[Watchmaking] EP.6 Painting a watch dial - Spray Paint

The easiest and best way to paint watch dials any color you want is to use spray paint.

You can use art spray paint or automotive spray paint, what I recommend is automotive spray paint.


Pros

It sticks well to metal.

Depending on the type of spray paint you use, some products may not stick to metal well. Automotive spray paint is usually formulated to stick to metal.


You don't need any equipment.

All you need to do is buy a spray paint, go to well-ventilated place, spray it, and you're done. Not having to invest in equipment is a huge advantage.


They come in a variety of colors

There are a lot of different colors of cars out there, and there are a lot of different colors of automotive spray paints. You can even order customized spray paint which matches specific car color you want. If you're a car enthusiast, you'll love the fact that you can make a watch dial in the same color with your dream car.


Cons

You can't mix the color.

While it has the advantage of having a wide range of colors, you can't mix spray paint colors, so if I want another color, I have to buy another spray paint can. It can feel expensive to buy a whole spray paint can to paint such a small watch dial.


The particles are large and grainy.

Automotive spray paints tend to have large, grainy particles, so they tend to be painted a bit thicker. You don't want your dials to be too thick, so you'll need to use sandpaper to clean up and thin out the surface after it dries.


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