I have just recently gotten into vintage watches. I've come across this Breitling from the 1930-s that I think is absolutely beautiful. It's steel plated with nickel, which has begun to wear off. Is stripping it of the plating, to make it look less worn, an option or will that more or less ruin it in the eyes of a potential future buyer?

 

That's not steel under there, but brass.

 

Are you 100% sure there is steel under that nickel? I'd expect some brass or bronze as seen in the worn crown. If there is steel it's going to be mild-steel which needs a non-oxidising coating, paint, zinc, chromium, whatever.

Leave it!

 

Don't do it!!!!

 

Don’t

 

You can see the brass base here.

 

Leave it as is.

 

You will come to regret that

 

It's good to see Breitling was offering plated cases on both their imprints.

I'm a bit more concerned about the wobbly "Breitling" not so much on the case, these with the snail track and cal170 are not seen often.

Meet Mr. Black

 

Plus printed "fab suisse" AND "swiss made"? That's unusual, is it not?

 

Do you have images of the movement and the inside of the case back?

 

You will need to have the case professionally re-plated.

 

I'm sure there are exceptions, but this specific one appears suspect.