Patina

What does an even tropical patina do to an 854 IWC vintage?
Ill post photos when it returns from the watchmaker.. But do people thi nk it adds or detracts when the dial becomes a golden creamy honey colour?

Mine is 14 years with me and i think mid 60s .

With a classy dress watch the patina may add some beauty to the watch as long as it is some slight discolouration, and not a sign of inferior quality. It thus must happen slowly, a product of a longer period of time. On a sporty watch a quick discolouration of a bezel ring to me is a sign of inferior quality, if I would know this beforehand I would not buy the watch.

Kind regards,
Paul

A dial is like the face of a man, it becomes more charming as time passes by or simply gets older (and ugly).

What people say means nothing in this case, as long as the watch speaks to you.

Btw, I've seen faded dials and bezels as key factors to increase the value of so many watches that makes me think vintage is just for those with that attitude.

I just got the watchmaker to give it a very light polish.
It has a few scratches but no dings.

The patina does look a heap better in the flesh than it does in photos.Its very even and almost like the golden colour of a sunrise.

Should i ask him to not polish the case before he sends it back next week??

It depends b the conditions of the watch. I'm against any polishings most of the times.

What do you get polishing?

A) A thinner case

B) A vintage watch looking like brand new, with a dial that will look like coming from jurassic

Things must get along, in harmony and good balance.

But that's just my opinion :)

thanks.
The IWC is confusing me.
On one hand its a dress watch.
On the other its very vintage.

I have a few watches that i dont touch but theyre vintage sports watches like Enicar sherpas etc.
Im at a loss .
But ill heed the advice. Problem is i wont know what the polish is till i get it back.I do know and he has been instructed only a light polish.

I clearly must work out how to post up photos

here u go...

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Quick Step One: most people sign up for a free host at www.photobucket.com
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Thanks SHING
Ill do it soon.

My Cal 853 IWC and Pellaton and Patina.

Beautiful - slight polish of the case, and leave that dial as is!

Of course, just my personal opinion, but for sure it's a good looking vintage with a fantastic automatic calibre.

Quote!

You wrote the dial looks better in metal, I don't see how, that patina looks like it was made for purpose, being so beautifully disposed.

Step away from the watch! Don't touch it!

I agree with the others. The dial is beautiful as is. Maybe a light case polish if the appearance bothers you, but the dial looks fantastic.

Thanks guys.
I thought it was an 854 and it turns out to be an Cal 853 ... which i guess dates it to 1963 or prior up to 1959.

Actually cant find my watch on any catalogue also.

Anyone have any clue ?

Well, your case shows that the watch is a Reference 309A. That model is shown in the late 50s-early 1960s catalogs per this index:
www.iwcforum.com/Catalogs/Catalog_Index.html

However, those models in the catalogs have a different dial, without Arabics at 12/3/6/9. IWC sometimes used different dials for the same reference.

Thank you Michael.

Maybe why i coudmt find it.