ROAMER WATCHES

Roamer Watches

Roamer is an old, respected name in Swiss watch making that has undergone a makeover in recent years. The result is a company that is as modern as tomorrow, but rooted firmly in a grand tradition of excellence.

The Roamer story started in 1888, when Fritz Meyer opened his first workshop in Solothrun, Switzerland. At that time, the company made only one part of the watch, the escapement. There were only six employees.

The company expanded its production, making more and more of the watch. By 1904, the company was called Meyer and Studeli and had started making the entire watch movement. The precision of their workmanship began to be noticed in the world of fine watches. By 1923, the company was making its own cases. By 1940, they were also making the dials. At this point, they were full-fledged watchmakers.

At first, "the Roamer" was their most popular line of watches. In time, the public so completely identified Meyer and Studeli with this watch that the company decided not to fight it. They changed their name to Roamer and began aggressively advertising under that name.

Other advancements followed. The development of a waterproof case in 1955 helped cement the company's world-wide reputation, and Roamer marketed their first quartz movement in 1972.

Since 2003, the company has undergone a remake in an effort to return to their illustrious past. This effort was given a boost in 2009 on their acquisition by the prestigious Swiss Watch Group.

Today's Roamer Watches are carrying on the legacy that has made the company great. Their men's models are bold and masculine, with wide, round faces and prominent hour markers. The dials have a conventional design with central hour and minute hands, sometimes with a date window at the three o'clock position. Some models have a central second hand, while others have a small second dial below the axis. There are chronograph models with dual dials and small second hands.

The ladies' models have smaller dials with delicately tapered lugs for a feminine air. The bezels are narrower than those on the men's models, giving a lighter, less emphatic look. Touches of mother of pearl and yellow gold show up on some models.

The Ladies' Dreamline Ceramic line is a radical departure from the rest of Roamer's selection. In these watches, the dials are rectangular and the bracelet is composed of ceramic segments held together with metal links.


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