2.1365 REVUE BUMPER AUTOMATIC, ST. STEEL, SWISS 1940s
£420.00
A 1940s Swiss Revue automatic with a solid stainless steel case and an early bumper winding movement. Measuring 34+ mm across and a broad dial, it has a substantial presence for a watch of its period.
The bumper mechanism gives this watch a particularly enjoyable character on the wrist. As you move, its winding weight swings back and forth, meeting small buffer springs at the ends of its travel. You can feel the gentle bump as it changes direction – a distinctive mechanical sensation that makes the automatic winding part of the wearing experience.
About Revue Thommen
Revue’s roots go back to 1853 in Waldenburg, Switzerland. The firm developed its own movements and built strong ties with the British watch market through London-based Vertex. The companies collaborated from the 1930s, and Vertex became Revue’s exclusive UK importer in 1951, later selling watches under the joint “Vertex Revue” name.
Revue’s bumper automatics, including the calibre 80, mark an important step in its early automatic-watch history. Their distinctive winding system gives them particular appeal to collectors today, preserving the feel and engineering of an era before full-rotation rotors became standard.
Condition
Vintage condition with visible age and wear. The stainless steel case retains its attractive curved shape, with surface scratches, small marks and areas of darker spotting around the bezel and lugs. The dial shows widespread fine patina, with more pronounced ageing and wear to the printing around the outer track. The domed acrylic crystal provides a clear view of the dial, with some visible surface marks. The movement has been serviced.
The Revue Сalibre 80 belongs to an important early chapter in automatic wristwatch development. Bumper winding systems were a feature of many Swiss automatics during the 1940s and early 1950s, before full-rotation winding rotors became the usual design. Its weighted winding arm, often called a hammer, travels through a limited arc and reverses direction against buffer springs. The gentle bump felt during wear is a characteristic of this construction.
This example has the centre seconds version of the calibre 80, with “20 Jewels” marked on the movement.
Important Notes
This watch has no water resistance and should be kept away from water.
The “Waterproof” inscription on the caseback is a historical marking and does not indicate present-day water resistance.
