Bites: The 3-6-9 and secret badges
Hello Watch Family! Welcome to Bites, your first-ever WatchCrunch Newsletter, or what I prefer to think of as our very own virtual 'Crunch Café' meetup! The coffee is freshly ground, the cookies are homemade and @max can make a mint hot chocolate that I guarantee will be the best you've ever tasted. I've saved you a seat on the comfy chairs by the fire, and it's even started snowing again, so you may as well relax and forget all that Christmas craziness for a while. Grab a coffee and come chat watches. Each week I'll pick 3 random topics from the WC universe, with 6 cool posts for you to have a look at and 9 awesome photographs from Crunchers (or are we Crunchies?). The 3 - 6 - 9 (and some bonus fun at the end!) The WC Admin team will be sending this via email too, so you can even have a sneaky read at work.
My three picks this week…. (with 6 WC posts and nine lovely pictures sprinkled throughout)….
#patina
You know how some conversations can spark more unrest amongst watch folk than a Hublot rep at Nico Leonard's birthday party? Politics, religion and homage watches... some days I think we could put patina on that list too. There was a lively discussion when @UnholiestJedi posted: Patina, WTF, which is an interesting thread to have a read through. His analogy with vintage cars was brilliant... "Consider a vintage car versus a vintage watch; when restoring a vintage car with scrapes & scratches in the finish and engines with the old oil & grease all over it, do we leave all of that on the car to "show its age"? No. We clean the engine & fix the paint. Is a car a tool the same way a watch is a tool? I think yes. Let the styling of the piece show its age, not the crud it's accumulated." Which is a great point! I completely understand it when people explain to me that patina is about as desirable as a snooze button on a fire alarm. It's just damage at the end of the day, but I can't help loving it! So what about faux patina? I have mixed feelings on the subject, except for when it comes to @AllTheWatches Laco. As a massive Fallout fan, I absolutely adore that watch in all its faux radium-damaged post-apocalyptic glory. Fauxtina is something that many of the big brands seem to embrace, but is it for the better? @Toddler did a really interesting video where he took a picture of the Omega Seamaster 300, with its vintage style lume, and manipulated it to see how it would look with a more modern colouration (I have to say, I prefer his reimagining!).
We can't talk about patina without looking at...
#bronze
I've recently been back to have a re-read of @AnalogExplorers article about a year of patination of his bronze Baltic. I'm obsessing over bronze watches at the moment, after being lucky enough to get my first ever bronze case flieger for Christmas, and @AnalogsExplorer's post has made me excited to see how mine will change with time. His article includes some really beautiful photography which you should check out. Can't be bothered to wait for a year for that luscious patina? @Saigoat can show you how to go DIY faux with some gun bluing paste, or have a look this post from @NISD21: 'Fad or Rad' and scroll about halfway down to see @TheTimeBum 's cool before and after picks.
Finally, a hashtag I'd like to see more of...
#secretbadges
This is one for WC admin to think about. I would love to see the creation of some secret badges. Badges we don't know how to earn and we don't even know exist until we win them. We would just randomly get told: "Congratulations! You have unlocked the secret ‘Lover not a fighter' badge!", unknowingly earned by reacting to 100 WRUW posts with a heart emoji. Oh, we could have so much fun coming up with more of these!
Let me know your three hashtags of the week, what you think about patina and any cool ideas for secret badges. Finally, I kind of feel no community newsletter is complete without a puzzle of some kind, and how can I possibly pass up an opportunity for a little game, so here is your anagram of the week... What watch-related word or phrase can you make from: ARSE PIXELS First to post the correct answer below gets a clap!
Thank you for having a read and take care of yourself my friends.
***Scribbled in the margin: Note to self - must remember that the rest of the code is the date I joined this project. Aurelian.***
Part-time 'writter' @ The Escapement Room, the NSFW watch enthusiasts blog. www.theescapementroom.com/
More from DeeperBlue
Love it! Especially the badges idea. Still waiting on my mention in a Max video badge, but I can re-earn it next year I suppose. :-)
Now I’m going to have to wear that Laco tomorrow!
Love it! Especially the badges idea. Still waiting on my mention in a Max video badge, but I can re-earn it next year I suppose. :-)
Now I’m going to have to wear that Laco tomorrow!
Wear it... or give it to me. 🤷♀️
Secret Badge:
The Mute Badge: when you have been muted by 5 or more Crunchers. (This is for @Porthole who must hold the record, amirite?)
Secret Badge:
The Mute Badge: when you have been muted by 5 or more Crunchers. (This is for @Porthole who must hold the record, amirite?)
Or the opposite...
The "Did someone say something?" Badge: have 5 or more people on mute
Secret Badge:
The Mute Badge: when you have been muted by 5 or more Crunchers. (This is for @Porthole who must hold the record, amirite?)
It makes for daft reading when I answer a question, or make a statement, and someone just does it later on. Oh well, this is the platform they want 😂
Or the opposite...
The "Did someone say something?" Badge: have 5 or more people on mute
I’ve asked more than once for way to track who I’ve muted, I’ve lost count.
I've been thinking of a couple new badges...
Most <insert reaction emoji here> Received.
The Streaker; longest WRUW Streak, both current & historical. The devs would have to figure out how to limit the counts to only comments posted during the Watch Crunch Day though. Also, it kind of fits thematically with the Wrist Pervert badge
Also, thank you for including my post.
♥️♥️
RE: patina on cars vs. watches…
You fix the car because it is subject to the weather and will absolutely cease to be a viable car should you allow it to rust enough. Watch patina on the other hand, doesn’t keep a watch from functioning. Call it “damage” all you want, but no amount of patina is going to eat through a watch case in the next 100 years.
I've been thinking of a couple new badges...
Most <insert reaction emoji here> Received.
The Streaker; longest WRUW Streak, both current & historical. The devs would have to figure out how to limit the counts to only comments posted during the Watch Crunch Day though. Also, it kind of fits thematically with the Wrist Pervert badge
Ooo... I like the idea of badges that only one person at a time can have. 👍
Also, thank you for including my post.
♥️♥️
I know you did a follow up post too, but I couldn't mention both as it would mess up my 3-6-9 numbers... and you KNOW there will be someone out there counting 😂
(I wonder how many will go back and count after reading this 🤭)
My first guess: "SARX Pilees"
My first guess: "SARX Pilees"
Good guess!....but no.
Ooo... I like the idea of badges that only one person at a time can have. 👍
And/Or... the Most Received could be a monthly/yearly thing.
Secret Badge:
The Mute Badge: when you have been muted by 5 or more Crunchers. (This is for @Porthole who must hold the record, amirite?)
This is an excellent idea. 👍
Love the idea of a weekly roundup! @Eris_Goddess_of_Discord
Fun newsletter @Eris_Goddess_of_Discord - well done 👍
How about the
“long time listener first time caller” (or some other funny sounding phrase) badge if someone skulks endlessly on boards liking things but never posting anything
I like it! The forum ninja badge 🥷
About patina...interesting to see folks using gun blue on their watches,love the ingenuity and the results. But I will give you a note of caution(sorry for being a killjoy) gun blue is selenious acid, nitric acid and a few other choice ingredients. It's proper nasty,toxic and can cause serious health issues,now I've used it a few times on guns and I've been ok(really🤯) but I will advise gloves, good ventilation and for goodness sake don't get it in your eyes(glasses). You can dissolve body parts in nitric acid(its been done). So be careful.
But what really concerns me is the effects of this stuff on the different components of your watch. What about the seals,its going to get behind the crown and onto the stem,under the bezel,onto the seals on the stem and maybe onto the edge of the crystal seal. No maybe it won't have any effect, but this stuff is aggressive (it's got to be it reacts with some of finest steels on the planet). Modern material in seals should be OK but I've no hard data to back it up,and I'd hate it if someone had a seal failure maybe caused by it getting into contact with this stuff,and what would it do to the internals of a bezel mechanism, different materials,steels of different composition, greases etc, all these things there's no definitive answer too. And just to let you know I work in industry and we have various chemicals on site and the seals we use for acids can be a total different material from the seals we use on other chemicals.
What's the long term wearability of this finish,is it going to get on your clothes and stain them,is it going to react to sweat and cause something on your skin,who knows. Putting Patina on bronze is old as the hills,but most of it is on objects like ornaments and statues and they recommend waxing it after, not something worn and with complex moving parts, but there is compounds that jewellers use that should be safer,phosphoric acid is one(used in the food industry and there's other Patina agents(found some on amazon if you want check them out).
Don't want to rain on the parade but I personally wouldn't risk it,too many unknowns,health issues are one thing and I know your not daft cookies and would read the instructions and would use the correct safety equipment but it's the mechanical concerns that worry me. The strongest thing that's going near my bronzy is lemon juice and maybe vinegar and no more. Mind you I want mine to shine that lovely warm reddy gold summers evening colour,if I want black I'l get a dlc coated piece and if I want Patina I'll go and get one of my shabby shite pieces I've picked up from ebay. Fantastic idea but risky,sorry for being serious.
Thank you for sharing Rob!
Always a good idea for us to do our research before messing with chemicals 😬
nice thread. it gives so much breeze on the wc community. damn i was too busy nowadays, looks like i missed alot
I love this idea!
#patina
For me, It really depends on the watch. As I've been hunting for a great Bulova tank. I've come to kind of like the look of a little patina on some watches. however if I'm going to just have one great example of a Bulova tank in my collection. I want to have the cleanest dial I can find.
Using vintage cars as a comparison to watches. There's cars/trucks that benefit from patina as well.
1935 Auburn 653
#bronze
Sadly I don't have one yet, waiting for just the right one to come my way. So until then I'm hoping my Vario Brass trench watch starts to change a little. Not the same I know...
#secretbadges
Amazing idea! Great way to insight random acts of kindness! One of my Moto's is.
"There's no limit to the amount of good you can do. If you don't care about getting credit for it"
But lets face it everyone loves a little recognition from time to time!
I love this idea!
#patina
For me, It really depends on the watch. As I've been hunting for a great Bulova tank. I've come to kind of like the look of a little patina on some watches. however if I'm going to just have one great example of a Bulova tank in my collection. I want to have the cleanest dial I can find.
Using vintage cars as a comparison to watches. There's cars/trucks that benefit from patina as well.
1935 Auburn 653
#bronze
Sadly I don't have one yet, waiting for just the right one to come my way. So until then I'm hoping my Vario Brass trench watch starts to change a little. Not the same I know...
#secretbadges
Amazing idea! Great way to insight random acts of kindness! One of my Moto's is.
"There's no limit to the amount of good you can do. If you don't care about getting credit for it"
But lets face it everyone loves a little recognition from time to time!
I love patina, and I do also appreciate a watch in pristine condition...
... I think I just love all watches.
That's my problem 😂
A "Random Acts of Kindness" badge, for '❤️' reactions to 1000 posts would be lovely 🥰
I've been thinking of a couple new badges...
Most <insert reaction emoji here> Received.
The Streaker; longest WRUW Streak, both current & historical. The devs would have to figure out how to limit the counts to only comments posted during the Watch Crunch Day though. Also, it kind of fits thematically with the Wrist Pervert badge
"The Streaker" badge of honor and shame. Last night at the strike of midnight my wife and I made a cheers and a kiss of course. To celebrate the New Year. When she said, Oh isn't it time for a wrist shot to get posted.😂
Shamelessly I posted my WRUW...
I love patina, and I do also appreciate a watch in pristine condition...
... I think I just love all watches.
That's my problem 😂
A "Random Acts of Kindness" badge, for '❤️' reactions to 1000 posts would be lovely 🥰
Speaking of patina, I found this little 1954 gem on ebay for 60.00. the movement is super clean but had it serviced anyway. But I love the dial the way it is. Just thought I'd share
Isn't this the absolute truth! The amount of times I've said "I don't like a watch with X"... but then I will inevitably find a watch with 'X' that I adore 🤦♀️ I am more careful now 😁
I'll wait and see what happens to the colour of my flieger... but I may decide to clean mine too!
I did it, I bought and have received the orange Enoksen Fly. And I LOVE it. Thank you, you influencer.
Haven't figured out how to upload a photo, so will just have to change my profile pic from my beloved dog who's been dead for 2.5 yeara now.
I did it, I bought and have received the orange Enoksen Fly. And I LOVE it. Thank you, you influencer.
Haven't figured out how to upload a photo, so will just have to change my profile pic from my beloved dog who's been dead for 2.5 yeara now.
Can't wait to see it!
You can upload a picture buy pressing this little button here...
Weirdly it doesn't seem to work in all browsers though.
I did it, I bought and have received the orange Enoksen Fly. And I LOVE it. Thank you, you influencer.
Haven't figured out how to upload a photo, so will just have to change my profile pic from my beloved dog who's been dead for 2.5 yeara now.
I see it in your profile pick! That white strap looks PERFECT! I have told them I want a no-date version in black now and then I'll be adding another to my collection 👏
I also love the Dan Henry you have 👌
I'm wearing mine today too. I think we are basically watch sisters now.
I regret not getting a light blue strap to match the second hand. I purchased it on the light suede strap, which I REALLY like (but won't wear to work as I'm in healthcare), and Oliver actually provided the white and orange straps for free. That said, I forgot to get a discount. Anyway, super stoked. It's so quiet. Took me a while to figure out how to operate a screwdown crown.
Can't wait to see it!
You can upload a picture buy pressing this little button here...
Weirdly it doesn't seem to work in all browsers though.
Yeah, not visible on my phone.
I regret not getting a light blue strap to match the second hand. I purchased it on the light suede strap, which I REALLY like (but won't wear to work as I'm in healthcare), and Oliver actually provided the white and orange straps for free. That said, I forgot to get a discount. Anyway, super stoked. It's so quiet. Took me a while to figure out how to operate a screwdown crown.
Playing about buying straps is the fun part.
Loads will go with that orange I bet. Blue, brown, purple. 👌
Playing about buying straps is the fun part.
Loads will go with that orange I bet. Blue, brown, purple. 👌
Hell, yeah!
I know it's not authentic to a flieger style, but ... I'm no fighter pilot.