For a custom watch dial, start with the artwork and the result you need. A simple one-color mark, a multicolor identity and a metallic logo create different questions for the quotation. The method should follow those requirements and the selected watch.
When comparing screen printing vs UV printing, check more than the initial setup charge. Ask how your actual logo will be reproduced, which details are feasible at dial size and what the quoted setup covers. DailyTime Store also lists Metal UP Sticker and laser engraving among its dial-logo options, subject to project review.
What the process names tell you
Screen printing, also called silk screen printing, transfers ink through a mesh screen and stencil. UV printing uses ultraviolet light to cure specially formulated ink. These basic descriptions explain the names; they do not establish the exact equipment, ink, finish or achievable detail for your order.
For the buyer, the useful distinction is how each option fits the approved artwork and commercial terms. DailyTime's screen-printing setup tiers are organized by color count. Its UV listing states a setup charge with a per-plate piece allowance. Neither description guarantees an exact color match, minimum line width or particular durability rating.
Compare the published dial-logo options
The following entries were checked against the Customization Service Guide & Pricing on October 20, 2026. These are published mold or plate charges, not complete custom-watch prices. The selected model, artwork, process and final quotation still control the order.
| Dial option | Published mold or plate fee | Question to settle |
|---|---|---|
| Silk screen printing | US$25 for one color; US$35 for two colors; US$50 for three or more colors | How many production colors does the approved artwork require? |
| UV printing | US$15; up to 5 pieces per plate | How does this allowance apply to the proposed quantity and design? |
| Metal UP Sticker | US$45; up to 100 pieces per plate | What appearance and dimensions are feasible on this dial? |
| Laser engraving | No mold or plate fee | What engraved result is possible on the selected surface? |
A plate allowance is not a minimum finished-watch order. It also does not tell you whether different logos can share a setup or whether unused capacity is retained. Ask those questions before calculating a batch cost from the table.
The base watch, applicable labor and delivery charges must be considered separately. The guide says labor is charged once per customized watch even when multiple eligible positions are customized. A free mold or plate fee therefore does not mean a free watch or a complete order without other charges.
Screen printing: make the color brief explicit
If your identity uses a single solid color, request a screen-printing assessment for that exact version. If it uses two or more colors, send the complete artwork and ask how the production colors will be counted. Do not decide the tier by counting only the most prominent colors in a small preview.
State which colors are essential and whether your brand permits a simplified version. For example, a company may have an approved single-color symbol as well as a multicolor master logo. Ask for those as separate alternatives so the quotation makes clear which artwork and setup each price covers.
A color reference communicates your target; it is not an automatic promise that every dial finish can reproduce it exactly. Ask what evidence will be used for color approval and whether a physical review piece is available if appearance is critical.
UV printing: clarify the artwork and plate allowance
For a logo with several colors or a more complex graphic, include UV printing in the assessment request. Describe any gradient, small lettering or fine border that must survive at the intended size. The published method name alone does not confirm that every detail is suitable for the chosen dial.
Ask how the listed allowance of up to five pieces per plate applies to your actual order. A request for one design repeated across a batch is different from a request containing several unrelated artworks. The guide does not resolve every possible design split, so obtain a project-specific answer.
If a larger order may follow, describe it now. Have the initial piece and proposed repeat quantity assessed against the same artwork and process. A cheaper first setup is only useful if the confirmed result meets the project requirements.
Metal UP Sticker or engraving: describe the desired finish
If a metallic logo is central to the concept, ask about the listed Metal UP Sticker option rather than describing a metallic-looking mockup as an approved production specification. Request confirmation of the available color, surface appearance, dimensions and compatibility with the selected dial.
For engraving, ask what the mark will look like on that surface and whether it meets the intended contrast. The guide lists laser engraving without a mold or plate fee, but cost alone should not determine a process that changes the visual direction of the logo.
Keep the position explicit. DailyTime's guide specifies laser engraving only for crown, caseback and buckle customization. A dial-printing option should not be assumed to apply to those other positions.
Three useful ways to brief the comparison
A single-color business mark
Send the exact model and dial variant, the approved one-color logo and the intended quantity. Ask whether screen printing is suitable and what color approval involves. If an engraved alternative is acceptable, request it separately so it is not treated as an unnoticed substitution.
A multicolor microbrand identity
Supply the complete artwork and identify the elements that cannot change. Ask for screen and UV assessment where feasible, with the same watch, logo dimensions and quantity in both alternatives. Compare the confirmed appearance and total quote rather than treating a lower setup figure as the whole saving.
A metallic-logo concept
Describe the desired metallic appearance and ask whether Metal UP Sticker can achieve it on the selected model. Request the proposed dimensions and an appropriate example or sample route. Do not assign a thickness, material grade or performance claim from a digital rendering.
If you are still selecting the foundation, compare customizable watch models. The collection describes watches supplied without a fixed dial logo, with branding subject to artwork approval, minimum quantity and production confirmation.
Approve the result and the method together
Keep the artwork revision, model, dial color, logo dimensions and named process together in the approval record. Ask for any change of method to be explained and requoted before production. Otherwise, two people may approve the same logo image while expecting different physical results.
The guide to mockups and physical samples explains what each can establish. Use the mockup for layout and ask about a physical sample when finish or color needs closer review; sample availability and charges require confirmation.
DailyTime requires mockup confirmation before production, and the Custom Logo Page states that approval and payment precede production. Submit your own logo only: you must own or be authorized to use every submitted logo or trademark.
Request a method recommendation for your watch
Send the product link and selected variant, quantity, artwork, desired logo size and position, essential colors or finish, budget and delivery country. Add the specific comparison you need, such as screen versus UV for the same artwork, rather than asking only for the cheapest logo method.
Selected existing models can start from one piece; the written quote confirms the exact model, process and minimum quantity. Upload Your Logo with that brief so the workable method and itemized price can be confirmed before you approve production.