Why is a Rolex with a "tropical" dial such a valued collectors piece?

[statuskuo]

even rarer are tropical dials that age "beautifully"

even if you get the dial that begins to go tropical, there's no guarantee that the aging will be even or desirable. ones that have are very rare finds and will almost always demand a significant premium. those who want unique pieces of art and have money will pay

[GeorgeK]

Originally Posted by MILGAUSS88

The "spider dial" could be a week away from having all the paint peel off the dial, leaving you nothing.
The "tropical" dial is still in a stable state.

Would you have a picture of a spider dial (the GMT 16750 one) with a broken off part, and not from obvious damage such as dropping it?

[Styles Bitchley]

Interesting that some other brands from the same era also got the tropical effect...thinking Omegas. Were they using the same paint? Lacquer?

[ROGERB]

Originally Posted by statuskuo

even rarer are tropical dials that age "beautifully"

even if you get the dial that begins to go tropical, there's no guarantee that the aging will be even or desirable. ones that have are very rare finds and will almost always demand a significant premium. those who want unique pieces of art and have money will pay

ever so tropical!



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[SgWatchBaron]

Because it generally just looks nicer than the original black dial.

[Fastfreddy]

As I tell my fellow collectors...there is a fine line between tropical and damaged.

[Dr.Smellody]

Originally Posted by Fastfreddy

As I tell my fellow collectors...there is a fine line between tropical and damaged.

Guess I'll just get a service dial then.




No, I like it like this.

[ArthurB]

Originally Posted by Fastfreddy

As I tell my fellow collectors...there is a fine line between tropical and damaged.

I lean more toward damage. Only difference is "even" damage across the dial.

[Fastfreddy]

Indeed...I think my 1680 is "evenly damaged"

http://i1182.photobucket.com/albums/...stlb2coqh.jpeg

Originally Posted by ArthurB

I lean more toward damage. Only difference is "even" damage across the dial.

[scooba]

mine

A lovely mk2 thin case https://www.newturfers.com/vb/forum/...time_lastmonth

[harry in montreal]

I think the tropic look means it has aged naturally and has not been replaced. I look at it like a weathered patina. Restored art sucks. I like seeing age and tropical fading to inserts, dials and hands look good to me.

[roh123]

The general idea is that it doesn’t look damaged. It is a color change. Meaning it changed color without being exposed to ie water. Lume is intact and nice, surface is undamaged etc. It just looks pretty.

[Vincent65]

Originally Posted by SgWatchBaron

Because it generally just looks nicer than the original black dial.

That one looks like it likely had some minor moisture ingress, along with the colour-fade.

[rolstaff]

Originally Posted by roh123

This. Just judging from pictures does not necessarily do them justice. Just the same as with glossy gilt dials. If you haven’t seen a great one live you will probably not understand.

Word !!!

[rolstaff]

A quotation by Philipp Stahl:
"Watch collecting has become all about the condition of the dial. Some watch specialist say that about 80-90% of the value is in the dial nowadays. For outsiders this sounds silly or totally unlogic because a watch is made of lots of spare parts to become an iconic timepiece thats worth collecting. But nothing is more true nowadays, indeed collecting vintage Rolex is focussing on the condition of the dial. In specific about the dial patina."

I think, he is right, especially nowadays, when case refinishing gets unfortunately more and more popular.

Love it or hate it.... :-))

[1675-David]

Juergen, that sub is sublime....

[rolstaff]

Thank you, David !

Its brown in every light situation, even at night... :-))