Given majority of the value is in a dial - what would you do with such a dial? Pour more money into it to refinish it and enjoy it , or hold out and leave it as is, and potentially hope to find a replacement dial at some point in the future. Additionally, has anyone ever heard of and/or used a company called Gilwatch SA to refinish their dial?

 

I would leave it as found. Perhaps it can be cleaned up a a bit by a specialist, but even that process is fraught with risk.

Obviously a very rare reference, with the chance of finding a replacement dial vanishingly small.

Would love to see photos of the rest of the watch, or do you only have the dial?

 

Seen painters radio,s in better shape

 

IMHO refinishing a dial is a mugs game. It will never be anywhere near in value and look as the original. You are far better off with a bad original than a great refinished dial.

I would attempt to clean the dial with a non reactive cleaner such as 100% pure kerosene and I would start with a very small patch to ensure that it does not react in any way with pigments on dial (kerosene is pretty safe tho) ...

dibs ...

 

Rest of the watch is in a similar state of disrepair - it will be some sort of franken monster when its all said and done...

 

Kerosene is safe?

 

In this cases I suggest do what you feel is best for you, if you are going to sell it soon and you think with an original dial you will get more money, then leave it as it is, if you are going to use it for a while and you don’t feel comfortable with the dial then go for the redial….. It is your watch.

I could be wrong but think that you will find a good original replacement dial for a rare vintage watch is a beautiful but very difficult to achieve dream, I have been there too and usually you will never find it.

 

probably the most non-reactive compound ...

 

1. It is pure and harmless (derivatives are used in baby products such as baby oil and skin lotions).
2. Kerosene is used in jet engine, sure ...
3. It is pure and free of contaminants and does not react with metals.
4. It is a very thin oil so excellent for removing grime or oily deposits that have accumulated over years
5. Can be washed off with a gentle anaionic surfactant

 

+1 with Diabolik

Same watch here?

 

I thought i had seen it somewhere. I considered it but decided it too far gone!

 

Same watch - wish I would have seen the top picture before buying it...