I have always believed that re-dialing an antique watch is only one option when one has no other choice, but of course as they get older, and the fact that many manufacturers have run out of watches for vintage watches means that, ultimately being the only option for corroded or damaged dials.
There are numerous quadrant refinishing houses around the world, but judging from the recalls I've seen, there are some absolute cappers! (to use local colloquy) Many problems arise from remarking, such as poorly painted minute markers; indented and poorly reproduced script; substandard paint coatings and edges; Inappropriate and inauthentic colors and finishes and uneven letter symmetry, to name a few.
I have been looking for examples of good callers and they are few and far between. A bad redial with inaccurate details can make the watch fall faster than a souffle in a fridge! It is fair to say that there are far more repainting houses, incompetent and inferior than there are high-quality renovators. So if you come across one, treat it like Vintage Watch.
When in contact with a quadrant repair house, do your homework and establish the quality of work before committing.
Be sure to ask for examples or high-resolution images of your work and combine them with authentic dials to determine how professional your work is. I recommend that you adhere to the following procedures when you have a refinished dial:
Remove the dial or remove it yourself if you have the skill
Take large close-ups of the dial, case, and movement; this will become clear below. Be sure to identify your watch among the scans you send to a re-marker, as an estimate will only be as accurate as the information you provide.
Write down exactly and expressly a set of instructions regarding what you want done on the dial. Be sure to identify the areas where you want to be especially careful. For example, request an exact replica of the script and the positioning of the script; expressly indicate that the color of the dial should be as close as possible to the original. (If you have reference dial scans or large booklet scans of your watch, please include them as examples)
Give instructions regarding the logo and markers; if you want them to be polished again, be sure to indicate that repainting is required.
Ask the re-marker to check the dial posts, and for any dents or damage to the dial.
If the dial is corroded beyond recognition, you may run into difficulties with some restoration houses as they may be reluctant to provide you with a dial stating that the watch is an officially certified Constellation chronometer if you cannot prove it to be. This is where movement and case photos, brochures, and reference constellation photos can come in handy.
You may need to provide a comparative analysis of your watch against the specifications of a constellation. For example, pointing to the rotor bridge and movement train bridge that shows the correct stamping, and compares the case style and case case numbers that show that your watch is authentic. If a marker still doesn't play ball, choose another one that does. Request a quote before granting authority to continue. When you receive your dial back, examine it closely with a magnifying glass to make sure it closely resembles a genuine Constellation dial. Compare it with authentic dial reference images. You will never get a 100 percent exact replica of an authentic dial, so the problem here is getting as close as possible - the closer, the better, and this is the essential difference between a professional finishing house and a body operation.
There are numerous quadrant refinishing houses around the world, but judging from the recalls I've seen, there are some absolute cappers! (to use local colloquy) Many problems arise from remarking, such as poorly painted minute markers; indented and poorly reproduced script; substandard paint coatings and edges; Inappropriate and inauthentic colors and finishes and uneven letter symmetry, to name a few.
I have been looking for examples of good callers and they are few and far between. A bad redial with inaccurate details can make the watch fall faster than a souffle in a fridge! It is fair to say that there are far more repainting houses, incompetent and inferior than there are high-quality renovators. So if you come across one, treat it like Vintage Watch.
When in contact with a quadrant repair house, do your homework and establish the quality of work before committing.
Be sure to ask for examples or high-resolution images of your work and combine them with authentic dials to determine how professional your work is. I recommend that you adhere to the following procedures when you have a refinished dial:
Remove the dial or remove it yourself if you have the skill
Take large close-ups of the dial, case, and movement; this will become clear below. Be sure to identify your watch among the scans you send to a re-marker, as an estimate will only be as accurate as the information you provide.
Write down exactly and expressly a set of instructions regarding what you want done on the dial. Be sure to identify the areas where you want to be especially careful. For example, request an exact replica of the script and the positioning of the script; expressly indicate that the color of the dial should be as close as possible to the original. (If you have reference dial scans or large booklet scans of your watch, please include them as examples)
Give instructions regarding the logo and markers; if you want them to be polished again, be sure to indicate that repainting is required.
Ask the re-marker to check the dial posts, and for any dents or damage to the dial.
If the dial is corroded beyond recognition, you may run into difficulties with some restoration houses as they may be reluctant to provide you with a dial stating that the watch is an officially certified Constellation chronometer if you cannot prove it to be. This is where movement and case photos, brochures, and reference constellation photos can come in handy.
You may need to provide a comparative analysis of your watch against the specifications of a constellation. For example, pointing to the rotor bridge and movement train bridge that shows the correct stamping, and compares the case style and case case numbers that show that your watch is authentic. If a marker still doesn't play ball, choose another one that does. Request a quote before granting authority to continue. When you receive your dial back, examine it closely with a magnifying glass to make sure it closely resembles a genuine Constellation dial. Compare it with authentic dial reference images. You will never get a 100 percent exact replica of an authentic dial, so the problem here is getting as close as possible - the closer, the better, and this is the essential difference between a professional finishing house and a body operation.
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