Accelerated inset fade on my GMT Master 16750..

[Jetkopite]

Hey guys quick question with regards to fading insets...

I have a lovely inset on my 16750 but would like the Blue to be faded abit more and was wondering if there is any techniques you have used to speed up that faded look apart from waiting 20 years for it???

Might be a stupid question to tamper with it but just wanted to know if anyone has done it before??

Thanks

Andy

[JP Chestnut]

I assume the sun is fairly harsh in Dubai - consider leaving it in direct sunlight. I bet you could get some good fading within a month or two.

[Jetkopite]

Originally Posted by JP Chestnut

I assume the sun is fairly harsh in Dubai - consider leaving it in direct sunlight. I bet you could get some good fading within a month or two.

Yeah thats what I thought maybe taking the inset off the watch and covering the red side so only the blue side is exposed to the sunlight.. That could work???

[CrownMe]

Originally Posted by Jetkopite

Yeah thats what I thought maybe taking the inset off the watch and covering the red side so only the blue side is exposed to the sunlight.. That could work???

Leaving it in the sun is gonna take much longer then you will wanna wait. Faded inserts took there whole life to get that way.....were talking 40 plus years.

I would either source one that is already faded or you can achieve a faded insert by bleaching and other techniques but they will have a different look. You can tell the ones that are bleached because the fade is not even. They look blotchy and un even. I like both looks but prefer one with a solid even color fade. There are many threads on this topic on this forum and VRF. Just use the search bar and check them out.



BTW beautiful GMT. Love the patina and tbh the insert looks very nice on it.

[Jetkopite]

Originally Posted by CrownMe

Leaving it in the sun is gonna take much longer then you will wanna wait. Faded inserts took there whole life to get that way.....were talking 40 plus years.

I would either source one that is already faded or you can achieve a faded insert by bleaching and other techniques but they will have a different look. You can tell the ones that are bleached because the fade is not even. They look blotchy and un even. I like both looks but prefer one with a solid even color fade. There are many threads on this topic on this forum and VRF. Just use the search bar and check them out.



BTW beautiful GMT. Love the patina and tbh the insert looks very nice on it.

Hey Kevin thanks very much for the advise, the inset is very nice just want a touch lighter even Blue on it to give it that gorgeous light blue/light rec colour which I think will make it look even more awesome.. I am on the look out for a nice faded one which is hard to find what im looking for but in the mean time I will try a few tricks on this one..

[NukeMan]

Don't do it man, you have a lovely insert as is. Love that blue! If you still insist - sell it to me and source one the way you want it.

[enhamhale]

I do agree that insert with the patina looks beautiful .

[Jetkopite]

Dont worry I wont be bleaching that inset worst case I will try leaving the inset in the Sun here in the desert with blue showing and see if anything happens...

[NukeMan]

[CrownMe]

Originally Posted by Jetkopite

Dont worry I wont be bleaching that inset worst case I will try leaving the inset in the Sun here in the desert with blue showing and see if anything happens...

If you decide to do that I would remove the insert from the watch. You don't want your dial sitting in the direct sunlight for to long.

[JP Chestnut]

Originally Posted by CrownMe

Leaving it in the sun is gonna take much longer then you will wanna wait. Faded inserts took there whole life to get that way.....were talking 40 plus years.

Maybe, but I don't think it's that clear cut. A car driven in the sun for a couple hours a day, once a week, will be much less faded after 40 years than a car sitting exposed in Death Valley for only a few.

I think it would be an interesting experiment to sun fade a bezel (just the insert of course, not the whole watch) continuously for 3 months in the desert. I'd be very surprised if their wasn't clear and obvious fading.

[southtexas]

Trade with someone here.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Jetkopite]

Well guys sometimes I dont practice what I preach... In the last hour I have been experimenting with some bleach on some metal painted items to see results and after much thought I decided to take the plunge and gamble on my lovely inset...

Who would like to see the results????

[Jetkopite]

Here we go !!!!

[Kobayashi]

Try contacting TRF seller Jacek. He is a vintage guy and has quite a few faded inserts. Last time I was in his shop he had a booklet filled with faded inserts.

[Vincent65]

I'd leave that one well alone - looks fab, don't mess with it. Dubai sun will work on it.
leave it in a window for a few months, maybe tape up the red, if you want that to stay the same.

Edit: too late, just seen you've already knackered it. Oh well, as long as you like it...

[southtexas]

looks evenly faded to these eyes after the bleach treatment. Enjoy it!

[NukeMan]

But you promised!!

Nah, it looks good as you went gentle, as you seem to know your stuff and as some of the change (in my eyes) might be due to different lighting. Liked the virgin one better though...

[swish77]

You know what, that looks pretty darn good! I would never do that personally, but it's your watch, so it's your choice, of course. I actually think you achieved the effect you were after, so congrats! Looks good!

[Jetkopite]

Originally Posted by NukeMan

But you promised!!

Nah, it looks good as you went gentle, as you seem to know your stuff and as some of the change (in my eyes) might be due to different lighting. Liked the virgin one better though...

Hahhaha Jonas I know man I did promise but after evaluating the inset I had and doing some tests with other items I decide to risk it and LOVE that new Blue colour with Red now.. The Red side wasn't bleached. Im very happy with the look of the watch and it came out pretty even also... Will take more pics tomorrow in natural daylight as those pics where very quick snaps to show the result..

[Jetkopite]

Originally Posted by swish77

You know what, that looks pretty darn good! I would never do that personally, but it's your watch, so it's your choice, of course. I actually think you achieved the effect you were after, so congrats! Looks good!

Spot on that was the colour I wanted from the start and VERY happy with that end result... I will still source some more insets if the right ones come along to mix it up abit.. Happy Bunny at the mo.

[NukeMan]

I must admit that you showed some solid bleaching skills there!

RIP my deep blue delight...

[Jetkopite]

Originally Posted by NukeMan

I must admit that you showed some solid bleaching skills there!

RIP my deep blue delight...

Well I did some solid research here on this great forum which proves once again what amazing knowledge you can gain here... Very happy now with those colours... I have my 16710 to swap my Coke and brand new Pepsi insets for more darker colours on the GMT II... On my 16750 with patina I love that faded Blue and Red look more..

[linesiders]

You got lucky me thinks. I have never done it personally (thought about it) but have heard of mixed results - including trashing an otherwise nice insert. Next time source one with the color you like -=and have less heart palpitations

[CrownMe]

Originally Posted by Jetkopite

Here we go !!!!

it actually turned out pretty nice. How exactly did u apply the bleach?

[Jetkopite]

Originally Posted by linesiders

You got lucky me thinks. I have never done it personally (thought about it) but have heard of mixed results - including trashing an otherwise nice insert. Next time source one with the color you like -=and have less heart palpitations

I had absolutely NO heart palpitations if I am honest, in my job I make tough decisions which can have serious consequences in life and death so bleaching an inset is hardly serious is it??? LOL. Whats the worst thing that would happen??? I would have to buy another inset for a few hundred $$$. Luckily for me I got the exact colour I wanted to complement my RED on the inset and the Patina on my watch..

[Jetkopite]

Originally Posted by CrownMe

it actually turned out pretty nice. How exactly did u apply the bleach?

Kevin it was very simple I got a little shallow coffee (Greek) cup which is like a shot glass and filled half of it with bleach.. Then I dipped the blue side of my inset into the bleach for about 10 secs then rinsed inset under the tap with running water.. Repeated this a few times till I got desired colour then rinsed it with liquid soap and then put the inset in soapy water to soak for about 5 mins and that was it.. Caution is advised though as it can go very wrong, I tested a few metal objects with the bleach to get a feel for it before the inset dived in..haha.

[CrownMe]

Originally Posted by Jetkopite

Kevin it was very simple I got a little shallow coffee (Greek) cup which is like a shot glass and filled half of it with bleach.. Then I dipped the blue side of my inset into the bleach for about 10 secs then rinsed inset under the tap with running water.. Repeated this a few times till I got desired colour then rinsed it with liquid soap and then put the inset in soapy water to soak for about 5 mins and that was it.. Caution is advised though as it can go very wrong, I tested a few metal objects with the bleach to get a feel for it before the inset dived in..haha.

Im glad your happy with the results. I will admit i was worried for you. Your GMT is so nice i wouldnt dare to mess with it lol Ive seen many terrible bleach jobs lately and feared the worst Sad part is there are a few selling them as original even when its clear they were bleached.

[Jetkopite]

Originally Posted by CrownMe

Im glad your happy with the results. I will admit i was worried for you. Your GMT is so nice i wouldnt dare to mess with it lol Ive seen many terrible bleach jobs lately and feared the worst Sad part is there are a few selling them as original even when its clear they were bleached.

Yeah ive learned so much on this forum. People are even creating patina in the far east and passing it on as vintage which is scary.. I am very pleased with the look of my inset now even if some people preferred the darker Blue... Will take more pics tomorrow in natural daylight.

[GeoGio Greece]

Nice job Andy. Looks nice