How do you decide if something is tropical?

[mattg6]

This one turns brown in the light but I wouldn’t say it’s 100% brown. First photo showing the brown, second in another light looking more gray-ish

[Dan S]

If the color that you are looking for isn't readily apparent, it doesn't bring as much value.

[BB114]

I substitute Tropical for crappy condition. Vintage with natural aging is beautiful…..but many I see are….well….Tropical

[Kingface66]

Originally Posted by BB114

I substitute Tropical for crappy condition. Vintage with natural aging is beautiful…..but many I see are….well….Tropical

Exchanging the overused “patina” with crappy condition, I get. But true “tropical” as it was originally meant…and still is among responsible collectors and dealers…is a specific result/color from aging among certain references. This one from Beaumont Miller’s exceptional collection is one.





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[springer]

A 1966 gilt Datejust with an original black dial that is now tropical, unmolested or altered. A beauty.

Tropical is normally considered when a watch dial has changed color due to various elements affecting the dial color - usually the color change is from black to a brown tone. A watch with a damaged or flaking dial, flaking lume, and/or hand damage due to various elements - usually from water damage - was never considered part of the original definition when describing or considering a watch to have a tropical dial.

Currently, it seems that too many of the dealers, and some collectors, play fast and lose with what is tropical identifying examples that have severely damaged and/or flaking dials, lume or hand issues when describing a watch as tropical.

[TuRo]

Tropical Dial is a bit like the aftermath of a lairy night out, where one seeks assurances as to whether one was well behaved ? .... 'If you have to ask, probably not' ;-)

[zapokee]

Originally Posted by TuRo

'If you have to ask, probably not' ;-)

Absolutely this. VG

[albaserver]

Originally Posted by TuRo

Tropical Dial is a bit like the aftermath of a lairy night out, where one seeks assurances as to whether one was well behaved ? .... 'If you have to ask, probably not' ;-)

ROTFL! Same here!!

[one80]

Originally Posted by springer

Currently, it seems that too many of the dealers, and some collectors, play fast and lose with what is tropical identifying examples that have severely damaged and/or flaking dials, lume or hand issues when describing a watch as tropical.

This.
And the crazy thing is that people seem to be lapping it up!

There is a huge difference between the brown sub dial above, and the “frozen” or “spider” dials being sold, which to me very damaged and I wouldn’t even consider.

[Arnozerosix]

Originally Posted by Kingface66

Exchanging the overused “patina” with crappy condition, I get. But true “tropical” as it was originally meant…and still is among responsible collectors and dealers…is a specific result/color from aging among certain references. This one from Beaumont Miller’s exceptional collection is one.





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beautiful sample ...