Question about 6542 Dial

[jban5]

So, the 6542 that I picked up has a super dial. When I would look at it at an angle with light hitting it just right I could see that the lettering was all a very pale gilt, so pale that it always photographed white.

With a clear crystal now I am sure that it isn't gilt but silvered in the same manner as gilt.

I can't find any reference to this but when I look at some of the 5508's of the same time I can see that the depth rating on some that looks the same. If it can't properly be called "gilt" what is the proper term for it, just silvered?

Opinions?

[southtexas]

Originally Posted by jban5

So, the 6542 that I picked up has a super dial. When I would look at it at an angle with light hitting it just right I could see that the lettering was all a very pale gilt, so pale that it always photographed white.

With a clear crystal now I am sure that it isn't gilt but silvered in the same manner as gilt.

I can't find any reference to this but when I look at some of the 5508's of the same time I can see that the depth rating on some that looks the same. If it can't properly be called "gilt" what is the proper term for it, just silvered?

Opinions?

If it doesn't have a term yet, now's your chance to give it one (and the inevitable corresponding price premium!). Tropigilt?

[jban5]

I wouldn't be able to do that, you know how it would be, the talk shows, the autographs. That kind of celebrity would be more than I could handle.

[linesiders]

Photos?

Early service dial? Just spitballing and assuming the colors is the same as when original. Remember some colors on 50 year old watches are different than when new ;)

[Kingface66]

JBan, is it similar to this one??
http://chronomatic.com/bake.html

[jban5]

There are some similarities but mine is marked just "SWISS" and it is glossy. Part of the problem with getting a good pic of it is no matter which way I turn it either the dial or the crystal wants to send up a flare or else the blackness makes the exposure time go long causing over exposure and fuzziness of everything else. Here is one I captured but still the metallic tone of the lettering doesn't show up:

[watchcrank]

lots of dials that are "silver" in color of text.