My first attempt at artificial patina: 300 Seamaster 166.0324

[eBoy]

Got this a while ago from Hont as base for my first amateur attempt at aging a watch, so be gentle please. Lol

I tried the coffee thing (liquid coffee on the markers) on the dial markers and hands to age them, which of course was a disaster. I had to clean up the dial afterwards and luckily it was very forgiving.

If I'll try anything with the dial and hands again, it will probably be baking it in coffee powder instead. Unless someone has a better suggestion...

The case and bezel is probably the best about my attempt: I produced some scratches with a screw driver and coins and afterwards worked on the surface with different tools from sand paper in different strenghts and a metal brush.

The crystal I definitely overdid and will have to polish with some Polywatch that I already got. Once that's done, I'll have to figure what do with the bezel insert, hands and the dial markers... Because now there's a discrepancy between them looking brand new and the case's patina. Lol

So, what do you guys think? Did I ruin a good watch or is it an acceptable frst attempt?

I tend more towards ruined, although I guess it could be much worse. 🫣 lol

My hope is that polishing the crystal to a clearer state and figuring out how to convincingly age the bezel insert, hands and the markers could at least partially salvage this project.

 

[haze3715]

Thanks for sharing your mod efforts! What technique did you use for the coffee patina mod?

 

[eBoy]

Thanks for sharing your mod efforts! What technique did you use for the coffee patina mod?

I saw a video on YouTube which suggested simply "painting" the markers with espresso. I think the reason why this didn't work at all for me is the material of which the markers are made and whether the liquid is absorbed or not. In my case, it just remained on the surface and then dried. The result looked horrible. But at least it was easy to clean and I could just wipe it away with a wet cotton bud.

 

[rockdaytona]

I saw a video on YouTube which suggested simply "painting" the markers with espresso. I think the reason why this didn't work at all for me is the material of which the markers are made and whether the liquid is absorbed or not. In my case, it just remained on the surface and then dried. The result looked horrible. But at least it was easy to clean and I could just wipe it away with a wet cotton bud.

Very interesting! How is the thickness of the watch? Are you pleased with it aside from aging issues?

 

[bigtiddygothgf]

I saw a video on YouTube which suggested simply "painting" the markers with espresso. I think the reason why this didn't work at all for me is the material of which the markers are made and whether the liquid is absorbed or not. In my case, it just remained on the surface and then dried. The result looked horrible. But at least it was easy to clean and I could just wipe it away with a wet cotton bud.

The best way to age lume with liquid coffee is to soak the dial/hands in the coffee for roughly 24hrs, I've never found the 'painting' method to work, it always dries and ends up just looking like a coffee stain. The hands will take less time but I would probably check on both every 2hrs or so

 

[eBoy]

The best way to age lume with liquid coffee is to soak the dial/hands in the coffee for roughly 24hrs, I've never found the 'painting' method to work, it always dries and ends up just looking like a coffee stain.

Thanks for the hint. Sounds like a less dangerous alternative technique to the baking trick.

 

[eBoy]

Very interesting! How is the thickness of the watch? Are you pleased with it aside from aging issues?

Thickness should be like the gen specimens, I think. I haven't measured it yet, if you want I can measure it for you.

Yes, I am overall pleased — especially at the price point of under $200. Only thing I find annoying is that the dials are hard to center. I noticed if during QC, but then noticed that the even the advertised four different versions of the 300 vintage SMs by my TD had the miscentered dial problem (one even worse than mine) and really every single identical rep I found online had it, so I greenlighted it.

However, I was able to re-center it while working on it and it's a bit better now. When worn, it's not instantly noticeable.

 

[rockdaytona]

I’ll get one if one of you patina pros can help me age it a bit.
Can you measure the lug with? I would put it on a mesh Milanese strap.

 

[eBoy]

Lug width is 20mm.

 

[rockdaytona]

Thanks brother
It’s kind of a fun beater
I’m attracted to less “blingy” watches of late and this hits the mark

 

[Geonor]

Thanks brother
It’s kind of a fun beater
I’m attracted to less “blingy” watches of late and this hits the mark

Not that blingy as a watch but the SAS version OP has still goes for $30k in gen ^^

 

[rockdaytona]

Not that blingy as a watch but the SAS version OP has still goes for $30k in gen ^^

Agree but it’s IYKYK kinda thing. Like an Albino Explorer I

 

[eBoy]

Not that blingy as a watch but the SAS version OP has still goes for $30k in gen ^^

True dat. Some sought-after gen vintage Seamasters are incredibly expensive.

 

[eBoy]

Update: Had some time to polish the acrylic glass with PolyWatch. Applied a small amount for only two minutes with some pressure and it's really doing miracles. Can't wait to use it on the Hesalite of my gen Moonwatch once it's necessary!

Much better now. I was way too engaged with the sandpaper... Now it has its clarity back with just the right degree of scratches to add a bit of vintage feel.

 

[eBoy]

 

[eBoy]

Here are some shots of the "aged" case:

 

[haze3715]

Nicely done, that looks great! I saw Hont mention this model on Reddit - what factory is this?

 

[rockdaytona]

B12

If lugs are too thick how does one thin them?
Rub like hell with cape cod??

 

[eBoy]

Nicely done, that looks great! I saw Hont mention this model on Reddit - what factory is this?

Didn't mention a factory in the Telegram ad I saw it back in November, just model name & movement type...

 

[eBoy]

If lugs are too thick how does one thin them?

Not sure if I correctly understand what you mean by "too thick lugs".