Dials Iāve sprayed with Paraloid Bā72. A few folks have asked what this does: itās a conservationāgrade consolidant archivists use on paintings and other art. Iām running it at about 5% Bā72 in acetone; the solvent flashes off fast and leaves a very thin, almost invisible protective skin over the dial.
These four are ākeepersā ā the rest were sacrificial practice pieces. The Orientās printing is completely intact; that wild lacquer damage was actively eroding, and Bā72 has locked it in so it canāt keep flaking. The Bulova RR dial used to shed paint every time I touched the edge; now itās safe to handle and hasnāt lost any more.
The Nisus (WWII dial with confirmed radium lume) was much worse than it looks now ā the Bā72 actually improved contrast and legibility and brought the minute track back a bit. And the Omega Seamaster dial had sticky, breakingādown lacquer that grabbed dust and grime; now the patina is frozen in place instead of collecting new gunk. Itās not bulletproof, but with normal care these dials should stay exactly where they are instead of slowly disappearing.
