The Wyler Watch Company is an obscure brand that we uncovered when researching shock protection systems. Wyler is perhaps best known for their in-house shock protection system called Incaflex. They advertised this system by dropping two Wyler watches from the top of the Eiffel Tower. Both watches were damaged in the fall, but were confirmed…Read more
Category: Components
Browse our articles on vintage watch components. Understanding the individual parts of a watch is essential for identifying, dating, and appreciating vintage timepieces. This category explores the design and, functions of watch components.
Doxa wristwatch, 1960s
This watch was introduced to the Set Back in Time group by a regular to our weekly meetings. It’s not a top-of-the-range brand, just a really nice-looking vintage gentleman’s wristwatch. Doxa is a relatively little-known brand that has a long history and a reputation built on modern dive watches. The watch has a signed 17-jewel…Read more
Omega Seamaster automatic wristwatch, 1964
During the 1960s, Omega Seamasters featured classic round cases and minimalist dials. The emphasis was on elegance in preference to complexity. While stainless steel dominated the era, Omega offered silver or black dials featuring applied markers and sharp dauphine hands. This understated, gentlemanly design established the Seamaster as an all-occasion timepiece, complementing both formal suits…Read more
How magnetism can affect a vintage watch
At Set Back in Time, we are very familiar with the effects of magnetism. Vintage watches and electronic devices simply don’t mix very well. A vintage watch is a finely tuned machine, largely made of metal and built for precision. However, if the delicate components are exposed to magnetism, accuracy will suffer. This is something…Read more
Cyma Navystar wristwatch, c1960
The Set Back in Time team is very familiar with the Cyma brand. Back in the 1950s and 60s, Cymas was producing high-quality watches with in-house movements that rivalled some of the bigger Swiss brands. Cyma watches of the aforementioned period are highly collectable. In a recent gathering, one of our group showed this example…Read more
Technos Goldshield wristwatch, 1960s.
Uncovering obscure Swiss vintage brands seems to be a recurring theme of recent Set Back in Time discussions. This post is no exception. One of the group recently uncovered this Technos Goldshield wristwatch dating from the 1960s. It is powered by a high-grade ETA 2391 21-jewel hand-winding movement and has a distinctive dial. However, none…Read more
How vintage automatic watches work
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
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
Guide to vintage watches: case materials
If you are looking to purchase your first vintage watch, deciding on the right case material might be a bit of a challenge. It won’t be too surprising that steel is the most common material for vintage watches. It is a safe and durable choice, but there are other options. In this Set Back in…Read more
Garrard 9ct gold wristwatch, 1979
“Anyone heard of Garrard’s?” That was a question that was asked at a recent Set Back in Time session. The answer was “of course”. Garrard’s is a very distinguished retailer of luxury jewellery, which also includes a range of high-quality watches. In this instance, the watch in question was a Garrard 9ct gold wristwatch dating…Read more