I’ve been wearing my 70-year old calibre 355 bumper Omega now for several weeks, 24hours per day. In those two weeks, it has not run down. It was serviced (by me) two years ago, and the mainspring replaced. If I were to decide to wear it only during waking hours, I know very well I could count on it running down and stopping, two or three times per week. Part (I suppose) of the fact that we are in the middle of winter, and my level of activity is reduced. My Rolex Air-King Perpetual Date (52 years old) is also worn 24-hours per day. But it would perk along quite happily being worn only 12 hours per day. Bumper automatics simply do not wind as efficiently as more modern self-winders.
Wearing a watch 24 hours per day doesn’t work for some people. So if you are one of those people, live with your bumper automatic (or any other automatic winder that needs servicing), stopping occasionally.
What's the reason for asking that question ? Every vintage mechanical movement behaves differently. Can you elaborate and give scientific relevant data ?
While I don't expect a vintage watch to perform as new - I'm new to vintage and just trying to set an expectation of what's acceptable. I just got these and have not had a chance to time the power reserve. i wore them for about half a day put them down that evening and in the morning they had stopped
Try this. Wind the bumper automatic manually, by turning the wider about 40 to 50 turns. You’ll do the watch no harm. THEN wear it half a day, every day, until it runs down again. And it likely will. When it stops, repeat!
While I don't expect a vintage watch to perform as new - I'm new to vintage and just trying to set an expectation of what's acceptable. I just got these and have not had a chance to time the power reserve. i wore them for about half a day put them down that evening and in the morning they had stopped
we can’t tell if you are starting with the watch fully wound or not.
