Always follow with fascination the discussions about what constitutes a finely aged watch vs a damaged wreck. Sometimes I just defer to the experts' opinion, as myself am not sure either way. It's all a part of a learning process, which is also very fun too!

So, h ow about this blue connie?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Rare-Vintag...Rare-Original-1972-Blue-Dial-NR-/351690322373Purchases made through these links may earn this site a commission from the eBay Partner Network

 

To me, the difference between "patina" and "ruined" is the impetus for whatever change took place. Meaning, decoloration due to fading paint or aging lume I consider patina, whereas corrosion, rust, and moisture staining I consider damage. The connie above falls into the second category I'm afraid (IMHO).

 

And IMO, the dressier the piece, the less it takes for "patina" to ruin a piece. If a dress watch has patina, it better be both light and even. Pie pan constellations with freckles are a no-go for me, for instance. The same patina on a sturdier piece can look amazing and add to the overall look.

 

I could wear this if it had the original (or at least correct) hands and crown and was mechanically sound. It's not beyond redemption.

Art

 

For me this one is a step too far and is not patina but damage, the paint on the dial is not aged but has peeled off.

Where does patina end and damage begin is of course a discussion point in itself, but for me on a steel dress watch `patina` must be very attractive otherwise I would describe it as `damage`. On a gold dress watch then my acceptable patina level is even less so than on steel before it becomes damage. Perhaps that has something to do with the higher intrinsic value/original positioning/initial cost of a gold watch.

Here are a few golden dress watches where I found the patina level to be attractive, but on the edge of what I find acceptable.






On a vintage steel dive/sports/chrono the borders between patina and damage become somewhat more fluid and you know it when you see it.

IMHO if you have to ask then it is clearly damage!

 

My basic rule...

If I like it, it's patinaed ( or tropical or whatever ).

If I don't, it's damaged ( or ruined or whatever ).

Make your own rule - easier to live with than someone else's.

 

+1!

 

I like the dial

 

My latest arrival, patina doesn't get much more patina'd that this but thats what makes it remarkable, imagine the life this watch has had and thin arrow 53's are getting rarer by the day, the ultimate military Omega for me and effectively a military issued prototype/ predecessor of the Railmaster for 1/4 the price

 

Seller describes this as a dirty dial (same as his fingers) but with a starting price of 99p would it be worth a punt and is there anything that can be done with it?

 

Patina...Shows they've lived life perhaps some bumps and bruises but not trashed. An old watch should look like an old watch.