Question about perfectionism

Try writing. That cures perfectionism instantly.

I know how you feel. I have Italian terracotta tiles in my bathroom. I spilled some alcohol on one square and it ate through a little of the glaze. Even though it's only a small spot, that's all I see when I go in the bathroom.

You do know Trump is president, the stock market has crashed and there is a pandemic, right?

Rub one out.

Yes I do R3, which is why I try to find some peace in small things to avoid going batshit crazy.

R2, that's the funny thing; I don't mind buying watches that already have damage, but when I do damage myself, like you, that's all I can focus on.

OP, perfectionism is a well-known quality of workers on timepieces. And an acknowledged challenge.

I know what you feel in a small way. Among my hobbies is coin and paper currency collection. I found an extremely rare paper bill from 1864. I am very careful and have the right tools, and what I do is quite simple as far as protection, maintenance and storage. And I tore it. It's a small tear, but it made me sick. I felt like tearing it into pieces and pitching it. (MARY!)

I would get rid of the damaged watch, or put it away where you don't see it. Tell yourself that a craftsman or woman, even the best, is permitted to make an occasional mistake.

If Leonardo could bear the mess he made by choosing lousy and risky techniques when creating "The Last Supper," one of the masterworks of Western civilization, you can afford to be kind to yourself.

And if you have a touch of OCD, seek some professional counsel. That's also a trait both helpful and problematic with fine-detail, close-working people.

Is there no way to repair the damage? I mean there is liquid porcelain repair kits, or is that not possible?

Thanks R6 that was a great reply. Honestly it's good that someone who also has a rare hobby can empathize with this situation.

[quote]It's a small tear, but it made me sick. I felt like tearing it into pieces and pitching it. (MARY!)

I threw the tool I was using across the room and hissed FUCK! under my breath.

R7 yes the repair can be done but it never looks right and will actually stand out more than the chip. There's a few people who do really excellent repairs but they charge the moon and the stars for their work. They usually work on really rare dials, or museum quality pieces.

OP = Midge from Vertigo

I understand how you feel and why you feel that way, OP; however, I find it helps to be philosophical and see the Big Picture in matters such as these.

The watch is quite old and has an extensive provenance; you you are part of the watch’s ongoing history and the watch will probably outlast you for several generations. Other than slightly damaging the face, you’ve only provided the best care possible for the item and it is far better off being cleaned and restored than being left to deteriorate/lock up through neglect.

Think of the small nick like a person’s chipped tooth: a battle scar from a long life. A good example is the Crown of Hungary - its finial cross was bent by accident when someone closed its case too quickly. However, the Hungarians chose to keep it that way rather than bend it back. It’s even presented on their national flag with the bent cross because it’s part of Hungary’s long history.

I’ve used these fine folks to repair badly damaged items and they come back LITERALLY just like new! It is the closest thing to real-life magic I’ve seen. Check out their reviews. Also, very reasonable charges for their services.

I love you R9.

R10, that's genuinely a good view of this. I really liked reading that, thank you.

Public flogging? If that's already on your calendar for the near future, I guarantee that after a night's rest you'll see this in a slightly less painful light. What's done is done. I agree about being a perfectionist; it's horrible when we slip up being `100% accurate when we're doing anything we're passionate about. I can't imagine how Olympic athletes feel when they fuck up in competition when they've drilled the same thing thousands of times.

Just don't be too hard on yourself. Or as I am wont to quote myself, "My low self esteem ran out of steam."

Thanks R13. I keep looking at the watch and remembering that's there's a century old movement ticking away inside the case and that one small chip shouldn't make me angry or make me enjoy my work any less.

Someone in another thread wrote this about perfectionism and it hit me like s alp in the face because it describes me perfectly:

[quote]No, a perfectionist is someone who believes "If it's not perfect, it's worthless", and that can apply to objects, people, or tasks. A person can be a perfectionist and they complete a task, and they think, "It was not done perfectly therefore the work is worthless, and I am worthless". Perfectionism is a miserable existence, and ought to be classified as a form of mental illness.

OP, I've found excellent porcelain repairers (another hobby) and, while the costs can be high, they haven't been at the astronomical scale you describe. Color, surface matching and the rest aren't so bad in the case of a tiny nick. AND if it's a tiny nick, the mellifluous R10's soft point of "so what?" may be the best approach.

However, the decision to keep the damage to the Hungarian crown has been more a matter of peculiar Hungarian sensibilities than need. The damage to the cross actually is structurally insignificant and would be easy to repair. The damage also came from mundane causes (smashed in a container) rather than a missed assassination shot or something else historic. Not quite comparable, obviously. (British royalty make a hobby of redoing their crowns with and without the need for it.)

Learn to practice wabi-sabi

Can you decorate the chip with gold somehow?

Blinding also is a fine way to desensitize oneself to visual flaws.

Out of sight, out of mind. Toss it into a lake and forget about it.