The Breitling Watch Source Forums

There’s a lot of people that are here to learn, but I honestly didn’t expect that I ever would have to educate you Craig, you who are being praised to the skies for your work by many members, and even recommended by our moderator & longtime members when somebody is in need for a watchmaker, but hopefully you will understand better, when you have read and seen the below.

The hands on the 1954 & 55 Valjoux 72 AOPA Navitimers are matte silver plated (no lacquer, no paint), hence they all corrode more or less. I have seen 1 set of hands that was clean, they was all painted white when I bought the watch, and when I removed the paint they was clean below, even the hour hand on my NOS 1955 has corroded.

When they corrode, the corroded steel mix with the Radium / Tritium and causes the lume to darken / get “stained”, this dial & hands of the watch in mention, have patinated into perfection.

This watch is a piece of art, maybe you as a watchmaker look different on it, and that’s fine with me. I guess one have to know about art, to recognize art, but it’s still art Craig . . . ! !

The paint in old paintings crack, old cars rust, old people get wrinkles, old colours fade, hands on Val 72 Navitimers corrode etc. etc. all because they had a life one way or another.


“Immaculate patina is an art form, only mastered by time itself”




















Kurt B

Kurt, it was a joke.

Lol, was not expecting to end up laughing out loud when I started reading this thread!

Si tacuisses .....

Chris