Gents 1950s Richard Bumper Automatic Wristwatch

A gents 1950s Richard bumper automatic wrist watch (apparently pronounced Ree-sharr).

The watch has a superb quality AS 1298 bumper automatic movement which is working nicely. Early automatic watches relied on the rotor ‘bumping’ backwards and forwards between two springs to maintain the power within the movement. Later automatic watches have the fully rotational rotor. This particular movement has been embellished with Geneva stripes, an added expense for something which was rarely seen. The AS 1298 was first introduced to the watch market in 1946.

There is not a great deal of information available on Richard other than being listed in 1949 as

"Richard Automatic, Richard SA, Morges/Saint-Jean" and in 1966 as “Richard SA, for automatics and chronographs”.

The watch itself measures 34.5mm diameter excluding the winding crown and the lugs, so a good size for a 1950s piece. The case is stainless steel and in good condition with just the odd minor mark, nothing serious at all. The screw-on case back is signed on the inside and the outside with the Richard name. The case back also states that the watch is waterproof but, as with any vintage watch, it should be kept away from water.

The lens is in good condition.

The signed dial is in good condition with original dauphine shaped hands, black centre seconds hand and outer minute markers.

A new leather strap has been fitted.

The watch will be sent in a new presentation box.

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All of our watches are checked over before listing, and are also checked for accuracy which is usually within around +/- two to three minutes over 24 hours (unless otherwise stated), which is considered respectable for a vintage watch.

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