Damaged, Repair, Clean, Preserve Soviet Awards And Documents.

[RedBanner1920]

Would enamel replacement stop anybody here from buying a order at a fairly affordible price? Even if the replaced enamel is done "professionaly"? This is just a general question for collecters out there.

[EricFG]

Not in the least.

[Lapa]

It all boils down to a matter of personnal standards and preference.

Marc

[Alfred]

Would enamel replacement stop anybody here from buying a order at a fairly affordible price? Even if the replaced enamel is done "professionaly"? This is just a general question for collecters out there.

It is a question of the price for the piece and how common or rare the piece is.
I would not buy an late Red Star or Red Banner of Labour with replaced enamel for my collection.

Some collectors avoid this repaired awards. But sometimes you have not the money or change to find an 100% perfect piece. How many Red Banner screwback awards you can get without enamel damage.

best regards
Andreas

[Eryk]

It depends, because archival documentation can be such a big part of collecting Soviet bling. Where that's the priority then damage/repair is much less important than serial number. Where it's not, then condition may make more difference - but as Lapa said, that's all preference.

It's good advice to price your purchases with an emphasis on condition. History aside, what we collect here are artifacts and condition matters as to value in the wide world of collecting such things.

I place less emphasis on condition because (as everyone knows by now... ) my main interest is GPW history. So no, it wouldn't stop me buying.

[Pobeda45]

I always wonder if the damage occurred during, or after the war. I would say it's much more rare to find a "boevik" (battle award) without damage. My grandfather's Gvardia badge had taken a direct hit from a shell splinter, or so the legend goes--still in my father's possession.

George

[CtahhR]

I am thinking of replacing the enamel on a OPW2 which has had all the enamel removed. I'm thinking of getting a jeweller to do it if the price is right but I wouldn't get it done if not for the fact that ALL of the enamel has been "removed" by someone. I wouldn't replace bits of enamel if there were any other original bits there as it would be difficult to get the right colour. When I need to "replace" enamel on something to display temporarily I just brush it with nail polish and then remove it later. If I buy any items with replacement "enamel" I usually remove it as it could be toxic or anything. Some are sticky when they don't dry right and that's not very good. As for battle damage that should be left well alone! I have military items with blood and mud and alsorts on it from the battlefield. I even have the mangled coins out of my tram conductor cousin's pocket from when he got killed saving a child from in front of the tram in 1935. Sure it could have been straightened and spent it but that's not quite the point. Just as having a smashed up Guards badge shows that a guard was actively guarding. I have a hard time sometimes replacing ribbons....

[EricFG]

Would you consider showing us the OPW in question, please? Just curious.

[CtahhR]

I'd be happy to when I get myself a camera - which unfortunately may be some time.

[EricFG]

What about yours (or a friend's) cellphone camera? Sometimes they can provide good images.