u/project65studios

The video is the latest hand painted dial I did for a client.

I’m always surprised by the creativity people have and I’m forever grateful I get to bring their ideas to life.

But lately, I’ve been spending a lot of hours hand painting dials and the hours that go into detailing the accents and logos I think, can be cut in half with pad printing.

I’m looking for a reliable method to print some smaller texts and time makers on dials and hoping maybe you can share some insight into your process?

Do you outsource your pad printing, or do it yourself? What tools do you use? Etc.

Thanks for reading and looking forward to your replies.

Respectfully,
A Humble Watch Artisan

Many times I’ve wanted to throw in the towel, but after each dial made and painted, I managed to keep going… and learning.

To my fellow watch artisans out there, and anyone aspiring to learn, or just starting your journey, don’t give up.

Cheers,
A Dreamer and Student of all things watches

Note: C2800 Brass sheet and hand painted. Cut on a CNC and fiber laser.

Not quite done yet, but I figured I’d share a few photos of this build I’m working on.

This one is for an NH38 movement. I still have some painting left to do, but overall, I’m really happy with how it’s coming together so far.

I think I’ll try some flame coloring next and experiment with the metal, maybe even do some rotor work if the NH38 can hold its tolerances.

Cheers!

Found this group in my suggested feed on Reddit. Nice to meet you all.

I hope you like my work as a young watch artisan.

I’m constantly looking to improve my craft.

Cheers friends!

Six hundred hours sounds ridiculous, but that’s because it kind of is.

What started as painting a few watch dials quickly turned into learning an entirely new craft. Color mixing, paint consistency, brush selection, airbrushing, surface preparation, drying times, temperature, layering, color matching—every variable matters, and every mistake teaches you something new.

Most of those hours weren’t spent creating finished watches. They were spent repainting dials, testing techniques, scrapping ideas, and figuring out why something didn’t work.

I feel fairly comfortable with bringing almost any idea to life now. I’ve even entertained a few bespoke commissions, something I never would have considered when I first started painting dials.

Thanks for reading!

For any aspiring watch modders out there, here’s a quick list of some lessons learned after putting together this watch.

Thanks for reading and hope you like my work.

- Less is more on a dial.
- Small details matter way more in macro photography.
- Paint behaves completely different once it cures under light.
- Green is harder to get right than expected.
- Alignment is everything on watch assembly.
- Every material reacts differently to engraving settings.
- Tiny imperfections stand out fast on watches.
- Patience matters more than expensive tools.
- Good lighting can completely change how the watch feels.
- You learn more from finishing a watch than endlessly planning one.
- Building watches is basically problem solving for hours straight.