Source of Patina- sun or darkness

[Wilddyan]

Hello everyone,

Would appreciate some help- my 68' gmt 1675 still has very little patina- my basic grasp of chemistry made me think this was due to a lack of sun exposure and therefore over time as I wore it in the sun patina on the dial would slowly yellow the dials.

However having done some research it seems that there is a case that uv light actually lightens the dial and keeps it white. I would love to get some feedback- will of course continue to wear the watch, but when am not should it been in pitch black to encourage patina?

Would appreciate any feedback...

[ExplorerChris]

If its patina you want them treat it like a mushroom and keep it in the dark.
If you think about it the sun light tends to bleach things out especially when the uv count is higher.

[azguy]

dark, no sun...

[sea-dweller]

That is a beautiful GMT!

[ltmgeller]

Wear it and enjoy.

[Wilddyan]

Originally Posted by sea-dweller

That is a beautiful GMT!

Thanks I like it- just want to get a little more life into the dial- so he's going to be in the dark when not worn!

[HogwldFLTR]

Interesting that the watch lumes are still white; my two Tritium watches also are white; one of my luminovas is getting patina'd however. I'll be satisfied with them the tritiums aging gracefully and wearing them normally.

[southtexas]

Common belief is sunlight slows (stops?) darkening of markers. Likewise, a watch kept in a safe for years will be dark, but can lighten up several shades through subsequent constant UV exposure.

[Chris B]

Beautiful GMT

[mike]

There's been a lot of debate over this with the current thinking (all else being the same) darkness spurs patina. James Dowling recently wrote an article on this for one of the watch rags with his conclusions being the same.

Personally, if it were my watch I'd do whatever necessary to keep it as is. Looks great.

[strafer_kid]

Looks fantastic - GMT is a classic!

[Wilddyan]

Originally Posted by HogwldFLTR

Interesting that the watch lumes are still white; my two Tritium watches also are white; one of my luminovas is getting patina'd however . I'll be satisfied with them the tritiums aging gracefully and wearing them normally.

That's interesting- as thought tritium was older and more prone to patina. Didn't think luminovas got much patina.

[Tools]

I think that it certainly is more complex than sun or no sun.

We are dealing with a radioactive substance that generates it's own heat and complex bonding throughout the paint matrix during decay. So, tritium is bombarding beta into whatever is there for decades. Perhaps humidity has much to do with dark patina than a dry climate. Mine are in a safe most of the time, but I live in the Desert, none have ever darkened excessively.

[HogwldFLTR]

That's interesting- as thought tritium was older and more prone to patina. Didn't think luminovas got much patina.

Of course it isn't a Rolex.

As bought...




Now...

[Wilddyan]

Looks great though with a bit of colour on the dials- v cool!

[iclick]

I agree with the dark=patina concept for the lume, as mine (ca. 1969) has rarely been off my wrist since purchased new. It's seen many, many hours in sunlight and lived most of its life in S. LA where it it very humid. Since the watch is sealed I doubt if humidity would be much of a factor, though.

OTOH bezel inserts are the opposite as evidenced by my example below. The original (left) was actually on the watch for only about 10 years, then lost for a few years and stored out of sunlight since that time. The replacement (ca. ~1980) on right has many more years on the watch (~34) and is obviously not as faded. The color is more faded in both than is depicted in the photos.

[Wilddyan]

The 1980 seems to have a darker yellow then the 68 strangely... Could be wrong though.

[Wilddyan]

Faded bezel seems to bring what patina this watch has to life...

[zama]

If I had to keep that classic in a safe to gain patina or where it and enjoy with less patina for me it is a no brainer wear and enjoy.........

[Lol-x]

I personally like less patina....

[pinkelle21]

Originally Posted by zama

If I had to keep that classic in a safe to gain patina or where it and enjoy with less patina for me it is a no brainer wear and enjoy.........

Absolutleyx1😎


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[EdwardHBLW]

darkness = lume patina, UV light from sun = bezel patina.

[Wilddyan]

Originally Posted by EdwardHBLW

darkness = lume patina, UV light from sun = bezel patina.

But which is better- the eternal question...

[Wilddyan]

Originally Posted by mike

There's been a lot of debate over this with the current thinking (all else being the same) darkness spurs patina. James Dowling recently wrote an article on this for one of the watch rags with his conclusions being the same.

Personally, if it were my watch I'd do whatever necessary to keep it as is. Looks great.

Here's the Dowling article

http://www.qpmagazine.com/issues/65/...or-collectors/

[rmfnla]

Originally Posted by Wilddyan

Here's the Dowling article

http://www.qpmagazine.com/issues/65/...or-collectors/

Thanks!

The "dark causes patina" thing makes no sense, but that's not what he said:

" So it isn’t light that changes lume, but rather the lack of it. Or maybe it was some other unknown environmental influence. In truth, I don’t really know."

I suspect it is a breakdown of the numerous materials used in the markers and has nothing to do with light or dark.

BTW, colored bezels don't develop patina, they fade...

[Onikage]

So far I haven't seen any creamy patination on SWISS luminova dials or slightly later SWISS MADE superluminova dials. I wouldn't mind if they did but it seems to never happen unless it takes much longer. Omega lume is quite green/creamy to start with so maybe that's a factor in aging. Modern Rolex lume is white and staying that way.