Michael SatterfieldThere is a certain satisfaction in finding a watch that has a little mystery to it, even to someone with a fairly large collection like myself. The only thing more fun than wearing a Duward is running across another watch enthusiast who actually knows and appreciates it. Just a well-made vintage Swiss automatic with a good dial, a solid case, and enough obcurity to keep it interesting.
That is where this 1970s Duward Automatic 100M “Internat” lands. It is not a watch most American collectors know about or even look for, which is part of its appeal. Duward is a name with deep roots in Spain, Swiss connections, and an association with Aquastar that makes the story interesting without turning the watch into another overhyped vintage rabbit hole.
My example is a stainless steel automatic with a silver sunburst dial, applied rectangular markers, a day/date window at 3 o’clock, 100 meters of stated water resistance, and “INTERNAT.” printed quietly at the bottom of the dial. The day wheel is in Spanish, showing “DOM” for domingo (Sunday), which gives the watch an immediate clue about its original market. I found this particular model on Palmstreet, an app where you buy everything from a potted plant to vintage collectibles.
The History of Duward
Duward is one of those brands that is obscure in the United States but was far more familiar in its home country of Spain. The company’s own history traces the founding family’s watch business back to 1835, when Carlos Vendrell Castellá established a watchmaking workshop in Sans, near Barcelona. His son, Jaime Vendrell Serra, expanded the business in 1888, moving it into central Barcelona, and later generations continued to build the family’s presence in the Spanish watch trade.
The Duward name arrived in 1930, when Carlos Vendrell Paradís created D.E.R.S.A., Distribuidora Española de Relojería, and launched Duward as the company’s own watch brand. According to Duward’s official history, the brand gained prestige in Spain under the management of Carlos Vendrell’s sons, Jorge, Eduardo, and Luis Vendrell.
That Spanish identity matters. Duward was not simply a random Swiss-sounding name stamped on a dial. It was a Barcelona-linked brand selling Swiss-made watches into the Spanish market, and over time, it became a familiar name on the wrists of several generations of Spanish buyers.
Today, Duward still exists. The current company operates through Distribuidora Española de Relojería S.A., and its official website sells watches and jewelry, including modern men’s and women’s watches under the Aquastar brand. Current Duward Aquastar models are mostly modern quartz pieces, some with 10 ATM water resistance, priced at accessible levels rather than in the luxury mechanical territory.
Duward, Aquastar, And The Spanish Watch Market
The most collector-friendly part of the Duward story is its connection to Aquastar. Aquastar was founded in Geneva in 1962 and became known for watches built around water, including divers and regatta timers. Aquastar sold watches under several names in different countries, and the Duward-signed examples were made for the Spanish market.
That does not mean every Duward is an Aquastar, and this particular Automatic 100M Internat should not be confused with the more collectible Duward Aquastar divers. But the connection helps explain why a Spanish-market Duward from this period has legitimate Swiss watchmaking bones and a sporting personality. Today, it appears that Duward has been able to keep using the Aquastar name as one of their models, despite no longer being associated directly with the Swiss brand which is still building some of the finest dive watches money can buy.
While modern Duward watches trade for around $200 and are firmly in the fashion-watch camp, the vintage Duward sits in that excellent vintage-watch middle ground: not forgotten because it was bad, but overlooked because the market has spent the last decade pumping up the same handful of names.
Discovering a Vintage Duward
The small “INTERNAT.” marking at the bottom of the dial is one of the most interesting details on this watch. It appears on a variety of vintage Duward watches, making it difficult to identify the exact model. The INTERNAT is not one single model in the modern sense. Without a period catalog in hand, my best guess is that “Internat” may have been export marking, or sub-line rather than a clearly documented standalone model family.
Tracking down an actual year has also been hard, as there just isn’t a lot of information available on Duward. The cushion-style case, bold brushed bezel, day/date layout, red seconds hand, and overall sport-dress personality all fit the early 1970s period. Comparable NOS Duward Automatic 100M examples are described by vintage dealers as 1970s Swiss-made, stainless steel watches with Spanish-only day wheels and ETA 2789 automatic movements.
The movement inside this watch is the ETA 2789 family. The ETA 2789 was a Swiss automatic day/date movement used in many 1970s watches. Caliber Corner lists the 2789 as an automatic, self-winding day/date movement with 17 or 25 jewels, a 21,600 vph beat rate, Incabloc shock protection, and approximately 38 hours of power reserve.
Ranfft’s movement database places the ETA 2789 in the 1969 to 1976 period and describes it as part of the ETA 2750-2791 family, with quickset day and date.
That is good news for ownership. A vintage watch is only charming if it can be serviced. The ETA 2789 family is not exotic, which is exactly what makes it appealing. A competent vintage watchmaker should be comfortable with it, and parts availability is far better than it would be for some obscure in-house movement from a long-gone brand.
The Watch In Hand
What drew me to this Duward was the case and dial combination. The stainless steel case has that wide, almost architectural 1970s shape, with a broad brushed bezel that catches light like a piece of period audio equipment. It is not delicate, but it is not clumsy either. It has presence.
The dial is the star. The silver sunburst finish gives the watch a little theater without becoming flashy. The applied hour markers are simple rectangular blocks, and the small lume plots add just enough contrast. The red seconds hand is the detail that keeps the whole thing from becoming too sober. It is the watch equivalent of a conservative suit with a pocket square that knows a shortcut to the bar.
The day/date window is large and useful, and the Spanish day wheel gives the watch real character. For collectors outside Spain, that is one of the best details. It turns a simple automatic into something tied to a specific market and culture.
There is also honest age here. The dial edge and crystal area show the kind of patina you expect from a watch that has lived a life. That matters. Vintage watches should not all look like they have just stepped out of a vacuum-sealed museum drawer. A little wear gives the object credibility, as long as the movement is healthy and the case has not been abused.
On The Wrist
This is a practical vintage watch. The case measures 39mm at its widest point, but the shape wears larger than a traditional round dress watch from the same period, yet it still has the compact proportions that make vintage watches so easy to live with. The bracelet adds to the period feel, though I would also like this watch on a simple black or dark brown leather strap, or even a textured gray strap to pull out the tones in the dial. With a 20mm lug size, there are a lot of affordable strap options.
The 100-meter marking gives the watch a sporting edge, but no one should treat that literally today unless the watch has been serviced and pressure tested. Most vintage dealers will tell you not to immerse the watch unless water resistance has been confirmed, which is exactly the right approach with any vintage watch. So, no, I am not planning on taking it swimming. I would absolutely take it to lunch, a cars and coffee, or on a road trip where the most dangerous water exposure is condensation on a glass of iced tea.
Collectibility
With running vintage models like this selling for $300 or less, Duward watches remain relatively affordable, especially compared with the better-known Swiss brands of the same period. The Duward Aquastar divers are the pieces most likely to attract serious collector attention, especially the co-branded Aquastar models tied to the golden age of recreational diving. The Automatic 100M Internat is different. It is more of a vintage daily-wear watch with interesting Spanish-market provenance.
That may actually make it more enjoyable. You can wear it without the anxiety that follows high-dollar vintage pieces, and the design has enough distinction to stand out from the endless parade of generic Swiss dress watches from the same era.
It is also a conversation starter for people who like the side roads of watch history. Duward is not Rolex, Omega, or Heuer. It is something more specific: a Spanish-market Swiss automatic from a brand that mattered in its own corner of the world.
The 1970s Duward Automatic 100M Internat is not a grail watch, and that is one of its strengths. It is an honest, handsome, useful vintage automatic with a Spanish story and a design that captures the transition from 1960s dress-watch restraint to 1970s sport-watch confidence. The silver dial, Spanish day wheel, red seconds hand, and stainless cushion case all work together. It feels like the sort of watch someone bought to wear every day, not to lock away. That is exactly the kind of vintage watch I enjoy most. My next step is to get it to my friends at The Watch Preserve for servicing, so it will keep running for another 60 years.
Quick Facts
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Watch | Duward Automatic 100M “Internat” |
| Era | Likely 1970s |
| Case | Stainless steel, cushion-style case |
| Dial | Silver sunburst |
| Display | Day/date at 3 o’clock |
| Day Wheel | Spanish |
| Water Resistance | Marked 100 M, not currently trusted unless pressure tested |
| Movement | Likely ETA 2789 family, pending caseback confirmation |
| Crystal | Likely acrylic or mineral depending on exact reference |
| Market | Spain |
| Collector Appeal | Affordable, characterful, Spanish-market Swiss vintage |
FAQ
Is Duward a Swiss or Spanish watch brand?
Duward is best understood as a Spanish watch brand with strong Swiss watchmaking connections. The company’s roots are tied to Barcelona and the Vendrell family, while many vintage Duward watches were Swiss-made or used Swiss movements.
When was Duward founded?
Duward’s official history says Carlos Vendrell Paradís created the Duward brand in 1930 through D.E.R.S.A., Distribuidora Española de Relojería. The broader Vendrell family watch business traces its roots back to 1835.
What does “Internat” mean on a Duward watch?
There is no definitive public catalog source confirming the exact meaning. Based on surviving watches, “Internat” appears to be a dial designation or sub-line used across multiple Duward models rather than one single model.
Is this Duward Automatic 100M from the 1960s or 1970s?
This example is most likely from the 1970s. The case design, day/date layout, and comparable Duward Automatic 100M examples point more strongly to the early 1970s than to the 1960s.
What movement is inside the Duward Automatic 100M Internat?
The movement is likely from the ETA 2789 automatic day/date family, but the only way to confirm is to open the caseback and inspect the movement.
Can I swim with a vintage Duward 100M watch?
Not unless it has been recently serviced and pressure tested. The dial may say 100 M, but vintage seals age, and water resistance should never be assumed.
Are vintage Duward watches collectible?
Yes, but they remain niche. The most collectible Duward watches tend to be Duward Aquastar divers. The Automatic 100M Internat is more affordable and interesting as a Spanish-market vintage daily watch.
