Does dial aging/patina bothers you?

Personally, if I had my choice, I’d want a watch to look pristine. Not really a fan of patina or aged looks. Of course collectors are a unique bunch that can take even a manufacturing defect and make it into a highly desirable piece.

I don't mind aging. What I dislike is designing something to look aged.

That’s an interesting take…. Yeah, it’s a very difficult thing to pull off in a tasteful manner. Can become kitsch very quickly.

Absolutely gorgeous…. It reminds me of a clock my grandpa had….

Yeah, I try to keep things looking as new as possible.

I kind of dislike that trend of adding value because it has “tropical dials” or some aging…. I’m a design first kind of consumer, so whenever the aging interferes in the design, i begin to dislike it.

Patina is just weakness leaving the watch.

I prefer pristine examples but I’m OK with the patina of a naturally aging watch. Some people pay big money for Rolex tropical dials but I think it’s just moisture damage caused by improper maintenance of gaskets and seals.

Some people think that patina is a natural darkening of bright colours over time but I think it’s mostly just cigarette smoke infiltrating the cases of pre-waterproof watches that stains the dials.

In the watch above, there is clearly a defect in the dial and/or paint that is causing it to bubble. More likely, the watch has been flooded which caused the initial damage. Either way, it’s either defect or damage.

I don’t mind all the light marks and aging characteristics that a watch picks up during careful use over time. That’s patina. I draw the line at actual damage that people pawn off as unique character. That’s just damage.

I have an issue,that I don't like just to add,get vintage fine I'm fine then no get it restored,and want it looking new again 🙄wish I could be happy with the scratches and marks,Nice watch my friend 👌

There is patina and then there is just straight-up damage

This is patina to me; the omega dial you posted is just damaged if it looks naturally aged; fine if it looks damaged, not fine. I'd still buy the watch; I'd just send the dial to https://arcstampfli.com/ They have a lot of the original plates and even use the same inks in a lot of cases.

I would say I'd pay a lot less money for a watch with a restored dial or a watch with what I consider to be too much damage.

I think it adds a sense of history to the watch, like it's lived lives before and you are on its journey. Not the opposite.

+ it helps that you have a gorgeous watch.

Extremely subjective but it's not the type of wear that I find attractive. Degree, hue, uniformity are key.

I'll tolerate some fading and aging if it means a watch is obtainable which wouldn't be otherwise.

But always prefer pristine condition.

The whole idea of "patina" increasing value is a great marketing ruse to sell poor condition watches for more.

👍 That is a very cool piece.

Interesting watch, I am a fan of Omega's too. I would say the current condition is the result of moisture intrusion, i.e. the case, most likely the winder seal is non existent/watch got submerged at some point. Patina is the oxidation of the surface usually, on bronze etc can give a nice effect. In this case it's not just patina but looks more like bubbling corrosion (sorry to say). Perspective is subjective, Nice watch but feel condition would shy away many, good luck. (Note. A full Omega service is very expensive, this looks more like a restoration project!). Check my WRUW post of a 50 year old Lucerne sports, never worn for 40 years found in a box, still looks near mint apart from faded luminous numbers, that would be my target personally for finds (condition wise).

To me, “patina” and “tropical” are just nice ways of saying “neglect” and “corrosion”. I wouldn’t buy a watch in that condition.

Same, I couldn’t pull the trigger.

Well, your take makes a lot of sense… even though I’d understand if the dial/hands are pristine, and the case has some scratches… but overall interesting opinion.

True, specially with softer materials…

That, for me, is a bit too much patina on such a nice watch.

At what point is patina, just a knackered old watch?

If I own it and it patinas, fine. I don’t want to buy something with more than a tiny bit of patina though.

A different way to put it would be to describe its condition and in this case that would be “very poor”. I would not be spending my money on that at all.

It’a a shame, isn’t it? I’ll keep waiting for a good example of this model, available at a reasonable price.

I love the pie pan! A little patina doesn't scare me. That watch has stories! I love #vintage

Amazing piece

It’s actually kind of funny what you can talk yourself into if you want it just enough.

It’s a name game in the end. Simple question is, if you want a used one or not. The degree of „usage“ is just the next level. Call it „Patina“ if you want, but in the end it’s a used piece.

Its a matter of taste. In my opinion there is „aging“ and „aging“.. Sometimes it looks like destroyed and sometimes it gets a warm colour and patina which I enjoy ..

I can see it both ways and believe patina or aging is just like an original watch in some ways. This means for me aesthetically and physically sometimes it’s attractive and looks good or the aging of a bracelet broken in feels like a positive, other times either does nothing for me.

I have several vintage watches and some have fairly pristine dials and some have a definite patina. I have a pie-pan constellation very similar, but the dial is in near perfect condition. I have to agree that the damage to the finish looks more like water damage than aging. There are good examples out there that are within reach and would be in better condition. I council patience. I have an Omega from 1947 and the dial has some light "foxing" and there is a negligible chip in the dial finish near the 3 indice. For me, it adds a bit of character. For others it would be a deal breaker. I would be more worried about the integrity of the actual movement. Also, I would worry that the blistering would eventually start to degrade and flake off.

"On one hand I think it just adds more character and beauty, on the other hand, there’s a great satisfaction I get from finding a vintage in near mint condition…

Am I crazy?"

NOPE! Mint condition all of the way! I'm not hard on watches. I don't wear them as tools. I don't know what it is, but I like my watches as close to 'brand new' looking as possible.