Stain on dial after service

[Juhuatai]

Here are some photos from the original seller. I have not had the watch opened since I bought it a year ago. I also been in contact and he has written “
The dial was perfect. I would have mentioned it when I sold it if the dial had a stain. Also you would have let me know it was there when you received the watch I'm sure. I've been a watchmaker(CW21 certified)and have serviced Rolexes for over 40 years by the way.”



Here are some photos from about a month or two before service. There was no mark from any of the angles.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[mattedialdoc]

None of the photos as posted here have great resolution, but I’m sure it is as you describe.
I really feel for you. I both have a 1016 that recently returned from service, and also have had damage occur at the hands of an experienced watchmaker. I hold my breath every time I send a watch for service. I’m a surgeon and understand risk. But you would think they could service the damn watch without mucking it up!!


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Juhuatai]

Yeah the photos aren’t great but I can’t post higher res since I’m not a VIP. I’ve sent two pieces before to the same watchmaker and not had a problem, so decided to send this one. Alas.

[uncleluck]

Originally Posted by offrdmania

The oil may not have been from the actual service. The dial may have been laid in oil or a drop of oil may have landed on the dial while the technician moved across the desk. It may have just been extra ordinary circumstances.

I don’t think even a back street watchmaker would have a dial uncovered to potentially get oil on it or place it upside down etc.

Extra ordinary circumstances is the only way you’d get oil on a dial like that.

I Was just surprised at all the ‘over oiled’ comments. Obviously doing servicing totally changes your opinion of stuff like this as people just don’t realise how careful you have to be working on watches. The dial would be covered and handled with finger cots, you’d repeatedly be checking, cleaning, rodico’ing off tools etc. If he somehow dropped oil it’s really not easy to do as your oil pots are covered and will have no more than a layman’s idea of droplet of oil in them and you only ever remove microscopic amounts when you’re oiling (way before handling a dial)

It’s a really unlikely scenario & just trying to make people appreciate how careful you have to be during servicing. Accidents do happen but if he did get oil on the dial he’d have known about it for sure as you’re always working under magnification and do inspections under mag. You would also be able to lift it with Rodico.

I did a service the other day and the watch was near dripping in oil from the owner having a go (and I mean soaked) and that hadn’t even made it to the dial.

The pics don’t really tell me anything as they’re no way good enough. Just didn’t think it was overly fair on the watchmaker people saying it was over oiled.

Hopefully (if he has somehow smudged oil into it) he’ll be able to sort it out but it doesn’t really make sense why he’d let it go out like that. I’d be more worried he’d actually already rubbed at the dial to try and remove something than it being oil at this point.

[Juhuatai]

Originally Posted by uncleluck

I don’t think even a back street watchmaker would have a dial uncovered to potentially get oil on it or place it upside down etc.

Extra ordinary circumstances is the only way you’d get oil on a dial like that.

I Was just surprised at all the ‘over oiled’ comments. Obviously doing servicing totally changes your opinion of stuff like this as people just don’t realise how careful you have to be working on watches. The dial would be covered and handled with finger cots, you’d repeatedly be checking, cleaning, rodico’ing off tools etc. If he somehow dropped oil it’s really not easy to do as your oil pots are covered and will have no more than a layman’s idea of droplet of oil in them and you only ever remove microscopic amounts when you’re oiling (way before handling a dial)

It’s a really unlikely scenario & just trying to make people appreciate how careful you have to be during servicing. Accidents do happen but if he did get oil on the dial he’d have known about it for sure as you’re always working under magnification and do inspections under mag. You would also be able to lift it with Rodico.

I did a service the other day and the watch was near dripping in oil from the owner having a go (and I mean soaked) and that hadn’t even made it to the dial.

The pics don’t really tell me anything as they’re no way good enough. Just didn’t think it was overly fair on the watchmaker people saying it was over oiled.

Hopefully (if he has somehow smudged oil into it) he’ll be able to sort it out but it doesn’t really make sense why he’d let it go out like that. I’d be more worried he’d actually already rubbed at the dial to try and remove something than it being oil at this point.

I only think it's oil because it glistens when I look at it under certain lighting...could very well be something else (my knowledge is very limited). I am having the watchmaker take high-res pictures when he receives the watch. I can then post those here for everyone to see.

I will say the watchmaker did QC after service and said he did not see anything and when I received the watch I did not notice anything. This is why I think something might have leaked? Or perhaps I wasn't looking in the right lighting? Idk, I'll keep everyone posted.

[Juhuatai]

Here’s another photo. The watch is currently no longer in my possession so I can’t take any more.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Dan S]

Originally Posted by Juhuatai

Here’s another photo. The watch is currently no longer in my possession so I can’t take any more.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

To be honest, I'm still not sure exactly what you're referring to. The photos are terrible. I see a cloudy are on the right side of the dial, but it doesn't seem to connect to the center, so I'm not sure that's what you're referring to. It would be better to take some high resolution photos and crop out all the irrelevant background.

[SubMarine]

Amateur owner, rookie watchmaker. Not exactly a combination for success!

[Juhuatai]

Originally Posted by SubMarine

Amateur owner, rookie watchmaker. Not exactly a combination for success!

I might be an amateur but the watchmaker is a professional.

[offrdmania]

Originally Posted by Juhuatai

I might be an amateur but the watchmaker is a professional.

Dont worry about him, most of his posts are usually negative.

[greekbum]

listen regardless of how it happened it is fixable. Send it to Michel Young in HK he will fix that dial.

[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.

[Juhuatai]

Originally Posted by mrs_LA

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.

In this case, they do an inspection but do not take pictures. Yep, will keep the thread updated. Should have an idea of what's going on by tomorrow night.

[mrs_LA]

Originally Posted by Juhuatai

In this case, they do an inspection but do not take pictures. Yep, will keep the thread updated. Should have an idea of what's going on by tomorrow night.

That's interesting to know. I thought it was mandatory to do so, to protect themselves from any damage to the watch noticed by the owner post-service -- much like how a car dealership takes pictures, notes and inspects any damage present on the vehicle prior to taking it in for service.

My watchmaker takes plenty of macro shots prior to service. In your case, these photos would have been helpful to prove that the "stain" was there prior to service to protect themselves.

[Juhuatai]

Originally Posted by mrs_LA

That's interesting to know. I thought it was mandatory to do so, to protect themselves from any damage to the watch noticed by the owner post-service -- much like how a car dealership takes pictures, notes and inspects any damage present on the vehicle prior to taking it in for service.

My watchmaker takes plenty of macro shots prior to service. In your case, these photos would have been helpful to prove that the "stain" was there prior to service to protect themselves.

Yeah I'm surprised they don't take pictures but they may implement this. I had a discussion with him today and based on the photos he thinks it might be some moisture from an air pen, either that or some residue from Rodico. He says if its either, its an easy fix but he will update me once he inspects the dial. I'm praying that it's fixable and not an oil stain.

[mrs_LA]

Originally Posted by Juhuatai

Yeah I'm surprised they don't take pictures but they may implement this. I had a discussion with him today and based on the photos he thinks it might be some moisture from an air pen, either that or some residue from Rodico. He says if its either, its an easy fix but he will update me once he inspects the dial. I'm praying that it's fixable and not an oil stain.

Good to know. Hoping for the best!

[Juhuatai]

Managed to scrounge up some photos of the watch prior to sending it out.







Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Andad]

Those pix are not good enough to compare.

[Juhuatai]

Reuploaded at higher res. Will reupload the stain pictures as well.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Juhuatai]

Second and fourth picture capture it best.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[uncleluck]

The trouble is the pics are very different from the before. I’m not saying he hasn’t done something but you can’t really compare pics of the dial angled away out of light and new pics angled toward with heavy light strike in the area.

I’d personally just chill until the watchmaker has had a look.

I always write down any defects with the watch and take good clear pics of the watch on the pad in and out the case (if needed to point out). It’s helped me out before when someone said I scratched up his hands, lucky it could even be seen on his pics but I’d taken before pics to show (before a re-Lume)

Only thing I would say is he would have been straight on the defensive if he’d noted it as a defect before so maybe it is something he’s done. Time will tell.

[joli160]

Too bad it happened, but let the watchmaker have a look before jumping into conclusion

[Sublovin]

Will be interested how this plays out. The pictures you share have a very obvious dial surface issue. I would think the watchmaker will make it right.
In the future....would recommend taking many photos before sending it off.

[Dan S]

Good photos!

[Kingface66]

Originally Posted by Sublovin

The pictures you share have a very obvious dial surface issue.

Agreed. I'm not sure where all the dissension on this point is coming from. To me, it seems clear that something happened to that dial while it was away.

[springer]

The recently added photos appear to display a discoloration from cleaning the dial with some type of solvent that removed color from the painted area of the dial - going from a matte black color to a brownish color.

[kwcsports]

Originally Posted by springer

The recently added photos appear to display a discoloration from cleaning the dial with some type of solvent that removed color from the painted area of the dial - going from a matte black color to a brownish color.

Agreed ^^^^^

[Falstaff]

Agree with recent comments...

Bottom line, dial has reacted to something. Could be alcohol-based, judging by micro bubbles (which have gone through surface film...have seen this before on old celulose paints in another field). TBD, but to have happened in service-shop's stewardship...therefore responsibility/insurance resides with them (as would with any other walk of life).

On a related note: owner seems to be handling this reasonably well in terms of suspending judgement, not sure the 'defend fellow service specialist' approach is warranted yet. Equally, I'm sure the poor fellow tasked with dealing this is only too aware of all the watchful eyes. A bit of tact anddiplomacy all round usually does wonders.

[Juhuatai]

Originally Posted by springer

The recently added photos appear to display a discoloration from cleaning the dial with some type of solvent that removed color from the painted area of the dial - going from a matte black color to a brownish color.

hmm interesting. I'll let him know about this possibility.

Originally Posted by Falstaff

Agree with recent comments...

On a related note: owner seems to be handling this reasonably well in terms of suspending judgement, not sure the 'defend fellow service specialist' approach is warranted yet. Equally, I'm sure the poor fellow tasked with dealing this is only too aware of all the watchful eyes. A bit of tact anddiplomacy all round usually does wonders.

Once everything has been sorted, I will let everyone know the name of the watchmaker as well as what steps have been taken to address the issue. Thanks all!

[Dan S]

Originally Posted by Kingface66

Agreed. I'm not sure where all the dissension on this point is coming from. To me, it seems clear that something happened to that dial while it was away.

I think that the "dissension" (more accurately a suspension of judgement while awaiting more information) was simply due to the lack of clarity in the original photos. The recent ones do settle the issue IMO.