Watch Dial Restoration & Refinishing
Specialist care for water-damaged, faded, or flaking dials. From sympathetic cleaning and stabilisation to complete professional re-printing and re-luming.
Expert Watch Dial Restoration in Lancashire & UK-Wide
The dial is the face of your watch, responsible for its character and legibility. However, it is also the component most vulnerable to moisture ingress and UV damage. Over decades, lacquer can peel (spidering), silver plating can oxidize (tarnish), and moisture can cause unsightly rust spots or mould. At Prime Time Watch Repairs, we offer a dual approach to dial work: Conservation for high-value collectibles where preserving the original “patina” is paramount, and Restoration (Refinishing) for timepieces where the dial is illegible or aesthetically ruined.
We understand the delicate balance between value and appearance. A vintage Rolex Submariner should rarely be repainted, whereas a sentimental 1960s Omega Seamaster with severe water damage may benefit from a total restoration. Using traditional pad printing techniques and modern chemical cleaning, we can re-attach loose hour markers, stabilize flaking lume, or completely strip and reprint the dial to its factory-new glory. We guide you through the best option for your specific timepiece.
Get a free estimateOur Watch Dial Restoration Process
Dial work is a precise art form mixing chemistry, printing, and micro-mechanics.
This is the most critical step. We examine the dial under high magnification. We assess if the damage is superficial (dirt/fungus) or structural (corrosion/paint failure). We advise you on whether a restoration will affect the resale value of your watch and agree on a “Sympathetic Clean” or a “Full Refinish.”
The movement is decased, and the hands are removed using protective levers to avoid scratching the dial surface. The dial is detached from the movement. If we are performing a full refinish, all applied indices (hour markers) and logos are carefully removed from the dial plate for separate plating.
The old, damaged paint is chemically stripped down to the base metal (usually brass, silver, or gold). The metal is then prepared—sandblasted for a matte finish, circular grained for a sunburst finish, or polished for a gloss finish.
The background colour is applied. This involves galvanic plating (for silver/gold dials) or multiple layers of enamel paint/lacquer. We match the colour to the original specification or a custom colour of your choice.
Using a silicon pad and a custom-etched metal plate (cliché), the text, minute tracks, and logo are transferred onto the dial. This is the same technique used by Swiss factories, ensuring crisp, raised lettering, unlike the flat look of digital printing.
The hour markers are cleaned, polished, and re-plated (gold or rhodium) before being riveted back onto the dial. We then apply fresh Super-LumiNova to the markers and hands. For vintage looks, we can tint the lume “custard” or “pumpkin” to simulate age without the radioactive danger.
See why hundreds of customers trust us with their watch dial restoration
Brands we cover for watch dial restoration
We regularly perform dial restoration on major brands including Rolex, Omega, TAG Heuer, Breitling, Cartier and more.
Frequently asked questions
Here are the answers to the most common questions our customers ask about watch dial restoration.
If you have a rare vintage Rolex, Patek Philippe, or Omega Speedmaster: Yes. Collectors prefer original, damaged dials over “redials.” In these cases, we recommend a simple clean or stabilization. If you have a sentimental family heirloom or a standard dress watch that looks terrible due to water damage: No. Restoration improves the aesthetic enjoyment of the watch.
Yes. It is common for the “feet” on the back of hour markers to snap off if the watch is dropped. We can drill new holes, solder new feet, or use specialist adhesives to re-secure the markers precisely.
“Tropical” dials (turning brown or spotted) are chemical changes in the lacquer. This cannot be “cleaned” off as the paint itself has changed colour. You either embrace the vintage look or opt for a full strip and repaint (Refinish).
Yes. If we are performing a full refinish, we can paint the dial any colour you wish. We can turn a silver dial Black, Blue, or Green. Note: This is considered a modification.
Dial refinishing is a slow, multi-stage drying process. Please allow 6 to 12 weeks for a full dial restoration. Quick jobs often result in peeling paint later, so we do not rush this process.
Yes. We can strip off old, dead tritium or radium (safely) and re-apply modern Swiss Super-LumiNova. We can mix the lume to glow Green (C3) or Blue (BGW9), or look like aged vintage lume in daylight while still glowing at night.
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