Omega Constellation Deluxe is a vintage watch that you would easily fall in love. That's what happened when I receive this RG Connie Deluxe that Mike pulling effort to make it available for me (thanks mike).



The only problem as you visually see there are some dirts and lints spread across the dial face. I still love and cherish it anyway.
A month ago Sumerian starts a thread about less than perfect Grand Luxe dial, which Hoi jumped in and share his experience cleaning it successfully with Windex. I tracked Hoi original article and correspond with him to understand better the method and the risk. Then few weeks ago I also read similar Nick Hacko article about Grand Luxe dial cleaning. The difference: he suggested using only water.

Then I contacted my watchmaker in Bandung about possibility cleaning my RG deluxe dial. He hesitant at first considering the risk and ask me to pending it. What I did not know, he actually tried my suggestion to other customer on non gold dial, cleaning it using Windex. It was so successful that he is now confident to clean my dial.
Yesterday morning I visited his house and discussed on how the best doing it. I have brought him two different size high quality brushes to be used in the work.
At first he use only water. It is unsuccesful. Then gradually he adds Windex to the water and after 3 hours meticulous work, he went to show me the result at my hotel.

And boy......I did not know that I could fall in love again to the same watch until that moment.

The dial now is very clean, the fonts and markers are all keep intact. I ask whether the lacquer is peeled in the process, he said he did not think so. So it is possible that the lacquer is still there. Well even if it is peeled I am still very happy.

Here are the before and after pics. Unfortunately it is very hard to catch the real beauty of this watch using my point and shoot Olympus, so pardon the pic quality.

BEFORE:



AFTER



BEFORE


AFTER


BEFORE


AFTER

 

Dial measels cured!

 

You can't win if you don't gamble.
You won big time.
Way to go-

 

http://hublot.watchprosite.com/show-forumpost/fi-677/pi-4849498/ti-736238/s-0/

After reading this, I know Hoi really understand his stuff. We also discuss about lacquer condition after cleaning, which he shows for later Grand Luxe/ Deluxe dial it even did not exist.

 

Thanks Mike, without your effort and help, I wouldn't get this in the first place.

 

It is calculated gamble really.....
Hoi and Nick bot are seasoned watchmaker, so after consulted with them I know the risk is minimal. They know their stuff and their advice are sound. The riskiest part is the font and markers - not the dial itself since gold is already shiny and clean by itself once you remove anything above it.
That's why I ask my watchmaker which has steadier hand and meticulous detail attention, rather do it myself.

By the end of the day it is this forum who enable such easy knowledge dissemination and consultation that make this kind of effort possible.

 

It is what I like about Rosegold, it is less shiny than yellow gold. More understated and less bling-bling.

 

Happy to know the result. Congratulations my friend

 

Thanks of your advice........

 

Ok, here's my RG

 

Excellent result, I almost want to go looking for a watch with a dirty dial now so I too ( or actually my watchmaker ) can put that technique into practice.

 

I just know that. For me, mine is already in border of too bling-bling.
It is so shiny and now my wife take notice.
I was offered her to use it in the past, but she refused. She is now keen to try it.......

 

Ha...ha.... that's my first reaction, too.

 

So the question is: what formulation of Windex did you use? Around here we can buy Ammonia free (for cleaning the picture frames with UV glass), the old plain blue "Windex", and now some kind of new Eco friendly formulation.

Ive had varying results dial cleaning with dilute oxalic acid and citric acid (lemon juice). Across the board it seems dial cleaning is best reserved for clean dials with discolored/flaking cellulose based laquer.

Did you respray the dial with a laquer or preservative to protect the paint layer?--Something I'be always thought should be done but that is complicated by dial markers, etc that would have to be masked or removed prior to spraying. I've got a hand pump olive oil sprayer that comes out in a vapor mist... Maybe I should experiment on the next re-dial candidates that I pick up.