I came across this vintage Certina Waterking online and thought it was a really appealing watch from a much-underappreciated brand. I had every intention of buying this watch after I had completed my research. What a frustrating effort that was! Despite all of the online resources at hand, the history of the Certina Waterking is…Read more
Category: Manual wind
Browse our articles on vintage manual wind watches. Before automatic movements became widespread, manual winding was the standard way to power a mechanical watch.
Art Deco, Cyma Watersport wristwatch, 1930s.
This is a classic Art Deco Cyma Watersport wristwatch in 9ct gold, dating to 1937. The dial has a nice, even patina, with no signs of restoration, which gives no doubt to its originality. The Art Deco Arabic numerals sit inside the outer-minute tracking, which is mirrored in the subsidiary seconds dial at 6 o’clock….Read more
Tudor cushion cased watch, 1930s
This particular vintage Tudor cushion cased watch is of great interest to me as it belonged to my great-grandfather, and it dates from the 1930s. The watch was passed to me by an uncle last Christmas, it was in a sorry state. It has since undergone restoration at J.J. Browne & Son, Caterham, Surrey, UK….Read more
Vintage watch condition ratings
If you are starting to visit the multitude of online shops that specialise in vintage watches, you are going to come across the term “condition”. This is where the retailers describe the overall condition of a vintage watch, and this does influence the price. There is no standard listing, and many retailers provide their own…Read more
Art Deco Omega T17 Tank, 1939
Recently, I have found the appeal of vintage Art Deco style watches to be distracting, to the point where owning one has become the focus of my watch-collecting hobby. Art Deco emerged in the 1920s and 1930s, reflecting the cultural and social outlook of the era. Elegant geometric shapes, bold lines and superior craftsmanship characterise…Read more
Vintage Art Deco watches
In the modern world, there seems to be an abundance of devices that can tell the time, from smartphones and tablets to microwaves and even my washing machine. There seems to be no need today to bother wearing a watch, unless of course, it is a statement of personal style. However, it wasn’t that long ago,…Read more
What determines the “condition” of a vintage watch?
When buying a vintage watch, you are also buying a piece of history. Your new timepiece may have had a sheltered life, sitting in a box at the back of a drawer for fifty years, and it will be in pristine condition. Alternatively, your latest acquisition may have been the daily wearer for its previous…Read more
Longines wristwatch for J.W. Benson, 1933
In our recent searches for a nice Art Deco style wristwatch, we came across the following offering from The Vintage Wrist Watch Company, a Longines cushion-cased wristwatch for J.W. Benson dating from 1933. Although not the typical rectangular-curvex Art Deco design we were looking for, the battered dial has appeal, much like a well-loved childhood…Read more
9ct gold Art Deco J.W. Benson wristwatch, 1947
The features of Art Deco design have recently caught our eyes, and we are keen to add a watch to our collection that captures the charm of the period. In this instance, during our initial research, we came across this Art Deco J.W. Benson wristwatch dating from 1947. It is in an Art Deco style…Read more
How to wind a vintage watch
A vintage mechanical watch is powered by the mainspring and will only run if the mainspring is wound to some degree. The mainspring is wound either by hand or by a self-winding mechanism, i.e. an automatic movement. Normally, a mechanical watch has a 40 to 48-hour power reserve after a full wind. This means to…Read more