Stain on dial after service

[Juhuatai]

Hi just got my 1016 back from service two days ago and there is a big stain on the dial I am sure wasn’t there before the service. It’s hard to see, I just noticed it today under the light. It seems to be originating from the center...

To all the watchmakers in the forum, is this fixable?

What could be the cause of this?






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[SubMarine]

Yikes

[Juhuatai]

Originally Posted by SubMarine

Yikes

Yeah this was my biggest fear when I sent it to get serviced and now it's happened....

[oysterquartz17000]

Is that a divot? It looks pretty bad, I'd make them repair it.

[Dan S]

Hopefully that's not an oil stain.

[Juhuatai]

Originally Posted by Dan S

Hopefully that's not an oil stain.

It looks like oil to me, but I wasn't sure. It seems to have originated from the center where the hands are?

[offrdmania]

Too much oil used possibly and it made its way onto the dial? Was it serviced by Rolex or at an independent?

[Juhuatai]

Originally Posted by offrdmania

Too much oil used possibly and it made its way onto the dial? Was it serviced by Rolex or at an independent?

Independent but it's a well known and respected one for vintage. I've used him for other watches and never had a problem. I've let him know and I'm waiting for his response,.

[Juhuatai]

Is an oil stain repairable?

[offrdmania]

Originally Posted by Juhuatai

Is an oil stain repairable?

If its still wet then Rodico putty may be able to get it all up. If it has already soaked in then the dial may have to be refinished.

[Juhuatai]

Originally Posted by offrdmania

If its still wet then Rodico putty may be able to get it all up. If it has already soaked in then the dial may have to be refinished.

It's been two days since the service and I specifically sent it out to a well known watchmaker on the forums since there wasn't anybody near me that specialized in vintage. I'm guessing even if I can get to somewhere tomorrow it will have dried up. What should my recourse be with the watchmaker?

I'm so frustrated right now...

[offrdmania]

Originally Posted by Juhuatai

It's been two days since the service and I specifically sent it out to a well known watchmaker on the forums since there wasn't anybody near me that specialized in vintage. I'm guessing even if I can get to somewhere tomorrow it will have dried up. What should my recourse be with the watchmaker?

I'm so frustrated right now...

If it were me, I would contact them and send it back to them to see if they can remove the substance with putty. If they cannot then they need to replace the dial with an identical one in the same condition or have it restored at their cost.

[Kingface66]

Originally Posted by offrdmania

If it were me, I would contact them and send it back to them to see if they can remove the substance with putty. If they cannot then they need to replace the dial with an identical one in the same condition or have it restored at their cost.

Even if they restored it (and yes, absolutely at their cost) he’ll still have a dial whose value will have taken a hit to the value. That wouldn’t do it for me. They’d have to either replace it with dial of absolute equal value, or arrange some financial compensation reflecting the now-lower value of the watch.

[Juhuatai]

I just talked to the watchmaker I sent it to, he’s going to have me send it back so they can take a look at it....if they can fix it without restoring it they’ll do so. The problem is I don’t have any evidence that it wasn’t there so he’s going to talk to his watchmakers to confirm it wasn’t there before service but I’m positive it wasn’t. I didn’t think to take any photos beforehand.

I guess financial compensation is probably the only way forward but I’m not sure how we’re gonna sort that out...

[NYC6]

Originally Posted by Juhuatai

I just talked to the watchmaker I sent it to, he’s going to have me send it back so they can take a look at it....if they can fix it without restoring it they’ll do so. The problem is I don’t have any evidence that it wasn’t there so he’s going to talk to his watchmakers to confirm it wasn’t there before service but I’m positive it wasn’t. I didn’t think to take any photos beforehand.

I guess financial compensation is probably the only way forward but I’m not sure how we’re gonna sort that out...

Lots a businesses know to tell the customer beforehand that there are issues on the watch, car or whatever to eliminate these issues. Good for him and the customer.
It’s plain as day for me to see from the pic and should have been jumping out at the person doing the watch. I’d hold his feet to the fire on this one.

[Wahlberg]

How do you decide on a value of the dial, not knowing what the future will bring (good or bad). But if this watch would go to 100k and you get compensated 5k for the dial in 2019, that would still sting in the future.

[Dan S]

At the risk of getting ahead of things, I do think it would be good to find a photo of the dial before-hand. Even if the watchmaker believes you, if this ends up going to an insurance claim, which is a possibility, the insurance company may want proof.

Are you sure you don't have any photos at all from before the service? If you had the watch for a while, you probably took some photos. Or if you bought it recently, maybe the seller has photos.

[Juhuatai]

I unfortunately don't have insurance on the watch. None of the photos I had beforehand are in great lighting unfortunately...but I am 100% sure it wasn't there. I've been wearing the watch for a year and I've never noticed it and I spend a lot of time looking at my watches. I'm hoping this gets resolved amicably.

[77T]

Originally Posted by Juhuatai

None of the photos I had beforehand are in great lighting unfortunately...but I am 100% sure it wasn't there.

Maybe the seller who sold it to you has good pics from the original listing?




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[77T]

You made some good pics on the 1016 you sold earlier this year...

Maybe the seller who sold this one to you has good pics from the original listing?

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[Michael M.]

Appears to be from over-oiling. Fairly common, unfortunately. Rodico will not remove the oil.

[Juhuatai]

Originally Posted by Michael M.

Appears to be from over-oiling. Fairly common, unfortunately. Rodico will not remove the oil.

Was my fear. This was a well known company however, I’m just shocked this happened.

[Juhuatai]

It was an eBay listing and I can’t access the original listing.

[77T]

Originally Posted by Juhuatai

It was an eBay listing and I can’t access the original listing.

But the seller might do that for you. You would have all the details of the purchase in your eBay history. It’s worth a try.


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[btinl]

Which watchmaker?

[Juhuatai]

Would like to wait until we’ve sorted everything out before disclosing the name.

[scooba]

Could you not cover the whole dial with oil so it is all the same ?

I read somewhere on Rolex Passion Report mineral oil is used in rejuvenating dials with radium burn

[007Sub]

Good watchmakers will take photos of the dial before servicing and after in order to assure that everything is as good as it was when it came in after leaving. Additionally, watchmakers should have liability insurance such that in the event something like this happens, they can cover the cost of fixing or replacing the part.

Unfortunately, it looks to be an oil stain. This is caused either by over oiling or carelessness in work space such that a droplet of oil touched the dial. I always keep my dials far away from the movement until all movement work is done before remounting in order to avoid this sort of issue. I'm afraid to say most likely, this dial is not repairable as is. However, I've heard that sometimes some mild benzine solution along with a cotton swab might pull that oil off. If the stain is fresh enough this could work. Chances are though after a few days of setting into the paint, it's not removable.

Best solution is to source another dial. Sorry for the grim news.

[Juhuatai]

Originally Posted by 007Sub

Good watchmakers will take photos of the dial before servicing and after in order to assure that everything is as good as it was when it came in after leaving. Additionally, watchmakers should have liability insurance such that in the event something like this happens, they can cover the cost of fixing or replacing the part.

Unfortunately, it looks to be an oil stain. This is caused either by over oiling or carelessness in work space such that a droplet of oil touched the dial. I always keep my dials far away from the movement until all movement work is done before remounting in order to avoid this sort of issue. I'm afraid to say most likely, this dial is not repairable as is. However, I've heard that sometimes some mild benzine solution along with a cotton swab might pull that oil off. If the stain is fresh enough this could work. Chances are though after a few days of setting into the paint, it's not removable.

Best solution is to source another dial. Sorry for the grim news.

Thanks for the insight. From the pattern I would guess over oiling since it seems to have originated from the center. I have resigned myself to the fact that the dial is damaged beyond repair. It's a shame since the watch was in fantastic condition before the service. Hopefully the watchmaker will make it right.

[mrs_LA]

Originally Posted by 007Sub

Good watchmakers will take photos of the dial before servicing and after in order to assure that everything is as good as it was when it came in after leaving. Additionally, watchmakers should have liability insurance such that in the event something like this happens, they can cover the cost of fixing or replacing the part.

I agree. Usually watchmakers take pictures before and after.


Hope the watchmaker has gotten in touch with you and you are in the midst of sorting it out. Keep us updated.