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Patina dilemma

Peter_from_NL
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Hello experts. I am looking at a watch with severe patina. I just like that.

However the markers and the hands also are now also far from crisp. I don’t like that. I am planning to clean / restore the markers and hands and (obviously) not do anything about the dial.

Another watch lover told me today that I should not do that and keep the markers and hands also in “high patina / old” condition. Also because of the value that is supposed higher that way. True?

What is the opinion on this here?
 
MRC
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Your money, your watch, your choice.

Just don't take macro photos under a bright light.

PB140252m.JPG
 
Evitzee
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Patina's attraction is in the eye of the beholder. Need pics.
 
Dan S
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These decisions are personal, but also depend on the condition, so photos are necessary.
 
oddboy
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Nothing wrong with a rat rod if that's your thing. Make sure the movement and case are sound even if the visible parts are aged.. Sometimes the (extreme) aging of the visible parts means the internals are also well patina'd / patinated.

439636-dcdd70a2d209268907d84d4d625ec363.jpg
 
BrianPankow
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I feel if the watch appeals to you and the movement is sound a nice patina is a wonderful thing. I do understand the desire for the perfect vintage piece, but usually they are out of my limited price range. I purchased a 1949 Seamaster with an even patina for my daughter and started to explain the different opinions on patina. Mid explanation she says, ‘I love that!’ My watches will likely be with me until I die so my four year old grandson, who knows he’s getting them when I’m ‘gone,’ can address the issue.
 
321Only
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It is your watch so do you like and don’t get influenced by others. I personally don’t see a problem as long as we are talking about careful restorations.
I just recently brought this amazing tropical Ed white back to live. The lume was burned and the indices were damaged badly. I carefully restored them and did a tritium relume which I think really improved the watch.

Number 1 rule however is: be honest and transparent about these things when selling the watch!
Before:
E696A4A6-19ED-4F23-B884-68BB618EF26D.jpeg

After:
6FFDF1B9-D5C8-4E27-8314-690ABAC75C86.jpeg
 
mancio
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1,293
321Only 321Only
It is your watch so do you like and don’t get influenced by others. I personally don’t see a problem as long as we are talking about careful restorations.
I just recently brought this amazing tropical Ed white back to live. The lume was burned and the indices were damaged badly. I carefully restored them and did a tritium relume which I think really improved the watch.

Number 1 rule however is: be honest and transparent about these things when selling the watch!
Before:
E696A4A6-19ED-4F23-B884-68BB618EF26D.jpeg

After:
6FFDF1B9-D5C8-4E27-8314-690ABAC75C86.jpeg
What a magnificent Dial!!!😲😲
Nice work!
 
321Only
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688
mancio mancio
What a magnificent Dial!!!😲😲
Nice work!
Thank you and yes, the dial is crazy. Easily the nicest one I have seen in person so far.
 
Peter_from_NL
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349
321Only 321Only
It is your watch so do you like and don’t get influenced by others. I personally don’t see a problem as long as we are talking about careful restorations.
I just recently brought this amazing tropical Ed white back to live. The lume was burned and the indices were damaged badly. I carefully restored them and did a tritium relume which I think really improved the watch.

Number 1 rule however is: be honest and transparent about these things when selling the watch!
Before:
E696A4A6-19ED-4F23-B884-68BB618EF26D.jpeg

After:
6FFDF1B9-D5C8-4E27-8314-690ABAC75C86.jpeg


Great work. Out of interest, did you just relume over the “old remains” or did you first somehow scrape of the old. And if zo, how without damaging the rest of the dial?
 
321Only
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688
eugeneandresson eugeneandresson
Do you mean like ...

upload_2020-3-19_11-2-34.jpeg


?

Haha 😁 I don't know what happened to the watch during the last centuries but at least to me the old lume really looked like it was tossed into campfire
 
321Only
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688
Peter_from_NL aps26469
Great work. Out of interest, did you just relume over the “old remains” or did you first somehow scrape of the old. And if zo, how without damaging the rest of the dial?

Thanks! I took off the old lume, repaired the indices on the dial, colored the lume and applied it again. This way I was able to reuse the material and do a relume with the same old stuff 👍
 
eugeneandresson
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321Only 321Only
Haha 😁 I don't know what happened to the watch during the last centuries but at least to me the old lume really looked like it was tossed into campfire

meant nothing nefarious 😀 I see it as an academic question...
 
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