i keep seeing vintage watches described as having tropical dials
Are these desirable
And what causes it to happen

 

Here are a couple of threads that may be of interest.

https://omegaforums.net/threads/tropical-dial.49093/
https://omegaforums.net/threads/tropical-dials-viewing-gallery-share-em.78156/

 

Interesting lots to take in
Can you fake or re dial a tropical watch
Or is it pretty much certain to be original

 

They can be faked. For example, By baking the dial. There are threads discussing that as well.

 

The baked ones that have been shown on this forum look pretty iffy to me. Even if the dial surface looks OK, the indices never seem to look right.

 

Been reading round on the internet
Some saying that it can be caused by moisture and radium decay
On the hands and dial
Is it correct radium was banned from use on watch dials from late 1953

 

Hey

It’s like everything “special” some love them some hate them and other don’t care.

Technically it’s a degradation of the dial painting.
Imo it’s a failure of the paint itself as we see it best in ploprof dial D3 where the blue pigments turned to very very dark blue/blackish and tend to bubbeling.

Yes funny guys try to produce tropical dials but most fail and ruin the dial completely

About your radium question, no it was used until
62-63

 

Just acquired this 1953 seamaster love the patina and original box
Don’t know if it qualifies as tropical but I love it

 

Here's a watch, a Speedmaster 145.022-69, currently offered on eBay. The originally black dial has changed to brown either by natural exposure to the sun or by some other means.


https://www.ebay.com/itm/1969-Omega...nograph-/153208316443?&_trksid=p2056016.l4276Purchases made through these links may earn this site a commission from the eBay Partner Network

 

Need to get myself a yummy choco dial Wish I knew how to cook up one of these in the oven

 

You have to get the recipe just right!

 

Nice one. That's not tropical, just good old fashioned honest patina.

 

This one is described as "tropical".

Personally I think it looks damaged. A shame as otherwise I find the piece very attractive.


https://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-OM...CAL-504-/312256319577?&_trksid=p2056016.l4276Purchases made through these links may earn this site a commission from the eBay Partner Network

 

Compare that dial to the lighter damage, and rather even pattern, on my piece. I find these "freckles" rather charming: