What's the best way to ship a watch dial and hands?

boogedyboo · Jun 19, 2018

I am planning to ship a Speedmaster dial and some hands to the UK from Asia to fix some cracks.

However, I am worried about damaging the dial face and hands during transit as they seem quite delicate. I plan to use a courier like DHL or Fedex to ensure the package is handled properly.

Based on people's experience, what's the best way to package the dial and hands?

ulackfocus · Jun 19, 2018

Get a dial holder.

I bet your watchmaker has a spare one.

Put the dial in the case (pinion hold on the black rubber nipple in the center of the case), wrap it in bubble wrap, then put it in a small box making sure there's enough bubble wrap to keep it from sliding and jostling around. Tape it up, then put that small box inside a larger box and fill the space with packing peanuts or more bubble wrap.

It's best to use so much bubble wrap that you have to squeeze the box closed while you tape it shut.

boogedyboo · Jun 21, 2018

Wow, thanks a lot for your quick response and photo. I will try to ask my watchmaker if he has spares.

How about the watch hands? Them seem even more delicate than the dial.

ulackfocus · Jun 21, 2018

Your watchmaker should have a solution for hands as well.

tikkathree · Jun 21, 2018

When I've bought new hands they come packed the same way. Hard to describe but let's go. Take a piece of paper the size of a credit card, fold it in half vertically and cut it in half.

The piece you've now got wants two horizontal folds in it. Make the folds quite sharp, then fold it in thirds vertically. Now carefully unfold it all again and place it on a flat surface before you. Place one hand in each of the vertical "compartments" and hold them in place by folding the horizontal folds over. That will hold them in place whilst you now fold each vertical "compartment" with care.

If only I had a piece of paper before me......

Screwbacks · Jun 21, 2018

for my datejust then

ulackfocus · Jun 21, 2018

@boogedyboo - where are you located? If your watchmaker can't help you, I might have a few extra containers around somewhere.

GuiltyBoomerang · Jun 21, 2018

I had a dial received today - wrapped in a kitchen paper towel, locked between a folded piece of cardboard, taped, then placed in bubble wrap.

Worked out alright.

simonsays · Jun 21, 2018

I use cheap plastic coin holders for dials. Cheap and as long as the dial feet are not really long work well. You can get membrane boxes for hands but they are about £4/5 each

ulackfocus · Jun 21, 2018

GuiltyBoomerang
I had a dial received today - wrapped in a kitchen paper towel, locked between a folded piece of cardboard, taped, then placed in bubble wrap.

Worked out alright.

Crispy lume! 👍 I would have preferred medium-rare. 😜

Where's the hour hand? 😕

w154 · Jun 21, 2018

U ulackfocus
Where's the hour hand? 😕

Ermm... on the dial 🤨

ulackfocus · Jun 21, 2018

w154
Ermm... on the dial 🤨

Okay, where's the minute hand then? 😜

w154 · Jun 21, 2018

U ulackfocus
Okay, where's the minute hand then? 😜

It’s somewhere with the second hand.

GuiltyBoomerang · Jun 21, 2018

U ulackfocus
Okay, where's the minute hand then? 😜

w154
It’s somewhere with the second hand.

The seconds hand is on this watch and the hour hand is in a little packet.

Not mine yet 😜

boogedyboo · Jun 22, 2018

U ulackfocus
@boogedyboo - where are you located? If your watchmaker can't help you, I might have a few extra containers around somewhere.

I am in Malaysia. Thanks for the offer but I have a feeling the chances that you are near me are going to be slim...

Thanks everyone for the input. That cardboard thing to hold the hands looks good, I can probably fashion it myself and then put it together with the dial in the dial holder.

Screwbacks · Jun 22, 2018

boogedyboo
I am in Malaysia. Thanks for the offer but I have a feeling the chances that you are near me are going to be slim...

Thanks everyone for the input. That cardboard thing to hold the hands looks good, I can probably fashion it myself and then put it together with the dial in the dial holder.

a thicker bondpaper not cardboard will suffice.

What's the best way to ship a watch dial and hands?

boogedyboo

ulackfocus

boogedyboo

ulackfocus

tikkathree

Screwbacks

ulackfocus

GuiltyBoomerang

simonsays

ulackfocus

w154

ulackfocus

w154

GuiltyBoomerang

boogedyboo

Screwbacks

Similar threads

What's the best way to Sell a Vintage Omega

Best courier to ship a watch from Australia to Europe

What’s the best way to sell?

What's the best way to apply Loctite to bracelet screws?

How to ship a watch from europe to singapur

Need advice on the best way to preserve a Speedy for the next 8 years (future present for my son)