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Redial for Railrouter.

M
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My watchmaker has suggested 2 possible dial repairers/restorers for this dial.

s-l1600.jpg

No reply from one but https://internationaldialllc.com/ have given me a quote of $60/70 incl. of postage. I suspect the postal cost is within US so I'm checking on that since I'm in NZ. I'm also checking on the type of redialling.
But I don't intend to pass off the redial as a UG replacement so a reprint with the shiny look of the original enamel will be OK for me.
Anyone had experience with this company or know anything about their reputation?
 
Diabolik
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$60 to $70 including postage ???

That seems like peanuts. Nobody works for peanuts except monkeys.

Beware !

Why not see if you can get a conscientious restore job done on the dial (just fix the parts that are chipped) ? There are restorers that can do that. Far better than a complete redial and it would look a lot better too.
 
Carlton-Browne
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I agree that it would be far better to stabilise what you've got (assuming that is remotely possible).
 
DaveK
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There are a few threads that I think concluded that they always aim to do a good job, and some turn out great if they have the right dies, some turn out “ well, okay”. Some threads are below, the one I am thinking of, I can’t find...

https://omegaforums.net/threads/i-know-everyone-hates-re-dials-but-where-do-you-go.21030/

https://omegaforums.net/threads/dial-restoration.18190/

https://omegaforums.net/threads/international-dial-company-inc.79089/
 
Diabolik
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Having had a closer look at dial, i would DEFINITELY not redial that. If you are desperate to give the watch a new look, find another dial, and have that redialed.I am sure that your chipped dial can be restored. There are epoxy and bonding compounds that will stabilize what is there and ceramic paints that give amazing results ... It will not be cheap, but the end product will be a very desirable and rare watch. I am sure you would be able to find an old non railrouter dial to fit to that caliber that you could have printed.

Reding up on link ...

upload_2020-6-27_10-14-7.png


On a last note, if you are considering selling it as it is too big a project .... dibbs! 😀
Edited:
 
bgrisso
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That would be amazing if you could stabilize it, 99.9% of the graphics are there, you would only have to invent one circle and a few dashes. Not sure who could do this work....
 
M
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Thanks everyone for your input.
It's made me think more carefully about the options.
I take to heart the concerns about a redial so I've decided to explore the possibility of stabilizing the original dial material and getting work done on the damaged sections.
The other option is to get a reprint done on a blank {or cheap crappy) dial. I don't know how dials are identified,they obviosly vary depending on diam. curvature(?) and location of fixing points.
Mine has some sort of ref. no. on the reverse : 94*246 where * looks like a 5 pointed star.
 
bgrisso
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M Moahunter
Thanks everyone for your input.
It's made me think more carefully about the options.
I take to heart the concerns about a redial so I've decided to explore the possibility of stabilizing the original dial material and getting work done on the damaged sections.
The other option is to get a reprint done on a blank {or cheap crappy) dial. I don't know how dials are identified,they obviosly vary depending on diam. curvature(?) and location of fixing points.
Mine has some sort of ref. no. on the reverse : 94*246 where * looks like a 5 pointed star.

that’s the standard stern stamping, I believe 94 is the client code for UG if I recall
 
pennsyl936
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M Moahunter
It's been a long wait but worth it I think
.

Are you happy with how it turned out?

Personally, if I were to opt to have the dial repainted I would emphasize that it should resemble the original as closely as possible. Seeing the before and after I wonder why the re-dialer chose to use a different numeral font?

upload_2021-5-20_12-26-53.png
 
M
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pennsyl936 pennsyl936
Are you happy with how it turned out?

Personally, if I were to opt to have the dial repainted I would emphasize that it should resemble the original as closely as possible. Seeing the before and after I wonder why the re-dialer chose to use a different numeral font?

upload_2021-5-20_12-26-53.png
The dial wasn't repainted. I took the advice of others on this forum and had a new dial. I had enough difficulty getting a new dial without being that picky. I'm not intending to resell the watch passing off the redial as original and I'm not going to spend sleepless nights worrying about a different numeral font.
 
rustynuts
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M Moahunter
The dial wasn't repainted. I took the advice of others on this forum and had a new dial. I had enough difficulty getting a new dial without being that picky. I'm not intending to resell the watch passing off the redial as original and I'm not going to spend sleepless nights worrying about a different numeral font.

It wasn't clear that you'd put the original to one side and had a new dial painted to take its place. Keeping the original safe was a good move but it's a shame the replacement doesn't replicate the design more closely. To be fair, it's not that easy to get a good redial done anyway, as I learned the hard way on a project watch (which I've since given to my father as I've got two better railrouters in the collection). Still got the artwork saved so may come in handy in the future.

Before (I don't feel guilty about refinishing this one!)
upload_2021-5-21_12-43-10.png


after
Image(1).jpeg
Edited:
 
M
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Still waiting for the redial to arrive. Yes, the redial. The agreed work has been ballsed up.Instead of producing a new dial copying the damaged original as closely as possible, the original dial has been redialled. That was not what I instructed.
 
timecube
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M Moahunter
Still waiting for the redial to arrive. Yes, the redial. The agreed work has been ballsed up.Instead of producing a new dial copying the damaged original as closely as possible, the original dial has been redialled. That was not what I instructed.
It's been a MONTH since they ruined your dial (and sent you pics of the handiwork) and they STILL haven't sent it? 😲
 
Dan S
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M Moahunter
The dial wasn't repainted. I took the advice of others on this forum and had a new dial. I had enough difficulty getting a new dial without being that picky. I'm not intending to resell the watch passing off the redial as original and I'm not going to spend sleepless nights worrying about a different numeral font.

M Moahunter
Still waiting for the redial to arrive. Yes, the redial. The agreed work has been ballsed up.Instead of producing a new dial copying the damaged original as closely as possible, the original dial has been redialled. That was not what I instructed.

I'm confused. But I guess the bottom line is that the OP sounds unhappy, so I'm sorry to hear that things went badly.
 
M
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timecube timecube
It's been a MONTH since they ruined your dial (and sent you pics of the handiwork) and they STILL haven't sent it? 😲
En route since 27/5.
 
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