Tips on Refinishing Connie Dials

This is one of the better re-dials Ive come across. While there are still tell-tale signs that indicate it is refinished, it's a very good effort. While it doesn't pass the MOY test, the refinisher has done an excellent job of replicating the serif lettering. Click on the pic for a closeup of the dial.

Ive always believed that re-dialling a vintage watch is only an option when one has no option, but of course the older they get, and the fact that many manufacturers have run out of dials for vintage watches, means that it will, ultimately, be the only option for corroded or damaged dials.

There are numerous dial re-finishing houses around the world, but judging from the redials Ive seen there are some absolute shockers. Many problems can arise from redialling, such as badly painted minute markers; smudgy and poorly reproduced script; substandard coatings and paint edges; inappropriate and non-authentic colours and finishes and uneven symmetry of the lettering, to name a few.

Ive been searching around for examples of good rediallers and they are few and far between. A bad re-dial with inaccurate detailing can have the value of your watch dropping quicker than a souffle put in a refridgerator! It's fair to say that there are many more slap-dash, incompetent and inferior refinishing houses than there are high quality re-dialers. So, if you chance upon one, treat him like royalty....and let me know so I can share with others!

When you are in contact with a dial refinishing house do your homework and establish the quality of the work before you commit.

Make sure you ask for examples or high resolution pictures of their work and match them with authentic dials to ascertain how professional their work is. I recommend you adhere to the following procedures when having a dial refinished:

Have the dial removed or remove it yourself if you have the skill. Take large close-ups of the dial, case and movement - this will become clear below.

Make sure you identify your watch amongst the scans you send to a re-dialler as an estimate will only be as accurate as the information you provide.

Write out exactly and expressly a set of instructions in respect to what you want done to the dial. Make sure you identify the areas in which you wish special care to be taken. For example, request an exact a replication of the script and the positioning of the script; state expressly that the colour of the dial must be as near to original as possibly. (If you have scans of reference dials or big scans of brochures of your watch include them as examples)

Give instructions in respect to the logo and markers - if you want them repolished make sure you state that repolishing or replating (if they're not solid metal) is required.

Ask the re-dialler to check the dial posts and if damaged to repair them before the re-dial, and if there any dents or damage to the dial to do that work prior to refinishing (In one case I know a refinisher simply left dial dents alone and refinished over the top).

If the dial is corroded beyond recognition, you may have difficulty with some refinishing houses as they may be reluctant to provide you with a dial that indicates the watch is an officially certified Constellation chronometer if you cannot prove it is. This is where the pics of the movement and case, brochures, and pics of reference Constellations may come in handy. You may have to provide a comparative anaysis of your watch against the specifications of a Constellation. For example, pointing to the rotor bridge and train bridge of the movement showing the correct stamping, and comparing the case style and backcase case numbers that show your watch is authentic. If a re-dialler still wont play ball - choose another who will.

Ask for a quotation before giving authority to proceed and when you receive your dial back, examine it closely with a loupe to ensure that it resembles as accurately as possible a genuine Constellation dial. Compare it against reference pictures of authentic dials. You'll never get an 100 percent exact replication of an authentic dial, so the issue here is to get as close as possible - the closer the better and this is the essential difference between a professional re-finishing house and a bodgy operation.