
Wristwatches · Wristwatch
Rodania, 5500H Date, Black Gilt Dial, Calibre ETA 1093, circa 1950s
- Maker / attribution
- Unrecorded in source
- Date
- c. 1950s
- Historical period
- Modern Mechanical Horology (1945 – 1969)
- Country of origin
- Unrecorded in source
- Object type
- Wristwatch
- Dimensions
- Case 35 mm
- Stock no.
- VWS3296
- Credit line
- Dealer listing, Vintage Watch Specialist (VWS3296)
- Catalogue title (original)
- Rodania - 5500H Date - Black Gilt Dial - Calibre ETA 1093 - c.1950s (English)
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Record summary
Catalogued by Vintage Watch Specialist (dealer), United Kingdom (stock number VWS3296), this is a wristwatch, dated c. 1950s. The Atlas places it in the Modern Mechanical Horology period (1945 – 1969) of its Wristwatches collection. Recorded dimensions: Case 35 mm. The record is illustrated with 6 photographs.
Assembled from the source record's structured fields. Dates and attributions are given as the source states them; where a field is missing the Atlas leaves it blank rather than estimating.
Catalogue description
Dealer description — Vintage Watch Specialist
A Beautiful Rodania Vintage Mechanical Wrist Watch With a Rich Black Dial and Stylish Furniture, c.1950s Rodania, a Swiss watch brand founded in 1930 in the region of Berne, Switzerland, has built a reputable history in the watchmaking industry. One of the significant milestones in its timeline was in 1937, when Rodania created the official watch for the Universal Exhibition in Paris. This achievement marked its entry into the world of high-end watchmaking, establishing Rodania's presence and prestige in the international market. Over the decades, Rodania has continued to innovate and produce quality timepieces, maintaining its status as a respected name in the Swiss watch industry. In 1947, Rodania made a notable advancement in horological innovation by introducing one of the first alarm movements. This was achieved through a collaboration with the esteemed movement manufacturer AS (Adolf Schild). The partnership with AS, a respected and renowned name in the watchmaking industry, underscored Rodania's commitment to craftsmanship and precision. This collaboration not only showcased Rodania's ability to innovate but also reinforced its dedication to producing high-quality and reliable timepieces. What's on Offer This watch is in beautiful condition with a rich black dial boasting applied gilt arrowhead hour markers and stylish Dauphine hands. There is a date wheel at 3 o'clock which is magnified by a cyclops for better visibility. The dial has taken on a light spattering of even patina, a joy to those who appreciate the ageing process of vintage watches. The steel case is in nice shape and at 35mm it is a mid-sized watch with plenty of wearbility. It is light and comfortable on the wrist and is running well and keeping good time. A really nice piece and an affordable entry watch into the world of vintage watch collecting.
Historical context
Modern Mechanical Horology (1945 – 1969)
Tool watches for divers, pilots and astronauts; electric watches anticipate the electronic age.
The classic era of the mechanical wristwatch: dive watches, chronographs for motor racing and space flight, GMT watches for jet travel, slim dress watches, automatic calendars, and the rise of Japanese manufacturers alongside Swiss, American, German and Soviet industries.
Read the period in the timelineMore wristwatches from this periodEarlier: Golden Age of Mechanical Watchmaking
Atlas type guide
Wristwatches
Bracelet watches were worn by women from the early nineteenth century — Breguet made one for Caroline Murat, Queen of Naples, in 1810–12 — but the wristwatch only became a man's instrument with military use and aviation in the early twentieth century. Between the World Wars it overtook the pocket watch; the 1920s and 1930s brought rectangular Art Deco cases, water-resistant cases and the first automatic winding systems.
After 1945 the wristwatch became a carrier of identity — dress watches, sports and dive watches, chronographs, calendars — produced by Swiss, American, Japanese, German, Soviet and Chinese industries. The quartz revolution after 1969 and the mechanical renaissance since the 1990s, including the rise of independent watchmakers, complete the story.
What to look for
- The reference number (between the lugs or inside the case back) and serial number, the starting point for dating.
- The calibre: its maker and number are often stamped under the dial or on the bridge.
- Originality of dial, hands and crown — refinished ('redial') dials are common.
- Case material marks: 18K/750, 14K/585, stainless steel, gold-filled, plated.
Dating clues
- Wire-lug cases: before c. 1925.
- Water-resistant screw-down cases: from 1926.
- Quartz movements: from 1969; sapphire crystals widespread after c. 1980.
General guidance written by the Atlas editors about this kind of object. It is not a statement about this particular piece; for that, rely on the source record above and on physical examination.
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