Community Stories

What is your ‘Patina Threshold’

dinglem
Posts
113
Likes
568
I should probably add at this point that we have a few classic cars, and for the Mk1 Mini (Austin Seven) in particular, there is a certain value in retaining originality at all costs - and within reason - so original and time-weathered cars or parts command a premium/kudos over an over-restored, pristine car. I assume this mentality has carried over into the watches for me. As the saying goes, it is only original once. I think another consideration for me is that the watches I have bought with a patina are not what most would consider to be expensive in any way. They just appeal to my own personal taste.

I bought a Poljot 2408 for my wife to wear, mainly so she will accept my 3017... so a tactical purchase! It has ended up with almost a mother-of-pearl finish in certain light conditions.

423735955_1474279529962508_6410647559033791404_n.jpg
 
dinglem
Posts
113
Likes
568
wilderbeast wilderbeast
Whilst I’m here, following on from @dinglem's Avias above, here my somewhat later mid-1960s chrono, with a greenish patina that I paired with an olive strap.

I do have a bit of a soft spot for some of the Avia designs - yours looks great. I have a few others, but that really rough one I posted above has an earlier logo and a really early case back, which was another point of interest for me.
 
wilderbeast
Posts
909
Likes
4,359
dinglem dinglem
I do have a bit of a soft spot for some of the Avia designs - yours looks great. I have a few others, but that really rough one I posted above has an earlier logo and a really early case back, which was another point of interest for me.
I only discovered the brand recently - first through the Chronograph above and then through my grandfather's watch, which my mother passed onto me in the last couple of years. A great little brand, under-rated but one that had quite a following in the UK in the 1950s and 60s.
Edited:
 
dinglem
Posts
113
Likes
568
Oh wow - I just read your thread - great to have some family history like that! I have a few watches which were handed down to me from my grandfather... which my father held for many years also. Those watches have more value to me than anything else. He had a 9ct Omega, a 9ct Record, a 9ct Sovereign and a lovely looking blue dial Sekonda de luxe.

The case back on the somewhat knackered Avia watch i mentioned above has the early italic logo, which from reading around seems to have been changed in the early 50's. I gather this rounded case back dates from the 1940's and these are supposedly pretty thin on the ground. Coincidentally, and to keep the post on topic, the watch arrived through the post this morning, and looks a 'little' better than the for sale pictures.

423735518_2109718559369320_6656990808818792748_n.jpg avia001.jpg


I also have a BMW-esq dial version which I also really like. It too has an off-white slightly weathered look, which immediately appealed to me. As you say - great little brand which thankfully not too many folks seem to go for.

428052463_2594747800685462_3840117978832244827_n.jpg
 
Redondo444
Posts
315
Likes
781
For me patina on the dial is desirable as it gives a unique character. None the less if a watch is mint I am also happy 😀
I like Patina only when it follows a somehow even structure and by no means I mean scratches on the dial.

This one is heavily patinated but I really like it - looks better in reality than on the picture.
Lots of character and the funky enameled cartouches for the tachymetre,15 pulsations and barely visible for the telemetre are fun as they are a nice contrast to the degraded rest of the multicolour/-scale dial:
1000001037.jpg



This example is at the edge as i still like to have the writing on the dial visible - this is heavily faded/blurred/burned I assume due to radium being used:
1000001035.jpg


But it's as good as it gets especially as I also love the case(back):
1000001036.jpg




For the case I am not fan of any patina 😀
 
dinglem
Posts
113
Likes
568
I still seem to have a penchant for anything with a bit of ageing. I just don't seem to get excited by older watches which look too perfect or brand new. In fact, the heavier the patina the better for me in most cases. My wife calls them my 'used teabag collection!'

I have posted a few of these in other threads recently, but thought i would add them in this 'threshold' post also.

This Peerex i wear a lot of the time.

thumbnail_IMG_2489.webp

I have quite a number of 50's Benrus examples also, mainly because the watches of that era seems more susceptible to developing a tropical browning - in some cases quite heavily. One i have though (which is even approaching my limit) is a sort of pearlescent yellow-silver colour.

FB2C5006-927D-4CA8-B260-F4337BD88526.webp IMG_3683.webp


I really like this creme brulee effect '46 Doxa also.

AD62086A-99AA-48E9-9751-00EFA512BD25.webp


I don't even know what to call this one.... 'W1867' Avalon? I have a separate thread on this one but nobody seems to know what it is...

thumbnail_B78B2617-EA35-4AA8-9E6C-70CB702F9A01.webp


Slightly less offensive is my '61 Wittnauer - i haven't really seen any of these with any sort of patina whatsoever before finding this one.

thumbnail_IMG_2263.webp


...and finally my '72 Tissot Sonorous was specifically purchased because it looked so used. I even like (prefer) the faded and incorrect red-to-orange bezel which i think works really well with the dial patina. Not one for the purists, but i use it offshore as my daily wearer/alarm so was specifically bought for purpose. I absolutely love it.

thumbnail_IMG_2288.webp
 
PatinaPete
Posts
243
Likes
1,200
My name is PatinaPete
I'm 100% all-in on patina. I have some new watches, and I have some vintage watches. But I only have 1 with patina, and it's my go-to watch ALL the time. My connie with almost full tobacco patina sits on my desk in my home office, and I marvel at the imperfections daily. The watch is 70 years old this year, and clearly has a lot of miles on it. It keeps near perfect time, looks fantastic on my wrist, and I feel a certain way when I wear it. Hard to describe, but the best word is "energized."

IMG_0077.webp
 
ghce
Posts
4,463
Likes
44,616
dinglem dinglem
I still seem to have a penchant for anything with a bit of ageing. I just don't seem to get excited by older watches which look too perfect or brand new. In fact, the heavier the patina the better for me in most cases. My wife calls them my 'used teabag collection!'

I have posted a few of these in other threads recently, but thought i would add them in this 'threshold' post also.

This Peerex i wear a lot of the time.

thumbnail_IMG_2489.webp

I have quite a number of 50's Benrus examples also, mainly because the watches of that era seems more susceptible to developing a tropical browning - in some cases quite heavily. One i have though (which is even approaching my limit) is a sort of pearlescent yellow-silver colour.

FB2C5006-927D-4CA8-B260-F4337BD88526.webp IMG_3683.webp


I really like this creme brulee effect '46 Doxa also.

AD62086A-99AA-48E9-9751-00EFA512BD25.webp


I don't even know what to call this one.... 'W1867' Avalon? I have a separate thread on this one but nobody seems to know what it is...

thumbnail_B78B2617-EA35-4AA8-9E6C-70CB702F9A01.webp


Slightly less offensive is my '61 Wittnauer - i haven't really seen any of these with any sort of patina whatsoever before finding this one.

thumbnail_IMG_2263.webp


...and finally my '72 Tissot Sonorous was specifically purchased because it looked so used. I even like (prefer) the faded and incorrect red-to-orange bezel which i think works really well with the dial patina. Not one for the purists, but i use it offshore as my daily wearer/alarm so was specifically bought for purpose. I absolutely love it.

thumbnail_IMG_2288.webp
Great to see someone who absolutely understands the attraction of patina!
 
alane24
Posts
433
Likes
1,026
Holy smokes, that Chronograph Suisse has some serious caramelization. The Omega reminds me of aged Venetian marble.
 
dinglem
Posts
113
Likes
568
I have quite a few a bit like those. I definitely prefer a bit of patina.

7F1FD6B4-AE3D-4387-8026-B07318AF4D8C.webp
 
dinglem
Posts
113
Likes
568
This Oyster has a ‘telephone patina’ effect plus a few ghost hand marks.

23A9459B-0F4A-4DBC-B866-AC8C76F69890.webp B66CFE87-569A-4D69-94D7-DB526AEEAC58.webp
 
26 More Posts...
Sign up or log in to reply...

Similar threads

jantjewgm

My 'Grail watch'. What is your's?

jantjewgm Open Discussion
Faz
Faz
Posts
15
Views
4K
spacemission

What is your dream?

spacemission Open Discussion
marco
marco
Posts
8
Views
2K
G

What is your point of view on this 165.024 from1967?

Guimey21 Vintage Omega Watches Help, Discussion and Advice
Knudsen1971
Knudsen1971
Posts
13
Views
3K
FSG

What is your opinion on Patek 5235G and 5320G?

FSG High-end Watches
Annapolis
Annapolis
Posts
31
Views
9K
Annapolis

What is your least trendy/popular watch opinion?

Annapolis Open Discussion
Syrte
Syrte
Posts
106
Views
8K
ghce

What is your dream watch purchase for 2023

ghce Open Discussion
Cleamsi
Cleamsi
Posts
56
Views
6K