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
Category: Tropical dial
Omega 351 bumper automatic, 1950
This is an early Omega Seamaster 351 bumper automatic that we came across recently. It has one of the early “bumper automatic” movements, the Omega calibre 351. It is a classic vintage Seamaster, dating from 1950, and has aged very well. Timekeeping is good, and it has that distinctive “bumper action” on the wrist. The…Read more
A guide to vintage watch patina
Over the past few decades, the vintage watch market has seen an interesting shift. According to Christie’s Auction House, the newfound appeal of vintage watch patina is a phenomenon that is here to stay. The appeal for “honest” patina has grown over the last decade. In the years preceding, many collectors were interested in acquiring…Read more
Vintage watches, how to spot a redial
If you are buying a vintage watch because it is your passion and you enjoy wearing something visually pleasing on your wrist, this article probably isn’t for you. Buy what you like, and wear it. However, if you are buying a vintage watch as an investment or perhaps both an investment and your passion, then…Read more
Eterna KonTiki 10, c1968
The Kontiki models of the 1950s and 60s are arguably some of Eterna’s most iconic models. Solidly constructed, inside and out in every respect, they were favoured by Divers and Military personnel at the time. This particular vintage watch is an Eterna KonTiki 10 dating from 1958. It is in stunning condition for its age….Read more
Longines wrist watch, tropical dial
This vintage Longines watch has a good quality 17-jewel calibre 6952 hand-winding movement, which is keeping time well. The movement is fully signed, and it has the Longines serial number, which dates it back to 1977. We were drawn to this Longines because of the tropical dial, not that the pattern necessarily appealed, just that…Read more
What are tropical dial watches?
A tropical dial watch is a vintage watch that has undergone a colour change on its dial. Exposure to sunlight, humidity, and other environmental factors typically causes this colour change. These conditions occur frequently in the tropics, hence the name. Today, some vintage watch collectors highly value tropical dial watches. To be honest, we are…Read more