Rule #6: Condition, condition, condition

To be able to do what I do – I collect watches… I try to live by a few simple rules as a guideline for all my actions when it comes to watches…

I thought it’s time to share another of my watch collecting rules…

Rule #6: Condition, condition, condition

We all know that the condition of a watch plays a big role in the pleasure of a watch and are often reflected on the price of the watch.

Due to that there are many descriptions of the condition of a watch…

“NOS” – New Old Stock, Pristine, Crisp, Minty fresh, …. Used, Patina, Regular wear, … All trying to reflect the condition of the watch.

Lately a lot of sales ads use “Tropical” – which used to indicated that a dial turned into a brown tone.

Nowadays “Tropical” is used to describe a lot of different stated of patina…

I think all watch collectors dream of finding a sixty years old watch in condition as new or close to new… Like this Zenith Captain cased chronometer below.

While the Zenith, also with a Captain case, to the right might not appeal to all…

Zenith Captain Chronometer and Captain case

Depending on reference and type of watch, some patina may be acceptable. A more rare or expensive reference may force you to go for a watch in less good condition than you wish for.

In my experience – don’t! If not matching your expectations it will en up in the safe never to be used…

But from my point of view it is not that easy as to decide based on the amount of patina… On a “tool” watch it is easier to agree with patina than on a “dress” watch.

Here another Zenith pair as example – one Pilot and one S. 58, both with the manual Calibre 120 inside. These T.W.O are quite similar in style as well, the S. 58 to the right a bit broader on all accounts…

The Pilot watch to the left have much less patina compared with the S. 58 on which the whole dial have turned from black to “Tropical”, but between the two it would be an easy choice for me…

Yes, I have been able to narrow down to which types of condition I prefer – among these examples: 1) Captain Chronometer 2) Captain case 3) Pilot 4) S. 58 – the 1) and 4) are my clear choice!