How Craftsmen Engrave Text on Watch Dials: A Step-by-Step Process

watchesDial text engraving process

In watchmaking, the dial, as the outermost covering of the watch, is also the part that people see most directly in their daily use. As craftsmen, they understand the importance of the details of the engraved text in the dial for the watch, because once the text is not engraved properly, the appearance of the whole watch will be greatly reduced in aesthetics as well as practical value. Today we will introduce the whole process of dial text engraving.

Design Dial

The craftsman needs to design the dial that will be engraved. The size, shape, material, color, placement of numbers and hands, and other details of the dial need to be considered. Due to fine human perception and the need for small details on the dial, all indicators on the dial must conform to strict proportions and careful symmetry before moving on to the next step.

carve a text

The tools used by the craftsman are primarily a small paring knife and a backing board on which they place the dial and with which they cut away all the excess material from the surface of the dial, one by one, until only the normal dial numerals and text remain on the surface. Craftsmen must use the correct angle and strength while maintaining extreme patience and concentration to ensure that each number and text is placed clearly and accurately. Craftsmen often use microscopes to enhance their visual abilities.

Background coloring

After completing the engraving of the text, the craftsman begins to color the background using a blue copper background paint. Typically, they use a special fine brush to gently apply the paint so as not to interfere with the text, brushing it all over the dial. The stability and precision of the hand must be maintained throughout the process.

baked dial

After the paint dries, the dial goes into the oven. The high temperature of the paint surface in the oven fixes it in the final stage, creating a surface protectant. The high temperature also enhances the surface hardness and durability of the dial.

Final assembly

Once the dial has completed all of the above processes, the craftsman needs to install the dial into the watch. This final step requires the utilization of final assembly precision and meticulous attention. The mounting inspection process supports the examination of the crown, indicators and bracelet to ensure reliability.

The craft of dial text engraving is an important part of watch making. Craftsmen need to be attentive, careful and precise, using their excellent skills to ensure the beauty and quality of the watch. The process of dial text engraving requires a constant search for more efficient tools and work methods to meet the growing needs and expectations of consumers.