What does a watch dial mean?

　　What does a watch dial mean? Dials can be designed in different shapes and materials, and hour markers can also be simple painted or embossed prints. Let us take a look below.

　　Dial Materials

　　Common dial materials can be broadly divided into 4 types: metal, enamel, mother-of-pearl, and carbon fibre dials.

　　Metals can be further divided into 925 sterling silver dials and lacquered dials, with lacquered dials primarily made of brass and being the most common type. Enamel dials are generally used for high-end watch models. Mother-of-pearl dials are most commonly paired with women's watches; using this shell material to make dials allows the wearer to experience shifting colours from different viewing angles. Carbon fibre has not been used in dial making for long, but because it has fibre-like flexibility, is lightweight, and possesses various excellent properties of the carbon element—such as corrosion resistance and heat resistance—it is often used in sports watches.

　　Dial Colours

　　Common dial colours mainly include: white, silver-white, silver-grey, dark grey, black, dark brown, coffee, beige, champagne gold, pink, orange, red, green, blue, diamond-set, and patterned dials, among others.

　　Dial Shapes

　　There are four main dial shapes: round dials, square dials, tonneau dials, and oval dials.

　　Dial Diameter

　　Generally speaking, watch case diameter refers to the size including the case, and because most cases are not perfectly regular circles, it is typically a reference value. Dial inner diameter refers to the face diameter. Common case sizes include 32mm, 34mm, 36mm, 38mm, 39mm, 40mm, 41mm, 42mm, 44mm, and 50mm.

　　Analysis of Causes of Dial Discolouration

　　1, if water enters the watch or it is exposed to dampness for a long period, and the watch case is improperly sealed, external moisture and vapour can penetrate the watch. This very easily induces dial discolouration or causes the dial clear coat to peel off, a phenomenon most frequently occurring at the edge of the dial. Therefore, try to avoid wearing non-professional diving watches in the rain or while swimming.

　　2, for vintage watches kept in storage unused for a long time, if they feature luminous hands, this depends on the nature of the material used for the luminescence. Extra care should generally be taken with older watches, as discolouration on the dial often appears precisely in the areas corresponding to the luminous hour and minute hands.

　　3, if a watch is placed or exposed to sunlight for a long period, various rays in sunlight will gradually discolour everything, and beautiful items are no exception—no one can escape this. Try to minimise exposing your watch to direct sunlight.

　　4, if a watch comes into contact with radiation or radioactive materials. Radiation has applications in medical treatments and certain industrial manufacturing processes; this is the most severe factor, capable of discolouring certain items in a very short time. If you are a patient undergoing radiotherapy, or undergoing examinations involving radiation, never wear a watch.