Cyma watches age determination Navystar, Cymaflex, Time-o-Vox, Sonomatic, Watersport, Charisma, Imperium, Signature

The Cyma brand was founded in 1862 by the Schwob brothers in Le Locle and registered in 1903 in association with Tavannes Watch Co.

• In 1959, Cyma became part of the Heuroplan Group, and from 1966 onwards, it was taken over by Synchron/ASUAG – the company's own works were manufactured in-house until the mid-1960s

• 1960 "Navystar", equipped with the shock protection "Cymaflex "

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  • In 1905, Cyma launched the caliber 701 with a height of only 3.85 millimeters

  • From 1915 onwards, the product range was expanded to include special military wristwatches with shock protection and a protective cover.

  • The first watch with automatic winding was launched in 1943: the caliber 420 with pendulum oscillating weight

  • In 1943, Cyma presented its first automatic movement with the caliber 420 with a single-action rotor

  • In 1945 the CYMA 8-day alarm clock was launched

  • In 1950, the "Time-O-Vox" model received a chronometer certificate

  • 1950: Stüwen & Spann in Ulm 1950 produce Cymaflex watches under the brand "ZentRa Cyma"

  • In 1957 the "Sonomatic" alarm clock was introduced

  • 1960 waterproof version "Watersport"
  • 1960 "Navystar", equipped with the shock protection "Cymaflex"

Age determination: methods & indicators

1. Movements & Calibers

A movement opening to identify the caliber type is essential – typical movements:

• Caliber 420 (first automatic movement around 1943): indicates watches from the early 1940s to 1950s.

• Caliber 162 / 166 : Found in Cyma military watches, such as ATP or WWW models. These refer to war production (approximately 1940s).

• Caliber 234 (in Cyma WWW wristwatches): Production around 1945, total of about 20,000 pieces

• Design & style features

  A look at the case, dial and hands helps to roughly estimate the era:

  • Dauphine or baton hands , sector dials or dauphine hand style indicate the 1950s/60s

  • U-shaped screw backs with multiple notches (e.g. on ATP/WWW military watches) are typical for the 1940s

  • Broad Arrow markings or military serial numbers indicate British war production of Cyma in 1945 and shortly thereafter

  • An 18 kt rose gold bumper automatic was estimated to have been made between approximately 1947 and 1954 , as Rolex did not have a patent for a full rotor at that time; limited edition

  • Cyma ATP – 4‑Notch base, series 486xx – 513xx → belongs to the limited ATP series (~2700 pieces), clearly dated to the early to mid-1940s

  • In 1989, the company introduced a timeless collection with pure lines, the " Signature ",
  • In 1992 the model series " Charisma " followed,
  • 1998 the " Imperium " collection, which in the year
  • 2000 with the models "Autoquartz 2000" was supplemented, and
  • In 2001, a new edition of the Navistar was presented at the watch and jewelry fair in Basel

Timeline by factory & serial number