Custom Watch Dial

Custom Watch Dial - Bringing my Vision to Life.

I like to have unique pieces created to my ideas and designs.

So, by customizing watch dials it is really a great way to express myself.

I used paint pens to apply my design of colors on the face of a watch dial.

For the most part only minor watch disassembly was needed with my process.

Please note each watch follows the same process - except I removed the watch hands on the dark face dial for the mosaic pattern

I found some low cost watches on Ali Express to use for this project.

I looked for a light and dark face type.

Also dials with no added embellishments on the face - basically plain / flat

Design Process With -

Paper

Color pens / markers / pencils

tissue to wipe the tips of pens

Circle template

Please keep this in your mind for design

On previous watch dial customization, I created designs that would not fit inside of the watch - i did not take into account the actual face size and what the outer face ring would cover up.

Also please keep in mind how each person wears a watch - which wrist to wear it on - so it is known what is top and bottom of your design.

I used the plastic circle template and placed it over the watch for design sizing.

For the watches used in this instructables project it was: (see attached images)

1. 38mm outside diameter
2. 32mm inside diameter

I used the template to draw practice design circles on a piece of paper. I had several ideas and end up choosing

1. Dots
2. Mosaic patter

Please note my tools (many different types can be used)

Please reference the attached images and the circled numbers by the tools and supplies

1. Case back opener (light brown is my first - I made it from scrap metal glued between two pieces of wood and filed on one side - openers are usually are flat on one side and beveled on the other)
2. Magnifiers - lower one in box is a hand held and top one is on a little stand for hands free
3. watch hand removal tools 2X with thin plastic (plastic go over the hands to lift off to avoid scratching the face)
4. Watch holders / vise
5. Watch soft pad
6. Pry bars - watch band spring clip pin for remover / put pin back on
7. Ruler and caliper
8. Pin tools for the pin and crown
9. Ear cotton sticks and wooden tooth picks
10. Air bulb - to clean watch from dust
11. Blue tape - light tac for removal used for protecting watch from scratches
12. ISP light percentage alcohol for cleaning of the dial face
13. Scissors
14. Tweezers - used pointed ones the most
15. watch hand press on tools (different ends with different hole sizes)
16. Posca paint pen
17. Dotting tool - rounded ends to dip in paint and transfer to surface
18. paint brush #3 tissue for quick clean, small tin paint pallet

Disassemble - band removal ---Basically you don't have to do this but it just helps a little

5. Watch soft pad

6. Pry bars  - watch band spring clip pin for remover / put pin back on

11. Blue tape - light tac for ease of removal / used for protecting watch from scratches

Start by using the pry bar you push down the pin (pins have springs) to compress the spring and pull outward.

note be patient with this - think of the pin as a spring so it will fly, I like to put up a cardboard wall to stop the spring if flying from going all over the place. I broke this rule and pin flew out and hit me and bounced to the ground, took a flash light and hunted for it.

Do both sides of watch to remove band and place on a soft pad

Please note: it is good practice to set watch hands to straight up - so if you remove them you can return them to the same place

Disassemble - watch Back removal

PLEASE NOTE THE WATCHES SHOWN HAVE A PRESSED ON BACK -

THERE AR OTHER TYPE BACKS THAT REQUIRE DIFFERNT TOOLS AND PROCESSES

Optional

11. Blue tape - light tac for ease of removal / used for protecting watch from scratches

Place on back so if your opener slips it won't scratch the back

Tools

1. Case back opener (light brown is my first - I made it from scrap metal glued between two pieces of wood and filed on one side - openers are usually are flat on one side and beveled on the other)

Looking at the back of the watch look for round lip (this is the case back)

If there is a slight lip or divot - is a place to place your Case back opener it is a helper.

Both watches I worked on did not have a helper spot. Some say this is like opening an oyster - don't know this for sure since I never opened an oyster.

BE CAREFUL and take your time on this

I always hear a pop sound when it releases

Disassemble - watch movement removal

Please note - You need to do this so the movement will drop out to work on the dial / face

4. Watch holders / vise

5. Watch soft pad

8. Pin tools for the pin and crown

Optional battery removal

14. Tweezers - used pointed ones the most

Using a pin tool - the pin and crown has a holder spring clip inside the movement.

I like to hunt around looking for a small hole or small metal bar spring - if you follow the crown to the pin to the movement - you can find it.

Push down on the crown / pin spring an a gentle pull it will slide out.

You need to do this so the movement will drop out to work on the dial / face

Remove the watch movement/ mechanism retainer ring - in these watches they are plastic

the retainer ring keeps the movement centered

Remove watch movement out of case and place it in your holder

Optional parts storage

Since I was doing two Dials at the same time I used a small container to store my parts separate from each other

Optional watch hand removal - I did this on the dark dial so that I could do the mosaic pattern

3. watch hand removal tools 2X with thin plastic (plastic go over the hands to lift off to avoid scratching the face)

14. Tweezers - used pointed ones the most

place a light weight plastic sheet over the hands

the watch hand removing tools have a slight curved hook. using both tools place under the hands (staying on top of the plastic and pry up. the hands come off easily.

using the tweezers remove the hands from the dial

Painting prep and Painting / Dotting

9. Ear cotton sticks and wooden tooth picks

12. ISP light percentage alcohol for cleaning of the dial face

16. Posca paint pen

17. Dotting tool - rounded ends to dip in paint and transfer to surface

18. paint brush #3 tissue for quick clean, small tin paint pallet

Painting prep

Leaving the dials in the holders

Using the cotton sticks that I sprayed with light alcohol, i gently wipe and let dry the dials

Painting / Dotting

Well finally the fun part

I dip the posca pens to release paint into the tin pallet.

Please note: I did not go directly onto the dial with the pen. Too much of chance of runs and also poor pattern control.

Using my small brush I pulled my paint from the tin and then I painted the dark dial with different colors and patterns

Using the dotting tool, each time I put a new color in the tin I dipped the tool in the paint and transfer to the light dial (it helps to practice on the side of paper before the dial.

I used both sides of the dotting tool for different size dots.

Please double note: do not put down too heavy of paint or it will crash with the watch hands as they go around. the paint will win and your watch will stop. You really do not need a lot of paint to show your image.

Review before assembly

I did a quick review and did a few touch ups

I let them dry overnight

Reassemble - watch hands Dark face only

2. Magnifiers - lower one in box is a hand held and top one is on a little stand for hands free

14. Tweezers - used pointed ones the most

15. watch hand press on tools (different ends with different hole sizes)

Starting with the wider smaller hand - which is the hour hand

use tweezer to pick up so that the color side is facing up

lightly place center hole over the shaft of the time piece

use magnifier if your not sure you are over it.

using the watch hand tools (Use the one with a hole in it) press the hand onto the shaft

move onto the minute hand - thinner

using the watch hand tools (Use the one with a hole in it) press the hand onto the shaft

move to the second hand

these are very small and you really need to focus and get the center of second hand centered on the shaft of the movement

Very slight push

I was told to use the same pressure as a holding a glass of water, well holing water is different than pushing. I never could figure this logic out. I push a little then magnify it. push a little and magnify it.

Please note: use the magnifier to check that all the hands are level. if not they will crash into one another of the dial itself. again use your magnifier - tweezers to adjust if needed.

Reassemble

I am to understand that it is traditional for the person who worked on the watch marks date and initials in the inside of the case back. I have seen this - where they scratch it in, I used a permanent marker.

using a air blower, I blow off any dust before reassembling.

in putting it together add back the watch movement/ mechanism retainer ring with the crown and pin holes all in align.

Push in the crown pin (please make sure the retainer ring, along with mechanism and the watch frame all line up before pushing the pin in. It should be a slight push and you will feel and or hear it click.

Reassemble case back

I like to blow the dust again

these case backs did not have a divot to open but they did have a little cut out to fit over the crown and pin.

So I aligned them

Hand pressed until I hear a snap.

Please not try not to put apposing pressure on the crystal (glass) try and hold the frame while pushing down the case back.

Reassemble the watch straps

I wear my watches on my left wrist so I put the buckle part of the strap at top and the strap with holes on the bottom. doing a layout first helps me remember which goes where and how.

6. Pry bars - watch band spring clip pin for remover / put pin back on

I put the metal pin back in the loop of the strap

Put one side of the metal pin the the watch frame hole

Move the top part as close to the other hole as possible.

using the tool - push the pin down (spring) so it clears the little arm of the frame and slide back.

it should click into the hole.

give the strap a slight tug to make sure it is in both holes

do both straps.

Thank you so very much for reviewing my Instructables on Custom Watch Dial.

I was raised – that I can have anything I want – just make it.

Plus, our family motto / principle = ALWAYS TRY