I was guessing that a wash or a sealant coat might make them lift off, float around a bit and then stick back down in a slightly different place.
I like "DIAL" for that one. It makes sense, and it's possible that a knob is missing from that greeblie.
Ripley's white Narcissus suit has the same greeblie, but with no knob, post or screw at all. No text, either, at least that I can see.