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How well will modern watches physically age with time?

Modest_Proposal
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When we look at vintage watches, we have a term, "patina", to describe the aging process.

Given today's modern building materials and precision manufacturing, will we see the same kinds of patina that we do on watches from the 1930'-1960's? Or even later? Will it be the same, but take much longer?

Most modern watches are waterproof to a far higher degree than vintage watches. Surely this will lengthen the aging process.

Nearly all lume is super luminova or tritium. Do they change color over time?

I think dial plates are being built of different materials. What does this mean for the aging process? Will we see dial plates brown with age in the same way? What about the inks used?
 
U
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Materials are better now then back in the 50's - and for Omega, the 60's because they seemed to be the last to moderize their dial process back then. However, there's a little thing called "engineered obsolescence" that has caught on over the last few decades that might counter any value of those new materials.

Everything ages. It's guesswork at best to predict how something will age. Only time will tell.
 
oddboy
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But how will omega make any money with longer lasting materials and longer service intervals with all these coaxials?

Maybe they'll need to downsize so they can focus on design - and build up a strong network of independent, coaxial certified watchmakers to take the service business back off their hands.
 
devnull
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The concept of buying a brand new watch instead of an equivalent priced vintage is so alien to me that I'm having a hard time following the question.
 
lillatroll
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Perhaps they will focus more on strong design, so that as time goes on tastes will change quicker and people will want the new design, a bit like they do with cars. I also think there are just as many people who like their watches to look shiny as there are who like the aged look of some vintage watches. i suppose we will have to wait 30 years to find out.
 
Queue
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It depends on how well you take care of them...
 
Matty01
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I reckon, if they just make the lot, amd i mean movements, cases, dials, hands and crystals from Irony they will be pretty well future proofed

oddboy oddboy
But how will omega make any money with longer lasting materials and longer service intervals with all these coaxials?

Maybe they'll need to downsize so they can focus on design - and build up a strong network of independent, coaxial certified watchmakers to take the service business back off their hands.
 
micampe
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U ulackfocus
there's a little thing called "engineered obsolescence"
“Engineered obsolescence” is what people call fast progress when they really really want the new gadget but don’t want to pay for it.
 
jordn
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There are some elements of the modern watch that will last a lifetime. Super-Luminova is non-radioactive, so there is no half-life decay and most likely won't change colors. Ceramic bezels, as opposed to steel or aluminum bezels, will not "ghost" even with vigorous use. As far as dial patina goes, modern cases not only do a much better job at keeping moisture out, but according to a watchmaker that I talked to, the paints used on dials now do not react the same way to water that older dials used to. I have no idea on how it reacts to sunlight however.

When I was deciding on a modern watch for more rugged activities, I chose the Tudor Black Bay blue because it has a painted steel bezel. It will most likely be 10+ years before I see any signs of change, but I think these sorts of bezels have the best chance at aging. One thing I'm intrigued by is the fact that A. Lange & Söhne uses German, or nickel, silver for their movement plates. German silver is known to develop a yellowish patina over time, so I wonder what the thinking was there.
 
Archer
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U ulackfocus
I should have used the "rhetorical" emoticon. 🤦

Hey Google might have been broken or something...just trying to help. 😉
 
Alpha
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Don't really give a jot, I will be long gone and the kids can worry 😉
 
devnull
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Me, between a 50 years old watch with a nice patina and one with a pristine dial, I rather have the patinated one. But then again an authentic pristine dial is a nice consolation price 😉
 
bill5959
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Alpha Alpha
Don't really give a jot, I will be long gone and the kids can worry 😉
Exactly my thought. But I age the new ones by pickling them with my Gmothers formula and putting them in the cellar..
 
U
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bill5959 bill5959
But I age the new ones by pickling them with my Gmothers formula and putting them in the cellar..

I hear watches age better when they're stuffed in a coffee can and hidden inside a wall for decades.
 
citizenrich
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U ulackfocus
Materials are better now then back in the 50's - and for Omega, the 60's because they seemed to be the last to moderize their dial process back then. However, there's a little thing called "engineered obsolescence" that has caught on over the last few decades that might counter any value of those new materials.

Everything ages. It's guesswork at best to predict how something will age. Only time will tell.


When I look at the guts of a 1950's Patek it looks brand new and modern. Especially their rotors and balance wheel

More often than not, Copper plated, "water proof" Omegas from the same period can and do look brand new. Is, nice!
 
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