What causes the spider dial?

[2ltdjorn]

I have seen this on older GMT/Subs. What is the cause? Does it add value or take it away?

[Lordofrolex]

Most people would say it adds value. Not sure what causes it but it's usually see. On vintage watches.

[TimeToGo]

Best answer is here:

http://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=150018

[Kingface66]

Originally Posted by Lordofrolex

Most people would say it adds value. Not sure what causes it but it's usually see. On vintage watches.

Are you saying most people would agree that a vintage clean, glossy, mirror-like gilt dialed Sub would be worth more if the dial were spidered and cracked?

[MonBK]

Originally Posted by Lordofrolex

Most people would say it adds value. Not sure what causes it but it's usually see. On vintage watches.

Originally Posted by Kingface66

Are you saying most people would agree that a clean, glossy, mirror-like gilt dialed Sub would be worth more if the dial were spidered and cracked?

Most people will say it detracts the value.

[Kingface66]

Originally Posted by MonBK

Most people will say it detracts the value.

Exactly. Just curious as to where the belief it adds value comes from.

[MonBK]

Originally Posted by Kingface66

Exactly. Just curious as to where the belief it adds value comes from.

From people that own or wants to sell one.

[JP Chestnut]

Originally Posted by Lordofrolex

Most people would say it adds value. Not sure what causes it but it's usually see. On vintage watches.

Most people would not. A few would, a few would call it a ruined dial, and most would be somewhere between.

[JP Chestnut]

Originally Posted by Kingface66

Exactly. Just curious as to where the belief it adds value comes from.

Sellers looking for the next underpriced watch to pump and dump to a consumer base that is less than well educated.

[alexkarbo]

There's a lot of nonsense going on...Like people selling their rusted damaged dial as ''superb patina'' dial.

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by TimeToGo

Best answer is here:

http://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=150018

[Lamone]

Originally Posted by MonBK

From people that own or wants to sell one.

Reminds me of a saleslady in Sarasota,Fl who swore to me that spider dials were a Rolex limited edition and very valuable.....

[Gina Marie]

I like the look of them personally so for me it adds value. There are some who like the look and some that do not. Buy what sings to you and ignore the white noise. Remember that the masses also did not like, or place a premium, on brown sub dials about 10 years ago.

[Vincent65]

I'd guess that it's caused over time by drying out - to use basic terminology. Things dry out and crack, giving the crazed fractures in the lacquer. You see it all the time with varnish on antiques, too. And old paint. It's basically old paint and varnish. It's obviously something ROLEX addressed with later dials. Defective lacquer.