyone so far

[Balosch]

Well, I tried it to a Vinatge-PAM but it might work for RLX aswell. I put mine into the microwave for 30-60 sec and later pit it for 4 minutes below the grill in that microwave! Now it looks real nice and aged.... but not damaged!

[Sir-Lancelot]

Well, I tried it to a Vinatge-PAM but it might work for RLX aswell. I put mine into the microwave for 30-60 sec and later pit it for 4 minutes below the grill in that microwave! Now it looks real nice and aged.... but not damaged!

Pictures please.

[drop]

I tried tea but the process was extremely time consuming and the results were a bit dissapointing... but easy to remedy with some clean water if you make a mistake - washes right off.

[Tribal]

I would go for reluming the markers and matte varnish

[jmt]

Urine may have a nice effect on the hands. I may try that.

[Tribal]

This is how it looks with vintage Lume and Varnish

[Samurai]

Dude.....don't know about the ageing of the dial....but after reading the responses here....am gonna swear off coke for sure

[Tribal]

Urine may have a nice effect on the hands. I may try that.

Yes and [censored] gives a nice brownish color to the markers

[blade007]

ummm this thread reminds me of:

"2 girls 1 cup" video