In this Set Back in Time post, we will attempt to explain how the automatic movement in a vintage watch works. Generally, vintage watches will contain mechanical movements, which are either manual or automatic. The manual movements are wound by hand daily. Each full wind will give upwards of 40 hours of power reserve. On…Read more
Category: Automatic
Are vintage watches a good investment?
At Set Back in Time, we are a group of dedicated vintage watch collectors. We enjoy owning and wearing vintage timepieces. We are not buying for investment purposes. That said, vintage watches can have investment potential, and that is the topic of this post. In this guide, we explore why vintage watches are potentially a…Read more
Omega Constellation “Pie Pan” wristwatch, 1963
The Omega Constellation is not a watch that regularly dominates the discussions at Set Back in Time meetings. Generally, when Omega comes up, the discussion centres around Seamasters, Speedmasters, and dare we say it, the MoonSwatch. However, in a recent meeting, a newcomer to the group was wearing an Omega Constellation with a Pie Pan…Read more
Omega Seamaster De Ville wristwatch, 1966
This is a nice example of a vintage men’s watch from the Swiss brand, Omega. It is an automatic Seamaster De Ville 165.008, which combines the qualities of a dress watch with the rugged functionality of a tool watch. The watch is in very good condition with a strong case and a remarkably clean dial…Read more
The Rolex Oyster Perpetual
In a recent post, Set Back in Time explored the history behind the Rolex Oyster case. Here, we are going to delve into the history of the Rolex Perpetual automatic movement. The two names belong together, and there is a long-running range called the Rolex Oyster Perpetual. The two names complement each other, combining a…Read more
Helvetia “tropical dial” automatic wristwatch, 1950s
This watch was brought to the attention of the Set Back in Time group a few weeks ago. No one in the group was particularly interested in buying, but it did have a few characteristics that caught our attention and made for a lively discussion. First was the “tropical dial”, which tends to be a…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
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