grc1
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- Dec 4, 2010
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Gentlemen, I've read that since GG offers a patina service, they propose to do it on any stock pair and that it takes like a week.
A couple tips based on my experience:
1. As Neus advised me, it's always easier to go darker, so if you want a patina select a light-coloured model. Generally, warmer brown-toned patinas start with maple calf colour (almost sand-coloured), cooler tones in the blue- to purple start with midnight blue, and neutral grey/deco-black patinas start with pearl grey as the base colour. You can have any shoes patina'd, but the result is better if you start light and then darken.
2. Patinas are an art, which means that different people will have different styles. Pete Bultitude at the Kettering factory is a rock-star god, as far as I'm concerned, when it comes to patina - if you like very distinctive variations, his work will nail it for you. Neus is no less an expert, and her style is more subtle. And of course there are other patina artists that will do G&G shoes, just check Instagram. You want to familiarise yourself with a couple artists' styles and then go with the one that most suits your aesthetic.
3. Patinas do take a bit more care in the long term. It can be part of the charm, or an irritating hassle depending on what side of bed you got out on in the morning . Just bear it in mind.
Hope that helps.