Dial Cleaning?

AHW · Mar 2, 2026

Hi all.

To what (if any) extent is it possible to clean a dial and hands? I have read a few threads and it seems generally not advised, but those were for more extensive damage.
For example yellowing of the paint on indices, subdials etc. Or splotches of unknown substances?

I assume it is much safer to remove flaking paint from hand and repaint them if needed?

And another question. I have noticed on a few Speedmasters that the index line on the subdial seems to extend beyond the circular indent. Is that normal or a sign of a touch up? For example at the 5 o’clock position here.

Thanks!

GuiltyGear · Mar 2, 2026

Thing is that with such delicate work, if you're asking in the forum for general advise, you should stay away from it. There's so many things you can mess up just from inexperience and that's not a watch you wanna do that.

You can order a set of assorted hands for dirt cheap and play around with them. Clean them up, clear coat them, add lume, paint, etc. Cheap lume sets may cost $10 and they're fine for experimenting. You can mix powdered pigment with the lume powder to emulate age. I've had good results with Tamiya enamel paints (matte or semi gloss) for retouching missing paint on hands.

Dial is a whole other beast. I'm not at the point of touching one.

AHW · Mar 2, 2026

GuiltyGear
Thing is that with such delicate work, if you're asking in the forum for general advise, you should stay away from it. There's so many things you can mess up just from inexperience and that's not a watch you wanna do that.

You can order a set of assorted hands for dirt cheap and play around with them. Clean them up, clear coat them, add lume, paint, etc. Cheap lume sets may cost $10 and they're fine for experimenting. You can mix powdered pigment with the lume powder to emulate age. I've had good results with Tamiya enamel paints (matte or semi gloss) for retouching missing paint on hands.

Dial is a whole other beast. I'm not at the point of touching one.

Thanks. Don’t worry I have absolutely no intention of doing it myself. It was more a question over whether it is possible at all, if I were to send it to a professional!

But really I guess I should just buy a watch with a dial I am happy with and not run the risk of making it worse.

Spruce · Mar 2, 2026

First, I wouldn’t do it personally and, second, I agree entirely with @GuiltyGear about the dial. If you’re unhappy with the dial then look around for a replacement dial or sell your watch and buy one with a dial that you prefer.

I have this 165.003 that a previous owner had mucked up the hands with a poor DIY - putting on lume where there hadn’t previously been lume.

I sent it to my watchmaker and he very carefully removed the mess.

nkhandekar · Mar 2, 2026

I have cleaned surface dirt off a dial with a huff of breath and microfibre swabs. I have been able to use a No.10 blade to reduce the build up of corrosion on hands. These are jobs I did under a binocular microscope. My real-life job gave me plenty of prep for this kind of goofing around, I would not recommend it unless you understand how paint/varnish responds to solvents and also have some level of manual dexterity.

(I have also restored the horn button/airbag badge on my car that had a big scratch. It took three times to get right.)

Davidt · Mar 2, 2026

With a dial my thought process is that it’s only worth trying if it don’t mind making it worse. So if I have a nice dial with a slight blemish, I leave it.

A trashed dial that you can’t really make any worse? Go ahead, what’s to lose?

Larry S · Mar 2, 2026

It’s impossible to comment on your dial issues based on these bad pictures. Old watches have flaws and that’s what makes them endearing. The important thing is the overall vibe, and reference correctness not the nitpicking. Let’s see the big picture. The answer btw is an emphatic “No!” Regarding dial cleaning. Second pic looks like the crystal, not the dial. Hands look as if someone tried and failed to refinish them …

Dial Cleaning?

AHW

GuiltyGear

AHW

Spruce

nkhandekar

Davidt

Larry S

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