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  1. Stgo2019 Jun 5, 2016

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    So, I thought it would be cool to have my own loupe to look at the fine details of my watches. I went out today and picked one up and once I got home tried it out.
    Well... I'm gazing upon the beauty of the script on my 14900 Pie Pan and notice something disturbing.....

    Tiny bubbles! And not the kind that "Make me happy."

    Granted, it takes extreme magnification to see these.

    How long do you think it'll be before their visible to the naked eye? Does sun exposure affect the rate of degradation? I live in Phoenix, so this could be a problem....

    image.jpeg image.jpeg image.jpeg
     
  2. Darlinboy Pratts! Will I B******S!!! Jun 5, 2016

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    Varies widely I'm sure.

    Nice photos!:thumbsup:
     
  3. oddboy Zero to Grail+2998 In Six Months Jun 5, 2016

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    don't look at vintage watches under a loupe!

    :eek:
     
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  4. Stgo2019 Jun 5, 2016

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    Thanks! Loupe held up against iPhone.... Came out better than I expected.

    To oddboy,
    Now you tell me.
    What has been seen, cannot be unseen....
     
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  5. Dgercp Jun 5, 2016

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    Beginning to think that should be rule #1 of vintage collecting :)
     
    oddboy likes this.
  6. noelekal Home For Wayward Watches Jun 5, 2016

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    Perhaps they have been present for some time?
     
  7. Fritz genuflects before the mighty quartzophobe Jun 5, 2016

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    when I cleared 50 I noticed my watches all looked much better when the reading glasses were in their case.

    after 60 you'll forget the bubbles.

    I figure when I hit 70 they'll all be mint!

    Or you can buy only enamel faced watches..... that stuff never ages!

    this Waltham is 122 years old.... and look, not a bubble to be seen!

    even with my specs on!

    now if I could only focus the damn camera.

    P1000455.JPG
     
  8. Uniqez Jun 5, 2016

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    I had the same bubbles on my seamaster's dial.The watch came from the sunny Brazil.
    [​IMG]

    Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk
     
  9. Stgo2019 Jun 5, 2016

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    I'm intrigued by the enamel dials. I've seen several but overall condition have been pretty bad.
    I read this post earlier: https://omegaforums.net/threads/enamel-dials.41047/#post-480606
    Never seen an RGM in person but some of their stuff looks nice. Especially this one..http://www.rgmwatches.com/watches#/151coe/
     
  10. cimo Jun 5, 2016

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    The Waltham likely has an enamel dial. I've seen some truly pristine examples of this kind (if they manage to avoid being cracked). They seem to suffer less aging than their painted brass brethren.

    I would guess the development of patina in its various forms is dependent on the material and compounds in the watch paint and also environmental factors. Your watch looks great IMO, I would be surprised if you could notice a difference in a short time
     
  11. M'Bob Jun 6, 2016

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    Notice these same dial pimples or blisters on many watches from Switzerland between the late 1950's and early '60's. Many Rolexes, Vacherons, Omegas and Pateks had this same problem. Was it sun, temp, moisture? Is it the dial lacquer lifting and the surface of the dial being compromised...or an eventual interaction between the dial surface, and the base metal. Wish I knew. They can get worse with time, this is why I love the solid-gold dial Centenary and Constellations - you almost never see this happen. Nor will you on the new and expensive, ltd edition enamel-dial Tresor, ref 5115 Patek, or the Breguet, amongst others.
     
  12. mozambique Jun 6, 2016

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    Love it!
    Transitioning into wearing sodding reading glasses and I fully agree!
     
  13. BirC Jun 7, 2016

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    +1 for enamel dials
     
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  14. Niklas Thinks snap ring pliers are for opening casebacks Jun 8, 2016

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    Listen to Oddboy don't use the loop and your eye sight will for sure get bad quicker than the watch appearance:)
     
  15. Niklas Thinks snap ring pliers are for opening casebacks Jun 8, 2016

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    And a nice watch by the way!
     
  16. ulackfocus Jun 8, 2016

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    ::facepalm2::

    This is one of the unwritten rules of watches in general: OCD collectors should not be allowed magnification. A 10X loupe will expose flaws in even the most expensive new watches so don't buy them.
     
  17. M'Bob Jun 9, 2016

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    okay old wise one: what magnification do you suggest for women?
     
  18. Pvt-Public Jun 9, 2016

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    The bottom of a beer mug usually works for me. :D
     
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  19. M'Bob Jun 9, 2016

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    Observatory on the back of the Constellation?
     
  20. Stgo2019 Jun 9, 2016

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    No need for a loupe when inspecting women.. just as long as they have bumps in all the right places..