Why We Love It

Vintage watches are enchanting not purely because of their mechanical merits, but because of the stories that they often tell. 

And there are few stories more harrowing and inspiring than those of bravery under fire.

This particular Roamer Anfibio was issued to the Rhodesian Military and had been smuggled into South Africa sometime in the mid-1970s - denoted by the 'RA' stamp on the caseback. The watch features a 37mm steel cushion case with a matte black Tritium dial and matching handset, with a hand-cranking movement and fixed springbars. 

In many ways, this watch represents the reason that many collectors became interested in watches in the first place - a good story with a fair amount of mystery!

The Story

Roamer was founded in 1888 in the Swiss village of Solothurn. Like so many others, the brand churned out scores of solid, dependable mechanical watches during the 1900s (many using their own movements) until the Quartz Crisis of the 1970s forced it to close its doors. Some of its best-known lines included the Mustang and the Stingray.