Vintage Longines Watches
With its origins in 1832 in St Imier, Switzerland, Longines (meaning Long Meadows) is THE the oldest patented trademark in the world continuously registered with WIPO (the world governing body for Intellectual property). Vintage Longines watches are arguably the best value to be found in the world of vintage horology.
A study commissioned by the New York Times in 1913 asked the public which brand of luxury watch they would prefer if price were not a consideration. An incredible 92% of the respondents replied they would buy a Longines.
Famously worn (and part designed) by Charles Lindbergh - Longines was the first watch to be flown across the Atlantic in 1927. From 1920-50s Longines was a more expensive and more prestigious brand than Rolex, Omega, Zenith or Jaeger Le Coultre. Today Longines vintage watches can be bought for much less than its’s historical competitors. Longines, for now at least, remains outstanding value-for-money with exciting appreciation potential.
ref item 1 Longines ‘Coin’, 33mm dial excl crown. An elegant and classic thin dress-watch, with a heavy 10 karat gold-filled ‘monacoque’ case and worked (coin) bezel. The factory original dial is in excellent condition with a creamy vanilla patina. The movement is a high grade 17 jewel 23z dated to 1954/55 with a power reserve of 44 hours and f = 18000 A/h
The alternating applied batons and arabic numerals and hands are in 14 karat gold. This most elegant watch comes from the early 1950’s peak of Longines’ production in terms of the quality of its movements and global reputation.
Price £695
ref Longines item 3, 9 carat gold case and bezel is c32mm excl crown. This is a very rare piece - the matching serial numbers on the case and movement date the watch to 1936 and denote that the case was custom made for the rare high grade caliber 27 movement. The dial is original to the watch predating the Longines flying hourglass logo. £SOLD
ref item 5, Longines dress watch, The 9 carat gold case has a 33mm (excl crown) corrugated bezel and heavy (inscribed) gold snap-back case. The watch comes with the original strap/band, The serial number dates this watch to 1953 Price £SOLD.
ref, item 7, Longines ‘Admiral’. 32mm dial excl crown. This piece is from the higher grade Admiral range of automatic (self-winding) Longines watches. The high grade 19A caliber has a power reserve of 39 hours with f = 18000 A/h. The watch is dated to 1962-and is housed in a 10 carat gold-filled ‘florentine’ - worked bezel. The case reverse is embossed in steel and gold with the Longines Admiral logo. The watch comes with the original strap/band. price £750.
ref item 9, 1947 Longines, 30mm dial excl crown. This elegant and classical dress watch, has a 10 karat gold-filled bezel and ,bubble-case back housing a high grade 23z movement. Note the beautifully integrated lugs which render a classic art deco stylishness. price SOLD
ref Longines item 12, This Longines dates to 1968 with a near mint satin -silver dial and applied silver batons. The dial is 34mm excl crown with a steel wrench screw-back case with minor markings. The high grade 17 jewel caliber 284 is a watchmakers dream beautiful in its simplicity. With a power reserve of 42 hours and f=19800n A/h
SOLD.
ref item 14. This Longines is larger than most at 36mm excl the original signed crown. The matte silver dial has a subsidiary seconds hand and arabic numerals at the cardinal points alternating with applied gold batons. The bezel and snap-back case are steel and in good condition. The very high grade 17 jewel 30L caliber is regarded as arguably Longines best ever manual movement. Dating to 1959 the 30L caliber has a power reserve of 43 hours and f = 18000 A/h
An undoubtedly collectible piece of Longines history.
Price £695 ono
ref item 16. This stunning Longines ‘Tank’ is from 1951 the peak period of Longines’ reputation. The bezel and case are in 14 carat solid gold, with stylish integrated lugs. movement/caibre is a 17 jewel high grade 23z one of Longines best.
The has a near mint dial has a matte to pearlescent silver finish and applied 14K gold markers and arabic numerals at 9, 12 and 3 with a square subsiduary seconds dial. The 14 carat gold case is a snap-back in original unpolished condition.. The high grade 23zs movement - dates the watch to 1951 with a power reserve of 44hours with f = 18000 A/h SOLD
ref item 18 Longines solid 14 carat gold automatic.
This automatic Longines piece presents beautifully, with a near mint factory-original dial with satin silver finish, subsidiary seconds and applied raised gold baton markers with arabic numerals. The watch bezel is 39mm lug to lug and 33mm excl the crown. The case and bezel are heavy gauge 14 carat gold with integrated lugs and a snap/bubble-back case in good condition with only light wear markings. The newly oiled and adjusted high grade 19A automatic movement is regarded as Longines’ best, the serial number 102353659 dates the watch to late 1957. The movement has a power reserve (runs for) 39 hours with a frequency beat of f = 18000 A/h This is a rare and piece especially in this condition.
Price SOLD.
ref Longines item 2, elegant and classic dress watch, 10 karat gold-filled. from 1957 arguably when Longines was at its peak in global reputation terms. Price SOLD.
ref Longines item 4 Dating from 1955, 10 carat gold-filled bezel and case. This is a stunning piece with a near mint two-tone dial 33mm excl crown, with Longines’ raised applied 14 carat gold markers/batons. The high grade automatic-19A movement has a power reserve 39 hours with f = 18000 A/h
Price SOLD
ref Longines item 6, 1948, 14 carat gold with ‘fancy lugs’. SOLD
ref item 8, Longines. This characterful Longines dates from 1956. The honeycomb 34mm (excl crown) dial is set in a 10 gold bezel and case, housing a high grade 17 jewel 23sz caliber. price SOLD.
ref item 10 - Longines, 33mm dial excl crown. This classical dress watch from 1952 has a 10 karat gold-filled bezel and screw-back case back housing a high grade 23z movement.. The integrated lugs again are a feature of this classic Longines period.. Price £625 ono.
ref Longines item 11, Dating from 1959 this is a stunning piece dating from 1959. Steel bezel and 34mm monocoque (front - removalal) case. The high grade automatic-19A movement has a power reserve 39 hours with f = 18000 A/h
The near mint pearlescent dial and silver markers/batons is a factory original.
Price-£SOLD.
ref item 13. This Longines has a near mint calatrava-style dial with matte silver finish and applied silver arrow markers. The 33mm steel case excl crown is monocoque (front-removal) design. Dating to 1958 the high grade 17 jewel caliber 280 has a power reserve of 42 hours and f=19800n A/h.
Price £750 ono
ref item 15. This Longines has a near mint calatrava-style dial with pearlescent silver finish and applied gold arrow markers. The 32mm bezel is heavy gauge 10 carat gold with a screw-back steel case in good condition.. The high grade 23zs movement - serial number 10431277 dates the watch to late 1957 with a power reserve of 44hours with f = 18000 A/h Price £750 ono
ref item 17 Longines Calatrava in 14 carat gold.
Price SOLD