How to colour/lacquer/paint hand engraved watch dials/guilloche

Joined
Apr 11, 2023
Messages
17
How are watch dials given colour? My material is fine silver. I want to know how to add color to it except plating/enameling. E-coating looks quite bad so I would like to know how to add colour.
 

Sinterklaas

Elite Cafe Member
Joined
Dec 19, 2015
Messages
200
Location
Holland
If you dont want enameling or UV-resin coating. But want color on silver. Then your best bet would be to print it on the dial. Or print and transfer it on to the dial.

Pad printing is the process used to get the lettering and design on to watch dials.

Or you can hand paint that is what was used in the past as well.


 

monk

Moderator
Staff member
::::Pledge Member::::
Joined
Feb 11, 2007
Messages
10,870
Location
washington, pa
i'd think this would be of use to several people that visit here. tyvm for sharing this.
 

Chujybear

~ Elite 1000 Member ~
Joined
Nov 3, 2011
Messages
1,079
Location
Haida Gwaii
Since you are working in fine silver you have no problem with enameling. It will take the heat of firing without oxidation.
to make it tight, you can shake your enamel on it, stone it down (perhaps exposing some fine silver highlights, and then refute, for a much tidier look.
 

Dani Girl

~ Elite 1000 Member ~
Joined
May 6, 2012
Messages
1,110
Location
NSW, Australia.
I watched a youtube video showing heating up brass filings in a cup with a watch hand sitting on top to get a really controlled heat colouring of the hand. probably not exactly what you were looking for.

I'd love to know more about how to colour work, I've seen some amazingly coloured gun cases too and that I'm guessing, would have to be able to handle great amounts of shock/vibration.

I know there's

inlay
enamel
chemicals (don't know much about that) (blueing and patinas)
...?
 

monk

Moderator
Staff member
::::Pledge Member::::
Joined
Feb 11, 2007
Messages
10,870
Location
washington, pa
I watched a youtube video showing heating up brass filings in a cup with a watch hand sitting on top to get a really controlled heat colouring of the hand. probably not exactly what you were looking for.

I'd love to know more about how to colour work, I've seen some amazingly coloured gun cases too and that I'm guessing, would have to be able to handle great amounts of shock/vibration.

I know there's

inlay
enamel
chemicals (don't know much about that) (blueing and patinas)
...?
dani :i fiddled with coloring titanium. easy to do. a variable dc output power supply, electrolytes, and a table top to work on are all that's needed to start. a variety of quite beautiful shades can be obtained simply by controlling the output voltqge. it can produce some very unique jewelry items. i was using "commercial" grade titanium which i have a healthy supplly of.
 

Latest posts

Sponsors

Top