Comments:
"Patina"...
Over coffee today, a good friend (who will be reading this) lamented that he had not seen many 'good' examples of patina. It may be hard to define, but we know it when we see it: that effect of ageing which enhances, rather than detracts. This was the only photograph in the cache which perhaps goes close, but not everyone would consider the spots on the dial to be a welcome sign of age - just as not everyone would consider wrinkles and grey hair to be a welcome sign of age:
This message has been edited by Dr No on 2015-02-11 23:09:09 This message has been edited by KIH on 2015-02-13 18:08:44
Are you able to help? If you have photos which are a good example of 'patina' (as opposed to 'damage'), please post them for our (ageing!) friend to see.
Cheers,
pplater.
In case of patina...
there is big difference between brands
in perception of it. Maybe the biggest in horological world
Super cool Patina for brand xx watch is completely
destroyed in need of service dial for watch from brand xy
Cool subject mate
Yours
D
in perception of it. Maybe the biggest in horological world
Super cool Patina for brand xx watch is completely
destroyed in need of service dial for watch from brand xy
Cool subject mate
Yours
D
Patina? LOVE PATINA! :)
Here are a few examples of "damaged" or "patina" dials....
Depending on your point of view!
Best
Blomman
No sure if this is appropriate......
.....but I take my chance.... and please, don't shoot me, I am only the conveyor of my opinion
The dial playing with the Toblerone is very attractive, the uniformity of the patina adds to the charm of this watch. Very nice indeed. (keeper as is)
The dial on that Omega in my opinion is "damaged", personally I would have the dial "refurbished". (keeper but with a little help)
The patina on the dial of the Zenith S.58 looks very nice and the colour is warm. I would change the hands though! (dial, keeper as is)
The Lemania's dial is interesting if one likes a "phantom", "spooky" dial. Intriguing? yes! Attractive? not really to me. (dial needs a little help)
Just my view and opinion about what (for me) makes a nice, attractive "patina" on a watch.
Thank you for your indulgence
Cheers
Francois
It is very appropriate, Francois! :)
It just shows how different we all are and what we do or do not like in watches!
When it comes to the Zenith S. 58 - I agree on the hands.
That is very high up on my todo list for my watchmaker once he is done with some other engagements...
As for the Omega SM 300, I would not touch it since this "patina" shows that it is an original dial and not a "NOS" dial from your country...
(No offence, but there is a Downunder seller that has flooded the market with "NOS" parts last few years).
The Lemania, well - ask Nicolas what he thinks...!
Should I redo the dial or sell it to him....?
Hard to capture in photos, but the dial is magic!
I understand that these uneven turned dials are not for everyone...
Which is a good thing, then I have a bigger chance to score some more of them!
Best, my friend
Blomman
Thank you for your kind reply Blomman....
Wow! interesting the read that someone from Down Under is/was flooding the market with "NOS" parts!!!!!! For some reason, go figure why, if someone was offering me say, theodolite "NOS" parts coming from Bhutan.....I would be a tad suspicious
I would nevertheless try to find a "good" if not "NOS" dial for the Omega SM 300. Although with the initials SM, perhaps the Omega was meant to be a little brutalised
I have nothing to add regarding the Lemania as I really enjoy having hot chocolates, nice conversation and good laughs with Nicolas when I am in Paris
Cheers my friend.
Francois
Wow! to you and all the exhibitors.
The only one that sticks out for me is the AP. For me, the only patina that works on a dress watch is a very slight, very even mellowing of the overall tone of the dial. In the case of a watch in the ultraluxury class, even that should be present only if the watch is old enough that the fact that it has an original dial is remarkable.
Those are all exceptional examples, blomman...
...of the 'range' of effects that may properly be termed 'patina', but the UG is stand-out!
Thanks for showing.
Cheers,
pplater.
Well, let's see what I have in stock. Because I have some stock!
Here is a small avant gout...
Thank you, Arie. But you certainly didn't see that many...
As I only saw let's say 5 for sale in the last 10 years ( European, of course ).
Best,
Nicolas
When we meet, you will see it... If the bloody watchmaker returns it to me! ;) [nt]
No message body This message has been edited by amanico on 2015-02-12 05:11:03
just let me know
and we'll have a drink somewhere nice while talking watches
And I might visit Paris in the near future....as that Chronometre Bleu keeps on haunting me
In my humble opinion.....
The dial on the Rolex could do with a little help. However the JLC is superb and the Blancpain? well, mysteriously celestial!
Cheers my friend
Francois
Aaaah! Now! This dial is............
an excellent example of a very attractive, a little mysterious and all magical "patina". Very nice indeed! Compare it to......
...a dial which could do with some help......for my taste!
...a dial which could do with some help
......for my taste!
Cheers
Francois
(my apologies for the size, couldn't scale it down)
Here are a few examples that I quite like...
Wow, the Scafograph and the Lip are to die for! [nt]
No message body This message has been edited by amanico on 2015-02-11 14:29:33
great examples, Tony
Tony, hope you are well! As always, an impeccable sense of aesthetics in both the patina and watches you illustrate!
best
Wabi
Wabi-sabi (?? ? ) represents a comprehensive Japanese world view or aesthetic centered on the acceptance of transience and imperfection. The aesthetic is sometimes described as one of beauty that is "imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete".[2] It is a concept derived from the Buddhist teaching of the three marks of existence (??? sanb?in? ), specifically impermanence (?? muj?? ), the other two being suffering (? ku? ) and emptiness or absence of self-nature (? k?? ).
(Credit - Wikipedia)
Always liked the term to describe the beauty in ageing watches, that feeling of wearing an object that has lived a life.
I also think you are right to point a distinction between something that has aged and something that is damaged.
Always loved Nico's turn of phrase - Time is an artist.
A few of mine.
The all black 806 Navitimer, I think some of these age so beautifully.
A Thirties Breitling dial.
A Longines that has seen some action.
(Credit - Wikipedia)
Always liked the term to describe the beauty in ageing watches, that feeling of wearing an object that has lived a life.
I also think you are right to point a distinction between something that has aged and something that is damaged.
Always loved Nico's turn of phrase - Time is an artist.
A few of mine.
The all black 806 Navitimer, I think some of these age so beautifully.
A Thirties Breitling dial.
A Longines that has seen some action.
OMG. One of these three is my grail. I think you know which one.
I have several grails, though, and you own some of them, my good friend....
Best,
Nicolas
You own a whole armful of my grails Nico.
Actually make that two armfuls.
Thanks my friend.
Thanks my friend.
Wabi-sabi!........
Oh, I like that, the balance of aesthetic tranquility, the dignity and grace of time past. Very nice.
Cheers
Francois
I'd wondered what happened to that double-signed . . .
. . . Omega of yours; recall your initial posting several years ago, but it's never reappeared on our forums since, to the best of my recollection.
. . . that belongs to a friend of mine. A few years older than yours, and similarly originally destined for American market, circa '46. Lovely speckling pattern with no appreciable dimming of dial print; this is patina of the highest order.
Here's a close-up sans crystal . . .
Here's a manual wind cousin of your example . . .
. . . that belongs to a friend of mine. A few years older than yours, and similarly originally destined for American market, circa '46. Lovely speckling pattern with no appreciable dimming of dial print; this is patina of the highest order.
Of all the vintages in my collection, the best example is the '56 SM Calendar.
Here's a close-up sans crystal . . .
. . . for clarity's sake, and a macro section of the dial . . .
. . . culled from yet another image.
Art
