Misaligned Dial, What to Do?

[santela]

I bought an IWC big pilot LPP from one of the TDs. This is my 2nd rep and 1st time purchasing from a TD. Due to my inexperience I did not QC it properly since I didn't know what to look for. I received the watch and loved it.

Only after wearing it for a few days I noticed the dial is a couple degrees crooked to the left. I might be too anal but it's one of those things once you see it you can't unsee it anymore. It started to really bug me.

I asked a local watch smith and he said he can't fix it. Now I don't know what to do with it. Can I expect any help from the TD? Would they be able to or even willing to fix this? Crooked dials seem to be a pretty common flaw, anyone else got experience on this? Any advice is appreciated.

 

[rj999]

Pictures?

 

[santela]

Pictures?

Please tell me if I'm being ridiculous and should just live with it. Because now that I see it I think it's really obvious and it just bothers me.

 

[btwn68n70]

Make sure you don't purchase from that TD again

 

[santela]

Make sure you don't purchase from that TD again

To be fair to the TD I didn't notice it until wearing it for a couple of days. So I can't really blame the TD too much for not spotting it within a few minutes.

 

[bobandshawn]

The dial or the datewheel? Because the 3 o'clock marker lined up with the crown?

B

 

[santela]

The dial or the datewheel? Because the 3 o'clock marker lined up with the crown?

B

The dial. The date wheel is fine. If you look at the 12 and 6 markers they are not in the middle of the lugs.

But I guess I should be glad it's not that obvious, probably means I'm just too anal.

 

[bobandshawn]

Yeah, the entire dial would have to shift right. Material would have to be taken off the right side of the dial, maybe the hours and seconds holes too to accommodate the shift. Then there would probably be a gap on the left side. Personally I don't think this is fixable - but others may chime in...

B

 

[santela]

Yeah, the entire dial would have to shift right. Material would have to be taken off the right side of the dial, maybe the hours and seconds holes too to accommodate the shift. Then there would probably be a gap on the left side. Personally I don't think this is fixable - but others may chime in...

B

I was hoping I could just rotate the dial a tiny bit to the right, but according to my local watch smith it's also not fixable.

I guess I'll try to live with it if that's the case. I already got a nice blue gator strap on it and an Orloff strap on the way. Was getting pretty invested in this watch.

 

[yodog]

Yes its fixable. Just cut off the dial feet and twist it and affix with dots. Your watchmaker is a pussy.

 

[bobandshawn]

Yes its fixable. Just cut off the dial feet and twist it and affix with dots. Your watchmaker is a pussy.

If you just twist it then the three and 9 o'clock markers would not be aligned...

 

[yodog]

They already dont look straight to me, its off a few degrees

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[santela]

Yes its fixable. Just cut off the dial feet and twist it and affix with dots. Your watchmaker is a pussy.

Hmm... but what about the crown? If I rotate the whole thing the crown's position would also change I imagine?

 

[yodog]

Only the dial moves, not the movement

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[Zulu44gmt]

I'd take off the back and check for play in the movement ring and also the length of the crown stem - if the stem is a bit too long it'll push the entire movement/dial to the left. The 3 would still be centered as yours, acting as the pivot point.


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[santela]

Thanks guys.

im going to try to get another watchmaker to look at it. As long as it's fixable I got hope.

 

[btwn68n70]

If the dial.moves wouldn't it affect the datehweel alignment

 

[rj999]

Hmm... but what about the crown? If I rotate the whole thing the crown's position would also change I imagine?

I don't know the watch, but usually there is some slop on the stem fitting which allows minor realignment of the whole movement.
Did your watchmaker actually have the back off in your presence, or did he just look, decide it was a rep and then told you he couldn't do anything?

 

[pilworx]

I don't know the watch, but usually there is some slop on the stem fitting which allows minor realignment of the whole movement.
Did your watchmaker actually have the back off in your presence, or did he just look, decide it was a rep and then told you he couldn't do anything?

this. just loosen the movement screws and rotate the entire movement/dial inside the case. you will only get a small amount of adjustment because of the stem obviously but your misalignment is very small.

 

[santela]

I don't know the watch, but usually there is some slop on the stem fitting which allows minor realignment of the whole movement.
Did your watchmaker actually have the back off in your presence, or did he just look, decide it was a rep and then told you he couldn't do anything?

He just looked and decided not to bother with it.