Lesson learned

[bronco306]

I dont know if i purchased an old redial or if my water from the tap is actually paint thinner but when i tried to clean up the dial on a newly acquired zodiac seawolf the dial lasted less than 10 seconds in the water. all script and dial marks gone, even the numbers at 12, 3,6, and 9. wiped out in a flash..

good thing i already went through the movement and determined it good for parts only but is always a shame to see a dial go. 

[Butch]

In all my years of collecting I have never heard of anyone trying that. What made you think that was gonna work out for you?

NOT knoking you at all either.

[bronco306]

I have done this successfully on newer watches. Late 60s and up. Decent results.

Momentary lapse.

[YuriyV]

Tritium luminescent compound on markers is extremely sensitive to water. It dissolves almost immediately. Especially in warm water. The same for paint and varnish. They are not water resistant.

[Butch]

Thanks for the answer. Most will not even touch a dial, just blow it off with a bulb befor reassembling.

[Ultra-Vintage]

I have heard all kinds of stories of people cleaning dials with anything from water to steel wool to lighter fluid......

My biggest piece of advice to anyone is do not touch a vintage dial with anything.  A light cleaning is what can safely be done (at best), and some dials cannot even take that.  Each dial is a special case, because how the dial has aged and its possible fragility is a combination of its original manufacture (the type of background finish/plating, the laquer used, whether the lacquer was too thin/too thick), and the environment it has been in over its life (damage, moisture, chemical exposure from hacks etc).

Dials make watches, period.  Of the watches that collectors care about, most of the value within them is held in the dial.
The case or movement having issues can often be corrected to some extent.  The dial, not so much, and it is only original once.  So any attempt to do anything crazy to try and clean a dial is essentially gambling with a majority of the value of the watch.  Potential cleaners beware.......

[bronco306]

thanks for the replies everyone, not my finest hour but not the end of the world. that being said, anyone have a extra dial laying around they would part with?

[jmh86325]

what color are you looking for?

[YuriyV]

And Sea Wolf model?

[jmh86325]

from his description it should be a no date