i think they sort of climax and stay at that point for the rest of their days.

i just recently sold a set of new(er) Sabian Vaults.

i had them for three years and it wasn't until around the 2nd year that they really started to come into their own. it was like a botanist watching a flower bloom! flower

i'm sure the process is different for each cymbal.

it reminds me of wine. wine is aged accordingly for years..but the day you open it is the day its yours. and it would taste different had you have opened it on any other day. but if you open it before/after it peaks..you miss out on all that it has/had to offer.

but man..once the cymbals reach that point (or that sound) its a whole new loving/enjoying experience.

for me anyway!

Yes Sir

It really depends on your method. I've always used mallets to loosen up my newer cymbals. I work them with mallets (hard and fast) for a while. I check 'em periodically to listen for the changes. After that, I play 'em. It's usually another couple of weeks to a couple of months for the final bit.

Over on "that other site", there is a long, almost dissertation by one of todays' non-olive skinned cymbalsmiths that tells the story of aging, or playing in, the cymnbal, what stages it takes, and the changes that he thinks take place during this run in, and the consequences of allowing a new cymbal to go for far too long unplayed. It is a long, and at times boring, read, but the info is very revealing and a ton of great technique and other ideas to break-in and age your cymbals to perfection. It is well written and top-notch information, all designed to shed some light on the mysteries of the metal.

You may read this thought provoking thread here: http://www.cymbalholic.com/forums/showthread.php?40047-Bronze-cymbals-and-age&p=446650&highlight=#post446650