The short history of the Omega Railmaster

The Omega Railmaster is a timepiece deeply rooted in the history of both watchmaking and the evolving needs of professionals who require exceptional precision. This story begins with a tragic event in 1891. A train collision in Ohio highlighted the importance of reliable timekeeping for the railroad industry. A train driver relying on a watch…Read more

Omega Genève gold-plated wristwatch, 1970

This gentleman’s Omega Genève gold-plated wristwatch was a Christmas gift for one of the lucky Set Back in Time group. The watch has a calibre 601 hand-winding movement, which is working nicely. The movement is fully signed, and it has the Omega serial number 30,845,753, dating it back to 1970. The Genève is not the…Read more

The history of vintage watch buckles

This may seem like a strange topic, “The history of vintage watch buckles” because, in the world of vintage watch collecting, it isn’t the component or feature of a watch that first comes to mind. However, in terms of overall originality and authenticity, it is the most likely part of vintage watch hardware to be…Read more

Omega Constellation automatic, 1968

This is a new addition to the expanding collection at Set Back in Time. One of our founding members acquired this Omega Constellation automatic, ref. 168.018, dating from 1968. The watch has an automatic Omega calibre 564, adjusted in five positions and temperature. The movement is fully signed and the Omega serial number 26384804 dates…Read more

A collector’s guide to vintage dress watches

When it comes to building a vintage watch collection, there’s one type of timepiece that deserves a spot on everyone’s wrist, a vintage dress watch. While your everyday watch is the workhorse that gets you through most days, there are occasions that call for something a bit more refined. Think weddings, funerals, christenings, graduations or…Read more

Nivada Visualmatic wristwatch, 1950s

This particular watch was brought to the group’s attention at a recent Set Back in Time meeting. It’s not a vintage watch that anyone owned or was interested in buying. It was simply a novelty. The watch in question is this Nivada Visualmatic wristwatch, dating from the 1950s. The reason it caught our attention was…Read more

The history of the Omega Constellation

The Omega Constellation is named after the eight stars featured on its case-back medallion. The stars represent Omega’s eight world records set at the Kew-Teddington trials and the Geneva Observatory during the mid-20th century. The Constellation line was created specifically as Omega’s flagship chronometer collection, representing the brand’s commitment to precision and excellence. Every Constellation…Read more

Omega Genève wristwatch, 1972

At Set Back in Time, we have a soft spot for the Omega Genève. It was a good-quality watch that always contained high-Omega calibres. Unfortunately, it just couldn’t find its niche up against the likes of the Constellation, Seamaster and De Ville. Sadly, the range is no longer with us, but there are plenty of…Read more

Why Longines should be on your vintage watch radar

Longines is one of the most underrated names in Swiss watchmaking. It may not always command the same attention as some of the more high-profile luxury brands. However, Longines has a legacy that is difficult to ignore. Founded in 1832, it holds the distinction of having the world’s oldest watch logo still in continuous use:…Read more

Wyler Dynawind wristwatch, 1950s

Back in the summer of 2024, one of the Set Back in Time regulars shared an advertisement showing a cartoon image of a watch being dropped from the Space Needle in Seattle, USA. The image caught our attention, as did the name of the watch company, Wyler. It was a Swiss brand, but not a…Read more