By chance, I recently bumped into a fellow vintage watch collector. I was in a local shoe repair shop looking to have a leather watch strap repaired (I know I could buy a new one, but the existing one has a lovely patina). Sadly, the strap couldn’t be salvaged, but it led to a long…Read more
Category: Vintage watch
Omega bumper automatic wristwatch, 1952
This Omega bumper automatic wristwatch, dating from 1952, represents the transition from traditional manual-wind watches to automatic movements. In this instance, the bumper automatic movement was an Omega calibre 351. Its stainless steel case, signed crown, and iconic bumper automatic movement make it an appealing choice for vintage watch collectors. History of Omega Omega was…Read more
Certina Blue Ribbon wristwatch, 1960s
I had a recent short break in Worthing, a seaside town on the south coast of England. The plan was to spend a couple of days strolling along the seaside in bright sunshine. However, the weather had other ideas. Instead of sunshine, there was howling wind and horizontal rain. The seaside was replaced by window…Read more
Mechanical watch movement frequency
Frequency is a term that is used regularly in these pages when discussing the specifications of watch movements. Movement frequency in a mechanical watch refers to the number of oscillations or vibrations the balance wheel makes per hour. It’s typically measured in Hertz (Hz) or vibrations per hour (VPH) or beats per hour (BPH). For…Read more
Tissot Seastar automatic wristwatch, 1972
I will be the first to admit that I have a soft spot for the Tissot brand. Although my first Swiss watch was a Tag Heuer 1500 Series Professional, it was (sadly) quartz. My first “real” Swiss watch was a Tissot Visodate which I purchased new in 2018 (it still has a few years before…Read more
Longines Admiral 5 star wristwatch, 1970s
This is a vintage Longines Admiral 5-star automatic wristwatch in excellent condition. The movement is signed with the Longines name and the serial number dates back to the mid-1970s. Longines is one of the most underrated brands in the vintage watch world, in my opinion, it’s just as deserving of attention as other well-known Swiss…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 aesthetically 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
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. Art Deco design is characterised by its elegant…Read more