What is a watch bezel? A watch bezel is the ring that surrounds the watch’s face and holds the crystal in place. Bezels come in different materials, colours, and styles. It is generally the outermost component of a watch face. They can serve both decorative and functional purposes, depending on the type of watch. Functionally,…Read more
The Omega Marine: the first true dive watch
I must admit, I have never seen an Omega Marine watch in person. They are not on my immediate list for collection, because I am not a massive fan of dive watches, although the Rolex no-date Submariner is an exception. However, I am a big fan of Omega in general, particularly the Seamaster and Speedmaster…Read more
9ct gold Omega wristwatch, 30T2 calibre, 1944
The Omega 30T2 is one of the brand’s most respected movements. A vintage watch with this calibre has been on my wish list for a while. During my search for a suitable candidate, I came across this particular example at The Vintage Wrist Watch Company. It’s a 9ct gold Omega wristwatch, dating from 1944. Sadly,…Read more
Is my vintage watch overwound?
Is my vintage watch overwound? As a vintage watch collector, I hear this question a lot from both new and experienced watch collectors. But here’s the thing, for as many times as I’ve been asked about overwinding, I’ve never seen a watch that was actually overwound. It’s simply not possible, if a watch is fully wound and not…Read more
Preserving the past: a guide to servicing vintage watches
Questions about the maintenance of vintage watches frequently arise for anyone involved in buying or selling these timeless pieces. Modern watches often last around a decade, but well-made vintage Swiss watches can endure generations with proper care. This is particularly the case with Swiss watches from the golden era of watchmaking. This includes timepieces produced…Read more
Seven reasons why a man should wear a vintage watch
It wasn’t so long ago that everybody wore a watch, as it was the only way to tell the time. Then, in the 90s, mobile phones became widely available and began to display the time. They weren’t the sleek smartphones we know today, but they could make calls, and if you were lucky, they included…Read more
Hermetic wristwatch, 1930.
In my daily search for vintage watches, I came across this very interesting Hermetic wristwatch dating from 1930. At first glance, it looks a little odd because it appears to be missing the crown. However, the crown exists. It is just hidden inside the innovative “hermetic watch case”. This was one of the early attempts…Read more
How to spot a fake vintage Omega
I have written a lot about Omega over the past year. It has probably become my favourite vintage brand. It’s not quite up there with Rolex or the Holy Trinity of Horology, Audemars Piguet, Patek Philippe and Vacheron & Constantin. However, Omega introduced the world to the Speedmaster, the Seamaster and the Constellation, which isn’t…Read more
Tissot, vintage models
Tissot watches often receive less praise than they deserve in the vintage watch world. It saddens me to see a brand receive so little recognition when it has successfully bridged the gap between luxury and affordability in the Swiss watch industry. Tissot has a long record of quality watchmaking that includes elegant dress watches and…Read more
A beginner’s guide to buying a vintage watch
Buying a vintage watch is exciting, but it can also feel overwhelming. For those not involved in watchmaking or collecting, the process may seem complex and intimidating. Vintage watches have a rich and nuanced market with numerous styles, terms, and brands to learn. I remember the first vintage watch I bought, an Omega Geneve automatic…Read more