there is a super talented shop in Cebu city that could reapply JUST the missing script and missing portions of the cross-hairs. Not cheap but it can be done. I've seen some of their dial partial restoration work and it's pretty incredible. I think Michael young's shop in HK does similar dial-saving work as well. There was also a guy in NYC doing the same super fussy dial saving repairs but his prices were astronomical.
Not sure if this has been comprehensively covered in a single thread- those who do GOOD dial work as opposed to all the bad dial work we see. Would be nice to have a list of these craftsmen for those rare pieces that are worth a proper restoration or just a touch-up of lettering or a single plot.
I think I am subscribed to most of these "redialers" threads. There seems to be a mysticism..., so I don't have clear answers yet..
There’s a heavy emphasis on keeping the wabi-sabi around here, and I totally get it. But if a near perfect dial could be perfect with just a delicate touch-up, and as long as that was disclosed at sale, I would have no issue with it.
I really don't mind good redials.. Especially to the examples above that are missing a few letters. I believe a good painter with a watch experience could make this dials really better . maybe no-one could see that they are really redials ...
Surely you could find the missing letters on some old Letraset? Especially if your hands shake too much for a Sharpie
That makes me cringe so much. What a beautiful watch... and to have it ruined like that. I remember a time I was at a Rolex AD and a guy brought in a vintage GMT Master his dad had left him. He wanted to ship it out to the Rolex Service Center for refurbishing. Luckily the gentleman behind the counter schooled him on how much it was worth, even in the rough condition, and informed him he would destroy the value of the watch with a full service. If only the ebay sellers knew how valuable vintage watches were in their original state. I’ve also noticed the Japanese like to polish the crap out of their stuff... because otherwise that’s my favorite country to order from.
