A watch dial is the face of a pocket watch or wristwatch, carrying the hour and minute markings, chapter ring and often subsidiary dials for seconds or other functions. It is the most visible part of a watch and plays a large part in both its appearance and its value.
Early watches of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries often had dials of engraved or chased silver or gilt metal, but white vitreous enamel became the standard for fine English and continental watches from the eighteenth century onwards, prized for its clarity and durability. Swiss and French makers also used engine-turned guilloché silver and gold dials, and the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries brought printed metal dials, luminous numerals and Art Deco styling. Roman numerals were traditional, with Arabic numerals becoming widespread later. Collectors examine dials closely, since hairline cracks, chips and restoration to enamel reduce value, and repainted or refinished metal dials are a common problem with vintage wristwatches. A crisp original dial with its correct, matching hands is always preferred, and the maker's signature on the dial should correspond with that on the movement.
