1950s applied markers

[Skibbidie]

Hello,

Am looking at a 6564. The lume dots burned to a brownish black crisp, ugly, but not so worried. The crown on dial has maybe pitting, maybe radium burn, maybe I have no idea. Anybody able to comment?

[Dan S]

Could be an embossed dial, not applied. So the apparent pitting could just be paint loss. Good macro photos of the markers including from the sides would help.

[offrdmania]

That dial actually looks original. Because of its age, I wouldnt even care about the finish on the markers or the lume. Those dials are near impossible to find in good condition these days.

[Dan S]

I looked again on a monitor, and that is definitely an embossed dial.

[offrdmania]

I think the hour markers are applied

[Dan S]

If you look at the macro photo, you can clearly see white plastic on the sides of the coronet arms, and white plastic showing through where the gold paint is missing. Also it's apparent to me that the word ROLEX is embossed, for the same reason. Look at the sides of the letters. White sides, missing paint, no connectors. If we had good photos showing the sides of the hour markers, I'm sure we'd see the same thing.

People don't realize how many of these dials were embossed.

[rootbeer7]

Originally Posted by Dan S

If you look at the macro photo, you can clearly see white plastic on the sides of the coronet arms, and white plastic showing through where the gold paint is missing. Also it's apparent to me that the word ROLEX is embossed, for the same reason. Look at the sides of the letters. White sides, missing paint, no connectors. If we had good photos showing the sides of the hour markers, I'm sure we'd see the same thing.

People don't realize how many of these dials were embossed.

Dial looks all good to me. But, what is the difference between embossed and applied?

[DarknerImperator]

Originally Posted by rootbeer7

Dial looks all good to me. But, what is the difference between embossed and applied?

Embossed or Minted when they are printed by a press..,they can't be detached,the dial and the indexes are a unique piece.

Applied when they are applied separately on the dial and they can be detached and reattached during reprint phase.

[TuRo]

Welcome - Dial looks just how i'd expect it to look for a c 65 year old dial with a bit of dial furniture tarnishing, plot radium burn and a cement-y type finish to the white/off white. Any fresher and I'd be thumbing my chin tbh....Excellent 1st photo btw OP

[Skibbidie]

Ok thanks everyone.

[rootbeer7]

Originally Posted by DarknerImperator

Embossed or Minted when they are printed by a press..,they can't be detached,the dial and the indexes are a unique piece.

Applied when they are applied separately on the dial and they can be detached and reattached during reprint phase.

Brilliant. Thank you