Finishing a new dial

[JGrainger]

Hello,

I'm in the process of making a pad printer, so can't complete all this work just yet, but would like to be sure what my plan of attack will be..

I'm making a couple of silver dials as per a Hamilton 982, but am aiming to go for a subtly different aesetic. So far, my plan is to brush the dial, then apply some sort of coloured lacquer, then pad print the minute and seconds track, possibly with minute markers or marking dots to drill then fit jewel settings..

I'm not sure what will be best, and what product to use as a tinted lacquer.. I'm aiming for a pale silver or a cream brushed finish. Also (and this may seem a silly question) do the minute maker holes need to be drilled first before any other work?

I've attached a cropped picture from a site which may show the sort of finish I'm hoping for.

thank you 

[JGrainger]

Has anyone tried or found some suitable clear coat for dial refinishing? 

I'm just thinking that would cut out a bit of the experimentation.

- I need to decide which clear coat to use, so that I can order a compatible pad printer ink.

Jonathan