To Fade or Not to Fade.. That is the question

[pam007]

To Fade or Not to Fade... that is the age old question. 

 

Which do you prefer and why?

Vote above and comment below.

[omegex]

Voted for the dark one. Personally I think it looks better - particularly with the pearl in place!!!!

I have never been into this patina thing - just doesn't do it for me.

[lionsandtigers]

dont fade an insert on your own. its always obvious that its been artificially faded.

[hautehorloge]

I'm loving both looks. But the faded insert gives a unique look that i love on my 5513. I actually change by my mood.

[Bc1221]

i like faded but not beat to [censored].

 

some discoloration looks great. its when theyre scratched to death and the pearls busted out makes them look like [censored].

 

something like this.

 

 

is perfect aging imo.

 

the last 1680 build i did... used a clark insert. faded and turned blue.

i guess they ran out of black so they repainted the blue ones. 

[freddy333]

dont fade an insert on your own. its always obvious that its been artificially faded.

Ditto.

[jackflash]

It's a very fine line to get that gen-like fade. Less is more.

[droptopman]

I love naturally faded inserts and naturally aged watches, but most I have seen that people try to age by hand do not look right. Not all, some members have pulled off some really nice looking "vintagized" pieces, but some others just look beat to death...

[pam007]

Hmm I like where this discussion is going but I think there is some confusion that needs to be addressed... 

 

The first insert is NOT an attempted fading of the 2nd insert.  They are 2 separate inserts..

 

Carry on

[almil]

Don't fade, since you'll never get the naturally faded look.

[pam007]

i like faded but not beat to [censored].

 

some discoloration looks great. its when theyre scratched to death and the pearls busted out makes them look like [censored].

 

something like this.

 

 

is perfect aging imo.

 

 

I too like this insert but the insert and the watch does not match.

The first thought that comes to my mind whenever I see inserts like this is...

 

"How do you keep an insert SCRATCH FREE for 45 years, fading it out with sun, salt, chemicals natuarlly, while the watch is beat and polished?"

[Emilio Santos S.]

I prefer the NOS style because the vintage Rolex with faded inserts looks like they were not taken care of. (I mean the artificial faded ones)

Edited November 12, 2014 by Emilio Santos S.

[dieselpower]

I voted for the dark. Purely because it's actually more accurate. If you look at a whole bunch of vintage watches it's amazing how well preserved they are, especially the bezel inserts. I'd go so far as to say that in a tray of 50 vintage subs you'd only find one or two with faded inserts.

[Nanuq]

+1 DP

My '71 Sea Dweller still wears the original MkIII insert and it's a dark, rich black. My '68 Sub has its original MkIII insert and it's scratched up but has only faded a little, to a dark slate grey.

[Mike on a bike]

My best 6538 has faded bezel but was given a dark one w/ it been wanting to switch out, go dark .

[Aero_Dave]

I like the dark look as well. I can't think of how a real watch would really get that faded, unless your a diver & where it everyday in the saltwater. My local truck mechanic where's his sub everyday while working on trucks. Now that things looks like it's been to hell & back. But it's his everyday watch like most wear a timex.

Dave...

[Nanuq]

Here are an assortment of gen vintage inserts, all faded from decades of outdoor use. The last pic is one that has faded almost not at all. Notice how different the slate/grey/blues look under different light.

[Nanuq]

Here's one that lived outdoors on the deck of dive ships and underseas for 30 years, and hasn't faded at all.

[Ezio]

Ooh Nanuq all that vintage porn you always show

[508-Fanatic]

Guys - just buy an Omega rep... they do it on their own, and quite quickly haha

[freddy333]

Naturally faded

[hautehorloge]

Here's my Cartel 5513 with the insert bleached and aged by myself.

[jackflash]

This is about as much bezel fade I like for my builds:

[Chuck P]

I like both. Sometimes a nice, even fade can change the entire mood of the watch.

[pam007]

Naturally faded

 

Very Nice.

Love it