From Blank Metal to a Watch Face: Inside the Rexx Dial-Making Process
Rexx started in the world of watch builds — but today, the focus has shifted deeper. REXX Studio operates as an independent dial-making studio, where dials are no longer “a part of a build” — they are the craft itself.
This post documents what dial making actually looks like in practice: raw metal blanks, alignment battles, depth control, surface work, rework, and the small decisions that separate a dial that merely looks interesting from one that reads correctly on wrist.
Dial Making — Real Process, Real Tools
These videos show the process exactly as it happens in the studio. No factory gloss, no shortcuts — just the work.
If you’re into machining, engraving, finishing, or simply seeing watch parts come to life, start here.
If you’ve been following Rexx for the builds — this is the layer underneath them. The dial is where personality lives, but it’s also a precision component. That tension is the sweet spot.
What “Independent-Made” Actually Means
A factory dial is designed to be repeated. An independent dial is designed to be made.
- Design decisions happen per dial — not per batch
- Depth and contrast are tuned by eye, not presets
- Alignment is unforgiving and non-negotiable
- Iteration is part of the craft, not a failure
The goal isn’t to make something that looks good in a render. The goal is to make something that looks right at arm’s length, in daylight, indoors, and on wrist — every time you glance down.
The Dial-Making Flow (Studio Reality Edition)
This is the real workflow used in REXX Studio — including the parts most people don’t show.
1) The Blank
Everything starts with clean, properly prepared metal. If the foundation is off, everything after it is just polishing a mistake.
2) Layout + Alignment
Centering, rotation, spacing, and symmetry decide whether a dial feels intentional or off. This is where most “almost perfect” dials fail.
3) Engraving / Depth Control
Engraving isn’t just burning a design. Depth consistency determines clarity, shadow, and refinement.
4) Texture + Finish
Surface work is where the dial comes alive. Brushing, frosting, matte fields, reflective edges — it’s all about how light moves.
5) Inspection + Rework
Step back, inspect under multiple angles, adjust, and refine until the dial reads clean.
Why the Dial Matters
Movements can be shared. Cases can be sourced. Hands can be swapped.
The dial is identity.
When a watch has a recognisable presence, it’s almost always dial work. That’s why REXX Studio exists — to treat dial making as a discipline, not an accessory.
From Process to Practice
Every dial shown in this post is part of the ongoing work inside REXX Studio. Some are client commissions, some are studio experiments, and some evolve into documented studio drops — all following the same dial-first approach.
You can see finished studio work and documented dial pieces here:
0 תגובות