Roamer: history, models and value

Founded

1888

Founder(s)

Fritz Meyer

Headquarters

Wallbach

Owner / group

Privately owned (JDM Swiss Group)

Roamer: origins and founding

Roamer goes back to 1888, when Fritz Meyer opened a small workshop with six people in Solothurn, Switzerland. The workshop made cylinder escapements for other watchmakers. By 1895 it had about 60 employees, started making complete watches and developed its first calibre, called No. 38 after the founder's 38th birthday.

Founders and family

Fritz Meyer (1859–1926) was the founder. In the early 1900s he teamed up with Johann Stüdeli, a trained watchmaker, and the firm became Meyer & Stüdeli. Their movements were signed "MST", the initials you still find on many vintage Roamer calibres. The Roamer name itself was first registered by another Solothurn firm, L. Tièche-Gammeter, which Meyer & Stüdeli bought in the 1910s.

Roamer history and milestones

• 1923: the company reports making one million watches in a year.
• 1940s: about 1,200 people work for the firm.
• 1952: the company takes the name Roamer Watch Co. SA.
• 1955: Roamer patents a watertight case and launches the Anfibio line.
• 1972: the first Roamer quartz watch.
• 1975: in the quartz crisis, Roamer stops making its own movements, sales fall sharply and the company seeks protection from creditors.
• 1978–1994: several changes of owner; in 1994 control passes to the Chung Nam group of Hong Kong.
• 2003: the Competence collection marks a return to mechanical watches.
• 2013: 125th anniversary, with a limited Stingray Chrono Diver.

Famous Roamer models

• Anfibio – the water-resistant line from 1955, very common on the vintage market.
• Rotopower – automatic watches with in-house MST movements from the 1960s.
• Stingray, Mustang and Vanguard – other popular vintage lines, including divers and dress watches.
• Modern lines such as the C-Line, Competence and Mechano.

Movements and technique

For much of the 20th century Roamer made its own movements. The MST 410/411 from around 1950 was its first in-house automatic. The MST 436, a 1962 automatic with many jewels, and the later MST 470 family powered the Rotopower watches. For some calendar models Roamer used movements from Felsa. After 1975 the company bought in movements. Today most models are quartz with Ronda movements, while mechanical models use Sellita and Soprod calibres. In 2024 the brand presented the Mechano with a calibre named MST 2.0.

Roamer today

Roamer is an active, privately owned brand. Administration and marketing are in Wallbach, in the canton of Aargau, and production is in Mendrisio in Ticino. Its long-time CEO is Christian Frommherz. The brand aims at affordable Swiss watches, mostly below CHF 1,000, and sells in more than 60 countries.

Roamer prices on the pre-owned market

Most Roamer watches are affordable on the pre-owned market, both vintage and modern. Collectors look mainly for mechanical pieces from the 1950s and 1960s with MST movements: Anfibio and Rotopower automatics, chronographs and divers in good original condition. Value depends on an untouched dial, the original case and crown, a working movement and, for divers, the correct bezel. Gold-plated cases with worn plating, redialed watches and quartz models from the 1970s onward usually sell for modest sums. Modern Roamer watches lose much of their retail price once worn.

How to recognise a genuine Roamer

Roamer is rarely faked, but vintage watches are often redone. Open the case back or have a watchmaker do it: original vintage movements are usually signed "MST" with a calibre number, and the case back should be Roamer-signed. Check that the dial print is crisp and matches the era, as repainted dials are common. Make sure the hands, crown and crystal fit the model. Modern watches should come with a Roamer warranty card. For general checks, see our guide on how to spot a fake watch.

What is your Roamer worth?

Found a Roamer in a drawer? Take a few photos of the dial, case back and, if possible, the movement, and use our free watch value estimate. For estates, insurance or a divorce settlement, you can also order a written watch appraisal.

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