...art school work.

I bet when asked to paint still life or portraits true to the subject, they came over all Dali and did something barely recognisable instead :) Not saying mine would be better, my painting always ended up expressionist more through lack of talent than intent! But I never went on to claim to be professional at it...

Fact is, 60s and 70s dial making was an industrial printing process, even if sometimes on a very small scale, not one of hand painting. You're never going to get the same consistency (even allowing for worn clichés) with hand finishing.