Help with vintage rosegold maintenance

Posts

587

Likes

2,928

Rudi99

·Jan 30, 2021

Hi everyone. It is a cold snowy day in Germany (in the northern part at least) and I was hoping someone who owns vintage rosegold watches could jump in and shed some light into this matter:

So here is the thing. I have a rosegold bumper from the 40s ref. 2438 that I acquired last summer, around August.

Recently, I realised one of the lugs has gone darker on the edge between lug and bezel. It happened slightly as well on the other lugs but on one of them is slightly darker.

To be honest it got me a little worried as I really like this piece and it was my first Omega watch. I try to take good care of my pieces but I do wear them, even though this one not very frequently and more on occasions. Is this reversible or does it indicate I am not taking proper care of the watch?

Does the fact that the watch spent the last decades in Brazil in a mild temperature and now is in Germany make it likely that the rosegold cap will alter it's colour?

Every now and then I used a microfiber cloth to clean it a little and that's it. I am actually worried that I did something wrong.

Thank you in advance!

Some shots to clarify:

Right after I received the watch

Months later

Today

View attachment 1153629

Best,

Rudi

 

Posts

3,618

Likes

6,074

hoipolloi

·Jan 30, 2021·Vintage Omega Connoisseur

I would leave it alone and consider it as a part of the beauty from time.

 

Posts

5,636

Likes

5,791

SkunkPrince

·Jan 30, 2021

It's tarnishing because it's not a 24K cap. Just get a rouge cloth and wipe it well.

Edited: Jan 30, 2021

 

Posts

375

Likes

465

onlyomega94

·Jan 30, 2021

I find that a small dab of Brasso and a soft cloth cleans it up weel if you like it to shine.

 

Posts

5,636

Likes

5,791

SkunkPrince

·Jan 30, 2021

onlyomega94

I find that a small dab of Brasso and a soft cloth cleans it up weel if you like it to shine.

Personally I do not because the liquid might get into the watch and it's caustic. A dry rouge cloth is much safer.

 

Posts

1,442

Likes

2,317

asrnj77

·Jan 30, 2021

I think the following will work fine. Dawn soap is a brand name dish cleaning soap but you can use any non-phosphate soap available at your local store


Without any commercial products, you can clean your gold jewelry at home following these simple steps:

1. Mix a bit of Dawn dish detergent in warm, not hot, water.

2. Add a few drops of ammonia.

3. Carefully brush with a new, baby-size soft toothbrush.

4. Place in lukewarm water to rinse.

5. Air dry or carefully towel-dry with paper towel or regular cloth.

Remember: gold is a soft metal. Be gentle during the brushing and drying processes.

 

Posts

375

Likes

465

onlyomega94

·Jan 30, 2021

SkunkPrince

Personally I do not because the liquid might get into the watch and it's caustic. A dry rouge cloth is much safer.

If you apply a small amount to the cloth and fold it together first so it dries out a bit before putting the cloth to the watch I think it is quite safe to do so. But one has to be cautious of course.

 

Posts

4,593

Likes

10,789

janice&fred

·Jan 30, 2021

Oh man that tarnish is something to hope for. I would leave it alone and enjoy.

 

Posts

14,148

Likes

40,733

Canuck

·Jan 30, 2021

Most jewellery stores sell polishing cloths for such purposes. Usually, they are two-ply. One layer is impregnated with a polishing agent used to remove tarnish. The other layer is used to polish the area. Don’t use liquids (soaps, Brasso, Silvo, or any other agent used for polishing brass, nickel silver, or silver).

 

Posts

5,636

Likes

5,791

SkunkPrince

·Jan 30, 2021

One man's "patina" is another man's "filth". 😁

 

Posts

5,636

Likes

5,791

SkunkPrince

·Jan 30, 2021

I prefer my rose gold to shine.

 

Posts

1,620

Likes

8,163

bubba48

·Jan 30, 2021

I use this cloth

 

Posts

3,181

Likes

12,507

MtV

·Jan 30, 2021

I have a polishing cloth for exactly that purpose @Rudi99 - happy to bring it with me next week. 😉

 

Posts

1,681

Likes

3,460

TimeODanaos

·Jan 30, 2021

@Rudi99 I am intrigued - I wonder how come it's just the southeastern lug that has the tarnish: any theories? And if you think the other three will get there in time, I would leave it.
@janice&fred I will happily leave your gorgeous 1803 well alone for you, for decades if you wish, in my specialist facility right here. It can only get even better. Watch returned if not satisfied.

 

Posts

428

Likes

1,354

Tako Yaki

·Jan 30, 2021

Hello Rudy,

Very nice watch You have!

tarnishing is normal, not only on silver, also on gold!

rose- or pink- gold tarnish a bit faster than Yellow- gold, due to a higher copper content in the alloy!


If You live in a bigger city, or a more industrial area with (sulfur) air pollution, the tarnishing comes faster, than in a cleaner air environment.
A 8k / 333/000 alloy turns faster than an 14k / 585/000 alloy.
18k / 750/000 gold turns even slower brownish.

In summer gold tarnishes faster than in winter, especially if You sweat, or live in a place with humid summer weather!

Another source of sulfur that could tarnish Your watch cold be tabaco smoke, or a watch storing box/pressed wood furniture what contains sulfur (in the glue, in the paint, leather, faux leather ...)

There are (polishing-) clothes You can buy with “Anlaufschutz”, against tarnishing.
Just wrap the watch in it for storing, against tarnishing!
And put some silica gel in the watch storing box during summer!


Best of luck!

 

Posts

16,193

Likes

34,150

JimInOz

·Jan 30, 2021·Melbourne Australia

If people ask me to polish their gold watch, I usually tell them the "tarnish" adds to the character, but if they decide that they like it all shiny, I use these, very lightly.

You should be able to track them down locally.

 

Posts

17,540

Likes

26,547

Foo2rama

·Jan 31, 2021·Keeps his worms in a ball instead of a can.

asrnj77

I think the following will work fine. Dawn soap is a brand name dish cleaning soap but you can use any non-phosphate soap available at your local store


Without any commercial products, you can clean your gold jewelry at home following these simple steps:

1. Mix a bit of Dawn dish detergent in warm, not hot, water.

2. Add a few drops of ammonia.

3. Carefully brush with a new, baby-size soft toothbrush.

4. Place in lukewarm water to rinse.

5. Air dry or carefully towel-dry with paper towel or regular cloth.

Remember: gold is a soft metal. Be gentle during the brushing and drying processes.

Rose gold and gold have slightly different requirements and I’d check before trying this.

 

Posts

3,331

Likes

7,061

mac_omega

·Jan 31, 2021

@Rudi99 , I have a different theory why this lug area tarnishes so fast: maybe the former owner (seller) had some soldering repair done to this area. Solder material is different and less "edel" than gold and tarnishes much faster.

 

Posts

16,193

Likes

34,150

JimInOz

·Jan 31, 2021·Melbourne Australia

mac_omega

@Rudi99 , I have a different theory why this lug area tarnishes so fast: maybe the former owner (seller) had some soldering repair done to this area. Solder material is different and less "edel" than gold and tarnishes much faster.

I think your theory may be quite right.

😉

 

Posts

3,181

Likes

12,507

MtV

·Jan 31, 2021

JimInOz

If people ask me to polish their gold watch, I usually tell them the "tarnish" adds to the character, but if they decide that they like it all shiny, I use these, very lightly.

You should be able to track them down locally.

@Rudi99 That’s exactly the one I have, and come to think of it, it might have been due to a recommendation by @JimInOz 😀