- 14/10/10
- 2,725
- 100
- 63
Spider Webbing / Crazing Explained Via Images..
This is a consolidation of information that I have found on this particular variation/effect that happens to certain Rolex dials..
Do a Google search on ‘Spider-Web Dials’ and you will see Rolex dials with some form of cracking or spider webbing?
Is this normal? Is this a defect? Is this something that is truly desirable?
My understanding is that this had to do with some sort of mixture issue.
I have read from several places where collectors really seem to like this effect. At first I thought nothing of this but once I saw a few more pictures of this effect, I also have to admit that I like it when I see a dial that has the unique cracking.
If I am correct, I dare say that no two spider-web dials are the same, and therefore will allow the watch to have its own ‘individuality’..
As Rolex moved from the matt dial era the gloss/WG surround varity there were those dials (not all) that experienced a flaw in the paint mixture leading to what is now commonly refer to as "spiderwebbing" or crazing.
It seems that the early gloss dials in the transitional references, 16750, 16760, 16800 and 168000 and maybe others had defective paint mixtures which causes this spider webbing.
In ceramics it's called 'crazing' and is a result of temperature changes which cause the thin layer of glaze to fracture. Not sure if it's the same with Rolex, but it does look similar.
Some dials have been reported to have actually lost some of its gloss and are becoming or have become matt.
Here are some examples:
Submariners
Seadweller
Explorer II
And there seems to be a lot more images found on the GMT Master 1675/16750
Here are a few images:
So are you a fan of this? Would you pass up on an opportunity to purchase such a dial for a Franken build?
I snagged mine for less than US$100 on the bay and here’s my completed build.
Thanks for looking and reading!
:cheers:
This is a consolidation of information that I have found on this particular variation/effect that happens to certain Rolex dials..
Do a Google search on ‘Spider-Web Dials’ and you will see Rolex dials with some form of cracking or spider webbing?
Is this normal? Is this a defect? Is this something that is truly desirable?
My understanding is that this had to do with some sort of mixture issue.
I have read from several places where collectors really seem to like this effect. At first I thought nothing of this but once I saw a few more pictures of this effect, I also have to admit that I like it when I see a dial that has the unique cracking.
If I am correct, I dare say that no two spider-web dials are the same, and therefore will allow the watch to have its own ‘individuality’..
As Rolex moved from the matt dial era the gloss/WG surround varity there were those dials (not all) that experienced a flaw in the paint mixture leading to what is now commonly refer to as "spiderwebbing" or crazing.
It seems that the early gloss dials in the transitional references, 16750, 16760, 16800 and 168000 and maybe others had defective paint mixtures which causes this spider webbing.
In ceramics it's called 'crazing' and is a result of temperature changes which cause the thin layer of glaze to fracture. Not sure if it's the same with Rolex, but it does look similar.
Some dials have been reported to have actually lost some of its gloss and are becoming or have become matt.
Here are some examples:
Submariners
Seadweller
Explorer II
And there seems to be a lot more images found on the GMT Master 1675/16750
Here are a few images:
So are you a fan of this? Would you pass up on an opportunity to purchase such a dial for a Franken build?
I snagged mine for less than US$100 on the bay and here’s my completed build.
Thanks for looking and reading!
:cheers:
