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TROPICAL DIALS ... viewing gallery ... share 'em

rkman11
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ANALOGUE ANALOGUE
So, regarding Tropical. I see that I do not agree with many of you regarding what tropic is.

In my opinion, tropical is, as stated in the quote in the thread start, a black dial gone brown without being damaged. To me, damaged dials are just damaged, regardless of colour. A bright dials gone beige/yellow or something like that is just a patinated dial (and can look good, but not tropical).

This guy writes a bit about tropical and the abuse of the word.
http://rolexpassionreport.com/23316/the-commercial-abuse-of-the-vintage-rolex-term-tropical/

I think he is a bit too harsh maybe, but I totally agree that it is too abused by dealers and collections to push up values.

A pic on the only watch I own that I consider tropical.
IMG_20180614_075315.jpg

Respectfully disagree the dial has to begin black. Silver can go there. Agree the end result should be in the brown family - ie: kissed by tropical sun!
 
Darlinboy
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Reborn Reborn
Cousin of Breguet and Auricoste type XX...nice

More than cousins I think... but family for certain. 😀

DCA9C6C1-9133-4B32-8A18-4439ACDAD396.jpeg
 
cristos71
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Just Livin Just Livin
Some tropics I love...caramel, dark chocolate and cappuccino
IMG_0770.jpg

Must say I don't really remember ever drinking a purple cappuccino 😁
 
Just Livin
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cristos71 cristos71
Must say I don't really remember ever drinking a purple cappuccino 😁
Ha...its changes from aubergine to deep purple to cappuccino...honest...all be it that's an Americano in the background.....wait Americano, lets go with Americano

IMG_0746.jpg
 
hmmmcamu
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From roughly 1957 to 1965, a flaw in the manufacturing process of black dials used on the Omega Speedmaster Professional line of watches resulted in the occasional fading of the dial to a shade of brown, sometimes described as “tropical brown” or “chocolate.” Long sought after by collectors, anyone who has looked into purchasing a used Omega Speedmaster Professional will be familiar with their extraordinary prices in relation to non-faded pieces. What caused this defect, and what underlies the huge premiums required to bring one of these watches into your collection? Let’s find out.

According to Jack Khorsandi, owner of the Los Angeles vintage Omega boutique Jackmond, the fading is a defect caused by the process of dial making during the late 1950’s to early 1960’s. To prevent black dials from fading and losing their vibrancy, a chemical coating was applied to dials before they left the factory, but ironically, after five or so years, in rare cases, the opposite of the intended occurred: the chemical coating reacted with the dial and allowed for faster than normal fading.

https://www.ablogtowatch.com/omega-speedmaster-tropical-brown-dial-vintage-watch-explained/
 
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