Online source (website ?) to research/study older Swiss wrist watches ?

Are there some specific brands you're looking at? There might be some forums or a random website that nobody really knows about with some info. I don't deal with too much vintage stuff (in fact I try to avoid it) so I can't help you unfortunately but if you give me more info I can ask around.

 

You're welcome. My advice is if you'll start to dig into the vintage world, start with the bigger names. In other words brands that you can find parts for. These watches are fairly difficult to work on primarily because the parts are much harder to come by. Having said that, they are generally made a bit better so if the watch was serviced at decent intervals it should be OK.

Omega is a great candidate to start with.

 

Omega is known for its quality so that's why I think it's a good place to start. I'm not sure about parts availability but it'll definitely be better than a brand that's extinct now.

I recommend you browse Chrono24 and they have an age filter so you can go by the years you want. My watchmaker works on vintage stuff all the time and can help there, just won't be easy with the parts.

 

If Omega is where you want to start, check out On The Dash. Chuck Maddox was an encyclopedia of Omega info and it is cataloged there. Omega worked with a number of other companies to develop movements, so there are ties to Lemania, Breitling, and others. I think you can find it by googling his name.

 

Couple of site to look at, no affiliations:
https://www.windvintage.com
https://www.craftandtailored.com
https://10pastten.com

Forum: http://vintagerolexforum.com

 

You may want to check out the auction site Jones and Horan (https://www.jones-horan.com). They have a bi-monthly on-line auction and some live, in-person events throughout the year. They auction some jewelry, occasional coins, wristwatches and pocketwatches. I haven't used their services but I would say their descriptions are really, really good (they have someone who really knows the stuff and can point out flaws, rare attributes, missing parts, scratches, etc.) Also you can see what they sell for. Right now they have a number of '50's chronographs, dress watches, a moonphase calendar, 4 Accutron Spaceviews...Usually there are some Omegas, Rolexes, Breitlings....They probably won't have too many Pateks or Vacherons but again for what you are asking I think they will show a decent cross section of '30's-'60's fare. I believe they set the record for the most expensive American pocket watch ever sold so some high end items hit their house. Their terms of sale are really good as well.

 

Aside from online, here is a great source for books.

https://watchprint.com/en/

 

It’s been awhile since I’ve looked at a vintage Omega but with Rolex there’s a general serial nunber sheet that gives you an approximation.

As far as Chrono24 goes, when I list the year of production it’s the year on the papers. If it was produced a year before or whatever is not really relevant as the brands don’t mention when it was actually produced.

Fuethermore, since Rolex has scrambled serial numbers since about 2010, it’s impossible to guess outside of the papers. I’ve seen watches before that had a year 2000 serial but the papers said 2004. It could have been for sale for 4 years or it wasn’t finished by Rolex until later for whatever reason. I know of a Cellini that’s still for sale and it’s got a 2007 serial. Not sure what the hell that dealer is doing but it’s been for sale for 14 years!!!

Either way if you’re looking at watches this old, I don’t think a few years here or there matter.