Embracing damage

(*Illustration photo not mine*)

When I started my interest for vintage watches I thought it was important that they looked as mint as possible. I liked the estethic but I wanted them to look prestine. Often I found that the watches in best condition had a silver dial. That’s fine. I like steel cases with silver dials. Very versatile and they look crisp. You can also say they give a cold impression. After a while I had something like this.

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To add some color to the mix I added a gold plated case, or two. However, over time I learned to embrace the imperfection of a damaged dial, aka patina. The kind I like the least is of course single spots and scratches. Possibly the beginning of something worse over the years. But I have accepted them. These watches will probably stay in reasonable condition over my lifespan. So if the overall impression is to my liking I accept these spots. I know they are there, they bugs me, but they are not noticeable to me when I’m wearing the watch.

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A vintage watch is old and in the same way as humans get old they get scratces an wrinkles. Now I embrace those wrinkles. Both on myself and on my watches. I appreciate them as proof of a life long lived. If the scars are evenly spread I salut them and they give true character to an old watch.

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Sometimes miracles happens. Due to some new paint or lacquer used at the time. Or with exposure to light or humidity these dials can turn to something special. Evenly over the dial a pattern like spiderwebb or cracked surface appear. The black color could turn to a tropical dial. It is still damage, but it can be a beautiful one.

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Reply
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Talk to the hand, I hate any sort of damage

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As long as you like the watch AND the price, and you’re able to assess what the damage is under the caseback as well as under the crystal, then have at it!

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I think cosmetic damage is a case of personal taste and thus differs greatly from person to person. I like patina, but I think making a watch more expensive because of it is just silly.

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I think that the brain of the collector is more inclined to be on the OCD end of the spectrum. So, I think that we are more aware of the nicks and scratches that occur with normal wear, and many of us find any imperfection unacceptable.

Early on I never understood the attraction of tropical dials. They were too much for me to tolerate. About five years ago my perception changed. I realized that I was passing on perfectly good watches because of tropical dials. Not every tropical dial is an Omega or Rolex. Benrus seems to have created decades worth of watches that changed colors.

There is still some damage that is too much for me, but I now embrace darkened lume and sun damage.

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This Swiss watch, Eloga is still around, from the early 1950's has acquired a warm tone. Watches like these wear their age with grace. I hope that I can be so lucky.

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I‘m more inclined to wear a watch if it’s pre-loved. Patina, wear, pitting all sort of appeal to me on a level. It’s character. I don’t think I can expand much further on it than this.

Pass me the hammer

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watchalot

Talk to the hand, I hate any sort of damage

And that is fine too👍

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TickyBurden

As long as you like the watch AND the price, and you’re able to assess what the damage is under the caseback as well as under the crystal, then have at it!

There is definetely danger involved. One have to be careful, or at least aware.

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rowiphi

I think cosmetic damage is a case of personal taste and thus differs greatly from person to person. I like patina, but I think making a watch more expensive because of it is just silly.

It’s definetly personal and not where I started. Regarding price it’s different imo. Some are priced as damaged goods, some like art. It’s all very subjective.

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Beautiful pie-pans! 😍

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Aurelian

I think that the brain of the collector is more inclined to be on the OCD end of the spectrum. So, I think that we are more aware of the nicks and scratches that occur with normal wear, and many of us find any imperfection unacceptable.

Early on I never understood the attraction of tropical dials. They were too much for me to tolerate. About five years ago my perception changed. I realized that I was passing on perfectly good watches because of tropical dials. Not every tropical dial is an Omega or Rolex. Benrus seems to have created decades worth of watches that changed colors.

There is still some damage that is too much for me, but I now embrace darkened lume and sun damage.

Image

This Swiss watch, Eloga is still around, from the early 1950's has acquired a warm tone. Watches like these wear their age with grace. I hope that I can be so lucky.

It’s funny how our minds change over time. Dipping the toes, or losing ourselves, in new areas constantly. And it is damage after all. I use it to spice things up a bit. I still like prestine watches. Your Eloga looks stunning👍

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Porthole

I‘m more inclined to wear a watch if it’s pre-loved. Patina, wear, pitting all sort of appeal to me on a level. It’s character. I don’t think I can expand much further on it than this.

Pass me the hammer

Character is a good word here.

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My mind always goes to the mindset of the person who originally bought that watch from his dealer’s showcase.  He (most likely) chose it because it was crisp, clean shiny and new.  I want to have the same experience with that vintage watch the original buyer had.

I prefer to wear vintage pieces that are either in pristine condition or have had their dials properly reconditioned.  I don’t enjoy an old radium burned, scratched up or moisture damaged dial.  I’m down with the genuine aging effects of a well cared for watch but I don’t celebrate damage.

Back in the day, it was common to refinish or replace dials as a routine part of a regular service regime because people wanted their watches to look good.  Now everyone seems to think their old raggedy moisture damaged watch is a museum piece with a “tropic dial”.  It isn’t.  It’s just been neglected for so long that it no longer looks like it did in the showroom.  The original buyer of these watches would never, ever have bought a watch in such neglected condition. 

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I don‘t think your dark constellation even registers to the eye as damage.

As for me, I am somewhere in the middle (literally contemplating hitting some modern gold paint to fix up the bracelet on my Avia right now) because I like polishing — by hand, no machines — and bringing things back as much as possible. Depending on the damage and what I can do, I might even literally paint over a dial some day (I have some very very good paint and an arts background) much like a Japanese craftsman might fix cracked stoneware with gold. Mind you, I did also lume my own bezel once, then went off it and stripped it all out again. 
 

So somewhere in the middle. Age, sure (scratches on my grandads watch crystal I can’t get with poly) but also an eye to making the aesthetics as good as possible. 

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Davemcc

My mind always goes to the mindset of the person who originally bought that watch from his dealer’s showcase.  He (most likely) chose it because it was crisp, clean shiny and new.  I want to have the same experience with that vintage watch the original buyer had.

I prefer to wear vintage pieces that are either in pristine condition or have had their dials properly reconditioned.  I don’t enjoy an old radium burned, scratched up or moisture damaged dial.  I’m down with the genuine aging effects of a well cared for watch but I don’t celebrate damage.

Back in the day, it was common to refinish or replace dials as a routine part of a regular service regime because people wanted their watches to look good.  Now everyone seems to think their old raggedy moisture damaged watch is a museum piece with a “tropic dial”.  It isn’t.  It’s just been neglected for so long that it no longer looks like it did in the showroom.  The original buyer of these watches would never, ever have bought a watch in such neglected condition. 

When I buy a new watch, as the first owner, I want everything mint. I rather wait until I can have a new delivered instead of the one in the stand. But to me this is different. I buy the scars and what the watch become. I still appreciate as good condition as possible, and ”NOS” but once in a while I appreciate the imperfection from patina (or damage).

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JaimeMadeira

I don‘t think your dark constellation even registers to the eye as damage.

As for me, I am somewhere in the middle (literally contemplating hitting some modern gold paint to fix up the bracelet on my Avia right now) because I like polishing — by hand, no machines — and bringing things back as much as possible. Depending on the damage and what I can do, I might even literally paint over a dial some day (I have some very very good paint and an arts background) much like a Japanese craftsman might fix cracked stoneware with gold. Mind you, I did also lume my own bezel once, then went off it and stripped it all out again. 
 

So somewhere in the middle. Age, sure (scratches on my grandads watch crystal I can’t get with poly) but also an eye to making the aesthetics as good as possible. 

I’m in the middle too. I’m not all-in on patina but sometimes I can’t resist. 

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YourIntruder

At least I get a feeling that it’s been around. But it’s very subjective what I like. I don’t like patina just because. 

With me it needs to tell a story. If the wear is consistent with the age and assumed history of the item, it can surely aid the experience.

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Nate_Designer

Curious 🤔, do you like the appearance of damage as long as it isn’t actual damage (aka faux patina)? I prefer real patina over faux. 

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Not a fan of fake patina. Longines miss me with this one.

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Your watches make my collection look pathetic and sad.  And I say that in the most complimentary way possible.  I look at these pictures and it gives me something to strive for.  I love vintage watches but haven't gone too far down that path as yet.  Thanks for showing off some beautiful watches and giving me some inspiration.

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IMO, as a owner of a small vintage collection, I do admit I like to keep my watches fresh if possible. But there's just something that is just not the same in a completely pristine watch against something that clearly got its scars in life.

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My Technos Alarmdate was clearly well-preserved and possibly restored by the watchmaker I bought it from. I recently learned he is selling his old collection to raise some cash, but also to pass them forward as well. 

But then, there is a case like my most recent acquisition, my "James Bond" Seiko:

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It got a handful of scratches, but this watch is old enough to be my parent. From what I heard of the same watchmaker I bought my Alarmdate from, the acrylic is original, and is reaching almost 50 years old. And it is still kicking it! The watch works perfectly despite the minor cosmetic damage. 

And it brings to the table the emotional value: if I ask my watchmaker to polish the scratches off, it will surely look pretty again, but then I would be wiping out the many years of history the watchmaker had collected with it as well, and it is not as if the scratches are that dense or make it hard to read the dial. So I am voting forward to keep the damage, and flex the scars it has painstakingly collected throughout its watch life.

As I mentioned in a post I did some time ago, I believe watches can also be "mechanical jewelry", and damage/scratches can also be a feature when showing history.

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Aurelian

I think that the brain of the collector is more inclined to be on the OCD end of the spectrum. So, I think that we are more aware of the nicks and scratches that occur with normal wear, and many of us find any imperfection unacceptable.

Early on I never understood the attraction of tropical dials. They were too much for me to tolerate. About five years ago my perception changed. I realized that I was passing on perfectly good watches because of tropical dials. Not every tropical dial is an Omega or Rolex. Benrus seems to have created decades worth of watches that changed colors.

There is still some damage that is too much for me, but I now embrace darkened lume and sun damage.

Image

This Swiss watch, Eloga is still around, from the early 1950's has acquired a warm tone. Watches like these wear their age with grace. I hope that I can be so lucky.

Beautiful! Love the thicker bezel, unique numerals, and of course very toasty patina.

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mikaeshin

IMO, as a owner of a small vintage collection, I do admit I like to keep my watches fresh if possible. But there's just something that is just not the same in a completely pristine watch against something that clearly got its scars in life.

Image

My Technos Alarmdate was clearly well-preserved and possibly restored by the watchmaker I bought it from. I recently learned he is selling his old collection to raise some cash, but also to pass them forward as well. 

But then, there is a case like my most recent acquisition, my "James Bond" Seiko:

Image

It got a handful of scratches, but this watch is old enough to be my parent. From what I heard of the same watchmaker I bought my Alarmdate from, the acrylic is original, and is reaching almost 50 years old. And it is still kicking it! The watch works perfectly despite the minor cosmetic damage. 

And it brings to the table the emotional value: if I ask my watchmaker to polish the scratches off, it will surely look pretty again, but then I would be wiping out the many years of history the watchmaker had collected with it as well, and it is not as if the scratches are that dense or make it hard to read the dial. So I am voting forward to keep the damage, and flex the scars it has painstakingly collected throughout its watch life.

As I mentioned in a post I did some time ago, I believe watches can also be "mechanical jewelry", and damage/scratches can also be a feature when showing history.

Thank you for sharing your watch and your story. As you said, this is personal. Both how one see scratches and patina in general but also on individual watches. Great Seiko.

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Nate_Designer

Curious 🤔, do you like the appearance of damage as long as it isn’t actual damage (aka faux patina)? I prefer real patina over faux. 

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I don't consider patina as damage, it's natural ageing. It is dents and scratches I can't live. That said, if it is a genuine vintage watch, I am more forgiving 

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I embrace aging if it is attractive. I was looking for a Roamer and this one caught my eye because the crazing looks like an old map. 

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But I also like when an old watch has a certain perfection to it. Like this Timex 

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BrandNewDay

I embrace aging if it is attractive. I was looking for a Roamer and this one caught my eye because the crazing looks like an old map. 

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But I also like when an old watch has a certain perfection to it. Like this Timex 

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Two great looking watches you got yourself there. Yes, it is on a case by case basis.

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As someone new to dipping my toes into the vintage market, I have to say that I don't mind some damage; it just shows the character of the watch in my mind. Here are some examples of my vintage watches.

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They all have some damage, but still look good to me. 😜

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LumegaudAnar

As someone new to dipping my toes into the vintage market, I have to say that I don't mind some damage; it just shows the character of the watch in my mind. Here are some examples of my vintage watches.

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They all have some damage, but still look good to me. 😜

They look good to me as well👍Particularly the military style black one. Thank you for sharing.

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Before WatchCrunch, I would not consider vintage watches (though some I have are now vintage due to our age 😀).  As I hunt for the vintage grail with newfound crunchy knowledge, it's become much easier to identify refurbished / possibly Frankenstein watches.  But I've got much to learn, and thank you all for sharing your input and pictures on this topic. Tack så mycket @WatchYourIntruder for offline guidance!

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timegeek

Before WatchCrunch, I would not consider vintage watches (though some I have are now vintage due to our age 😀).  As I hunt for the vintage grail with newfound crunchy knowledge, it's become much easier to identify refurbished / possibly Frankenstein watches.  But I've got much to learn, and thank you all for sharing your input and pictures on this topic. Tack så mycket @WatchYourIntruder for offline guidance!

Your welcome and good luck in your search.

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The Dial on the bottom Omega is spectacular, what colour & finish was it originally?

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and does it measure Irony? 🤣

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Haha, nice pick up. My guess is that was black.