Hi, I have a Longines watch. Apparently from new in Poland. Can anyone help me in evaluating the authenticity? In my opinion crown and caseback are not original. And the rest? Best regards
This looks like a converted pocketwatch caliber. Whether this was done last week, last year or 70 years ago, that, I don't know. Whole case looks a bit modern for the rest of the watch. I suspect that the dial, hands and movement might very well go together. gatorcpa
Not too sure about the level of authenticity, but don't let the caliber and size scare you off. If I'm not mistaken, many of the eastern European nations had these large sized Longines calibers as their military watches (pilots perhaps!) Two examples I found on the net: http://forums.watchuseek.com/f11/wruw-december-2011-a-615844-7.html (belonging to Longines expert of the handle "Britishshorthair") http://en.bellesmontres.com/antiquorum/longines-1642285_1288.php The bezel and lugs seem to be made of some base metal on yours, wear is evident. Lovely hands on your watch nonetheless! Send the case back and movement numbers to Longines Heritage for a full backstory and enjoyment of this historical piece you have on your hands! p.s. I might add that it has the lovely handset of the much coveted Longines WWW ! Military origins? Who's to say...
...usually Longines-cases are signed or at least numbered (case=movement), as told on the "bellesmontres"-site: "Dial, case and movement signed". The case Style don´t matches to other 30ties Longines (see Goldberger). And Poland is (as same as Ukraine etc.) a region housing very creative craftsmen. i wouldn´t pay much (especially as much as 30.000 CHF) for this doubtable-cased watch: less tha 700 USD. rgds - h.u.
I got the answer from Longines: ... We thank you for contacting us and for your interest in Longines watches. Further to your request, we are pleased to provide the information contained in Longines' handwritten registers. The original serial number 4'722'761 identifies a wristwatch in metal. It is fitted with a Longines manually wound mechanical movement, caliber 17.26. It was invoiced on 05.09.1936 to the company Zipper, which was at that time our agent for Poland. For your information, your watch does not have any specific model name. We trust that we have responded satisfactorily to your request and remain at your entire disposal for any additional information. Best regards, ... I wanted to thank you for the kind words about Polish craftsmen, but this was at a time when the watch manufactory (including Longines) got rid of the old warehouses movements of the pocket watches and packaged the them in different configurations wristwatches. So everything could happen ...
...but that´s the NEXT needle in the haystack. The number is only one higher - it´s like a brother (or sister)
In MHO there's no way the case to be by Longines. It does not have any mark/logo what so ever or number for that matter. Crown looks like a replacement as well. Nevertheless, a very nice vintage. Gatorcpa, love the "specimen" you just posted. Can you provide pics of the inside? Cheers!
It's from the link provided by minutenrohr above. There are several other pictures there. Just wanted to show that dial and hands were original as I expected. gatorcpa
I regret passing on one of these a few years ago with similarly incorrect case.They are really fine looking ,big watches that have become quite collectible.
I stripped the watch and the case actually there is nowhere any markings. According watchmaker case comes from the fifties, Yeah .... I send her hands to James and I will be glad Longines as he is