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What kind of patina can I expect on this 18k WG bezel?

  1. sapple Mar 11, 2023

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    This is my first seamaster and I spent a long time thinking about which one to get. It was between this and the 2254 of course. I went with this because of the condition and I couldn't find a comparable 2254 at the time.

    It was practically NOS when I got it
     
    IMG_20230311_115601.jpg IMG_20230311_114407.jpg Snapchat-423859595.jpg
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  2. padders Oooo subtitles! Mar 11, 2023

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    Nice watch, my 2230 is like that. So the question is what patina will develop? If you don’t expose it to considerable wear then none since the bezel is Rhodium plated, if you do then they go a bit yellow on the bezel high spots, which isn’t a great look.
     
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  3. sapple Mar 11, 2023

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    I do plan on dailying this watch with the exception of wearing a 5610u to the gym and the blue collar aspects of work. I do love this seamaster, glad to see someone with one comment first! How long have you had yours and any upkeep involved?
     
  4. padders Oooo subtitles! Mar 11, 2023

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    54F59AAD-7901-4444-8E2E-E098DE251A67.jpeg I purchased it here a few years ago. It had been babied but was not running as accurately as I would have liked and the hands showed the beginnings of corrosion so I got a full service fairly quickly and now I have a keeper. No it doesn’t need anything out of the ordinary other than normal servicing. Don’t ding the bezel, they are very very expensive. Luckily mine looks mint like yours.

    I prefer this to the 2254 personally. I’ve owned many SMP variants inc that but this is my favourite.
     
    Edited Mar 11, 2023
  5. sapple Mar 11, 2023

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    It looks excellent. What time is it keeping now?Mine is running -2s a day which is great before I take it in for an inevitable service, a few months down the line.
     
  6. padders Oooo subtitles! Mar 11, 2023

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    Mine is now around +3spd. It was more like +12s before I got the work done. I have a timing machine so could assess mine inc the amplitude accurately. Judged solely on the accuracy metric, yours is pretty good so unless you know it needs one I wouldn’t rush to service it.
     
    Edited Mar 11, 2023
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  7. Dan S Mar 11, 2023

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    I didn't realize that Omega made gold dive watches. Is the whole case white gold?
     
  8. Scarecrow Boat Burt Macklin, FBI Mar 11, 2023

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    Only the bezel is.
     
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  9. padders Oooo subtitles! Mar 11, 2023

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    It’s actually just the bezel insert that is solid gold. The shell is steel. It’s a bit of a copy of the Yachtmaster idea really but in WG instead of plat. You also get a higher end dial than the 2254 with raised lume plots and an AML. It has a lot of the feel of the original PO about the dial and can be seen as a an early step in that direction of a more premium Seamaster. It’s rather less toolish than the 2254 or 2531 which some will like and some won’t. I wish it were all 18k. It would be worth twelvety million pounds, as it is there isn't much premium over the 2254 but when new the RRP was like 40% more.
     
    Edited Mar 11, 2023
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  10. YY77 Mar 11, 2023

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    Same goes for the 2533.50.00 although for that one the case material is wrongly stated on Omega's website;
    chrome_screenshot_1678563071171.png
     
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  11. Scarecrow Boat Burt Macklin, FBI Mar 11, 2023

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    Ah, I should have just trusted myself. I initially replied “Only the insert is” but second guessed myself and changed it to bezel. Thank you for your thoughtful reply with further detail. I’ve thought these were neat watches and ones I don’t often see. I greatly prefer this reference over the 2533 Americas Cup :thumbsup:
     
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  12. padders Oooo subtitles! Mar 11, 2023

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    So do I! And I’ve owned both. The AC didn’t get the fancy dial though, just the bezel and some pretty unsubtle dial and case branding. They did it better with the so called Non-AC.
     
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  13. sapple Mar 11, 2023

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    If anyone has some examples that they provide online that would be lovely. I'm very interested in seeing how it would look.
     
  14. tinkercompanies Mar 11, 2023

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    white gold is an alloy of gold and other metals such as nickel and palladium, which may oxidize or tarnish over time due to exposure to air, moisture, and other elements. This can cause the white gold to develop a yellowish or grayish hue, which some may consider a patina.

    However, many luxury watch brands use a special alloy of white gold that is resistant to tarnishing and discoloration. Therefore, it is possible that the bezel on your watch may not develop much patina or discoloration at all.
     
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  15. Timecollector Mar 12, 2023

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    Although I don't own a White Gold Omega I do have a couple of other brand 14kt White Gold watches and for the most part, the surface will 'dull' or lose the shiny luster over time. There is a thin 5 Micron layer of Rhodium (which was mentioned in a past post) for 'pop' on many of these White gold watches which will prolong the luster of the watch but over time the worst it will do is just dull out or turn hazy.

    This is a before and after the restoration of a 14kt White Gold case. The before shows how dull the white gold had become.

    file 347x887_010325.jpg

    file 598x708_010329.jpg
     
  16. sapple Mar 12, 2023

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    I can imagine if and when that happens to my bezel to be quite nice. It'll be an even more unique watch.