At Set Back in Time, we are all capable of changing a buckle or a strap on one of our vintage watches. However, none of us has actually dismantled and rebuilt a watch from our collection. That said, none of us has any doubt that we could pull one of our watches apart. However, putting…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.
Marvin wristwatch, 1950s
This is a striking Marvin wristwatch dating from the 1950s. This particular watch has a 17-jewel Swiss hand-winding movement, calibre 320A, which is working well. None of us at Set Back in Time have had much to do with the Marvin brand. We set aside some time to investigate the brand and this particular watch….Read more
Titus wristwatch, 1950s
This Titus Geneve wristwatch dates from the 1950s and is a recent addition to the Set Back in Time collection. The Titus brand is not a household name, nor is it an investment piece. The ETA movement is good quality, but not a high-end, in-house calibre. So why did one of our group buy this…Read more
The evolution of watch straps and bracelets
At Set Back in Time, the majority of the vintage watches that pass through our collections have leather straps. Naturally, these straps themselves are not vintage. Leather straps simply don’t last. However, recently a few vintage watches have included metal bracelets. This inspired today’s post: the evolution of watch straps and bracelets. Below is what…Read more
Wyler Vetta wristwatch, 1950s
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
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