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Patina or no patina

babaky
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Hi All,
As a relative new comer wanted to see what the general consensus was regarding patina on watches but specifically pan pie omegas.

Here is an example:

Screenshot 2026-08-24 at 18.43.02.webp


Thoughts........
 
Mark020
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Dont lick that dial. May give you nicotine poisoning 😁
 
babaky
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Mark020 Mark020
Dont lick that dial. May give you nicotine poisoning 😁

😭
Is it really nicotine though?
 
Peemacgee
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Patina is damage.
Some people accept the unusual nature of this kind of damage.
This watch is not a pie pan, it is a dome dial.
 
babaky
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Peemacgee Peemacgee
Patina is damage.
Some people accept the unusual nature of this kind of damage.
This watch is not a pie pan, it is a dome dial.
Yes I agree, it is not a pie pan. The patina, I like but not the spots on the dial...
 
SOG53
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You will find a good basic discussion of patina here. Good for new members, and old too.

https://omegaforums.net/threads/learn-how-to-fish-a-guide-not-for-enquiries.52603/ Cover Image
Thread 'Learn How To Fish - A Guide - Not For Enquiries' ·
I have had a few newer members asking me for advice on how to spot a good vintage watch and what they should be on guard for. I've decided to post a little primer on how to assess vintage watches...
ConElPueblo ·
 
babaky
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SOG53 SOG53
You will find a good basic discussion of patina here. Good for new members, and old too.

https://omegaforums.net/threads/learn-how-to-fish-a-guide-not-for-enquiries.52603/ Cover Image
Thread 'Learn How To Fish - A Guide - Not For Enquiries' ·
I have had a few newer members asking me for advice on how to spot a good vintage watch and what they should be on guard for. I've decided to post a little primer on how to assess vintage watches...
ConElPueblo ·
It's one of the first bits I read when I came on to this forum. He is not too keen on patina I take it.
 
Shabbaz
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babaky babaky
It's one of the first bits I read when I came on to this forum. He is not too keen on patina I take it.
Sadly he does'nt contributie anymore.
 
elephantcage
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On a sport watch, made for working, maybe in the water, etc....patina is great. On a dress watch that maybe gets some perspiration on back now and again....no patina.
 
Donn Chambers
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babaky babaky
Hi All,
As a relative new comer wanted to see what the general consensus was regarding patina on watches but specifically pan pie omegas.

Here is an example:

Screenshot 2026-08-24 at 18.43.02.webp


Thoughts........
One man’s damage is another man’s patina. I consider that damage and find the dial (and the whole watch) unattractive because of it.
 
SOG53
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This is a very subjective topic and over time you will have your own opinion.
There is no right or wrong but generally even distribution of patina is favoured over spotty or uneven pattern.
 
Cartesian
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I'd be interested to learn if there was a correlation between those who find patina attractive and those who find inscriptions attractive: both could be regarded as 'damage'; or as signalling a unique and 'lived in' quality of the watch
 
malilis
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Hello ! Personally, I find some patina can be attractive providing the, patina is even on the dial ... each case is unique and of course is personal ... as to the inscriptions, I hate them and would ban the watch that shows the inscriptions .. again personal !
 
Peemacgee
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Two very different things.

Patina is the unintentional degradation of the watch, whilst engravings are the intentional amendment of the watch.

Patina is visible when wearing the watch, engravings generally are not.

The only correlation between patina and engravings, for those who don’t like either, is that the majority of collectors prefer their watches to be as near as possible as they left the factory.
 
babaky
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Peemacgee Peemacgee
Two very different things.

Patina is the unintentional degradation of the watch, whilst engravings are the intentional amendment of the watch.

Patina is visible when wearing the watch, engravings generally are not.

The only correlation between patina and engravings, for those who don’t like either, is that the majority of collectors prefer their watches to be as near as possible as they left the factory.
Thanks. Sorry for my ignorance but what do you mean by engraving. Is that the spots on the dial that we see?
 
Speed2Sea
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babaky babaky
Thanks. Sorry for my ignorance but what do you mean by engraving. Is that the spots on the dial that we see?
"Drive Carefully - Me" (a personal inscription typically on the case back)
 
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