"Tropical" dials are marketed for the same reason "distressed" jeans are marketed. The 'boomers who dreamed of having a countercultural life when they were kids but sold out to The Man instead wanted to buy their way into the social signifiers of an existence other than the one they led. They were, and are, willing to pay in order to look like they'd spent the past 20 years working dive boats off Antigua rather than loan adjustments off Main.
I can accept Tropical dials, but not spider-cracks. Also, there is a continuum of what is acceptable or not in terms of damage/corrosion/ageing and I find it rather arbitrary. It is the willing buyer/marketeer that makes the call in deciding the value of such conditions, which I find it hard to agree at times.
i agree, spider is too far for me. funny enough, i almost linked the first spider-tropical dial i found when i was researching this piece! i believe it was a Sub, sold in ~2012!
Yesterday’s tropical dial marketing is today’s protein craze. Enamel contains less than 1% protein btw. How’s that new Daytona gonna increase my gains? SMH
tudor are leaning into scarcity in the correct way, the daring collection is just bright configurations of non-scarce models. no one reasonable is going to complain about not being able to buy a turquoise or yellow watch.
the choice to introduce the 39 chrono as a daring configuration is also the correct one. this is an exceptional product that makes chronos from the likes of omega look like overpriced trash. it deserves a moment in the sun, before it gets on the wrist of everybody. the daring collection can bring in collectors of desirable watches who would not have considered tudor otherwise. think of all the rich guys are out there with snoopys who would never be caught dead wearing any other omega.
I’ve always been wary about tropical dials on a vintage watch, since fakery or manipulation to achieve the look seem to be widespread. AFAIK, there is no reliable test or method of determining whether the tropical appearance is the result of natural aging or environmental conditions, enhancement, torrification (if that even applies to watches) or something else. Paying a premium for a tropical dial is for me fraught with way too much uncertainty.
"Tropical" dials are marketed for the same reason "distressed" jeans are marketed. The 'boomers who dreamed of having a countercultural life when they were kids but sold out to The Man instead wanted to buy their way into the social signifiers of an existence other than the one they led. They were, and are, willing to pay in order to look like they'd spent the past 20 years working dive boats off Antigua rather than loan adjustments off Main.
lol!
Hilarious!
Excellent article on tropicals, Tony!! There’s nothing like a cappuccino swirl gilt tropical 1016 in the right light…
I can accept Tropical dials, but not spider-cracks. Also, there is a continuum of what is acceptable or not in terms of damage/corrosion/ageing and I find it rather arbitrary. It is the willing buyer/marketeer that makes the call in deciding the value of such conditions, which I find it hard to agree at times.
i agree, spider is too far for me. funny enough, i almost linked the first spider-tropical dial i found when i was researching this piece! i believe it was a Sub, sold in ~2012!
Interesting news about Lorier. I'm kind of surprised there hasn't been any formal announcement if the deal closed 4 months ago?
Comment from Lorenzo: https://www.reddit.com/r/lorierwatches/comments/1tvpbxx/lorier_sold_and_web_down/
interesting, thank you! -- hadn't caught the reddit thread
I do love these throwback articles. Thanks, Tony!
Yesterday’s tropical dial marketing is today’s protein craze. Enamel contains less than 1% protein btw. How’s that new Daytona gonna increase my gains? SMH
tudor are leaning into scarcity in the correct way, the daring collection is just bright configurations of non-scarce models. no one reasonable is going to complain about not being able to buy a turquoise or yellow watch.
the choice to introduce the 39 chrono as a daring configuration is also the correct one. this is an exceptional product that makes chronos from the likes of omega look like overpriced trash. it deserves a moment in the sun, before it gets on the wrist of everybody. the daring collection can bring in collectors of desirable watches who would not have considered tudor otherwise. think of all the rich guys are out there with snoopys who would never be caught dead wearing any other omega.
I’ve always been wary about tropical dials on a vintage watch, since fakery or manipulation to achieve the look seem to be widespread. AFAIK, there is no reliable test or method of determining whether the tropical appearance is the result of natural aging or environmental conditions, enhancement, torrification (if that even applies to watches) or something else. Paying a premium for a tropical dial is for me fraught with way too much uncertainty.