How do I wind a vintage swiss automatic watch?

These watches wind themselves through the natural motion of your arm while worn throughout the day. If the piece has stopped entirely, give the crown a few gentle manual turns to jump-start the internal mechanism before wearing it.

Are these vintage watches waterproof?

Original water resistance seals degrade significantly over decades and can no longer be relied upon. Keep these vintage pieces away from water, swimming, and heavy rain to protect the dial and movement from moisture damage.

What is a bumper movement?

A bumper movement is an early self-winding design where the weighted rotor swings partway across the movement and bounces off springs. You can often feel a slight tap or thud on your wrist as the internal weight moves back and forth.

How do I tell a 1950s watch from a 1960s watch?

Decade differences often show in case shapes, dial fonts, and the specific mechanical calibres used inside. Fifties pieces frequently employ bumper automatics and more rounded lugs, while sixties models lean toward cleaner mid-century modern geometry and full rotor systems.