An opportunity to purchase this watch has presented itself. Appears well used, 14k gold case, military dial, and someone trashed the case back trying to open it. Movement, however, looks good despite missing case screw. Inside case back shows signs of jeweler's mark's indicating the watch was cared for at one time.

Tried finding some info on this one and struck out.

Any comments on this one?

Thanks.

 

Point number one, 521443 is not the reference number. Since this case was not made in Switzerland, there is no Longines reference number associated with it.

 

Noted. Title changed.

 

The radium dial/hands give me pause. Judging from your pics it would still be quite active and I’d not wear it. I know that the amount of radioactivity for an occasional wear is nothing major but recent studies also show that radium dials off gas Radon. If you do get it, store it away from living spaces.

 

it might be important to clarify this watch is not military, even though this dial design is sometimes called « military style » due to the 24hour numerals.
It is a completely civilian watch.

I have a similar looking one, by the way, but with a different case.

Edit/ add: since the OP has previously indicated his interest is in investments, I would certainly appreciate if he could push up the price of these watches so that I could resell mine at a good price.

 

Thank you for the follow-up information on this piece. It is still being offered via auction on a private site with a $400 reserve. Haven't decided whether to bid. Aginoz post above gives me pause for concern.

 

I don't undetstand?

 

Look at his nickname
However, I completely agree with @aginoz
You should stay away from radium

 

Ahhhhhh. I see.

 

I’m in no way discouraging buying or owning watches with Radium dials/hands. I own a bunch of 40’s and 50’s watches that still ping like crazy. A recent addition of a 1958 Kontiki could power a small household - jk. It is all about the storage and wear frequency - IMO.

 

Great. One less rival on my quest to collect old radium watches....

 

Ended up picking the above L10 up for $250. I'll post better photos when received. Amazon happened to have a radiation suit on sale, so I picked up 4 for the family to wear while the watch is exposed outside its lead case.

I'm intrigued about the history of this watch, because it has an inscription to a Lieutenant Commander Chas N. Coseboom and the date 10 March 1943.

Additional information through my research indicates LC Coseboom was an engineer with the Department of Navy Coast Guard Division responsible for the construction of buildings and facilities during the war. See p. 36 of 68 of The Federal Architect, April - July 1945.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sou...FjANegQIARAB&usg=AOvVaw3vhb2OW63GaXvZKuFOjkLV

 

The watch arrived, and I really like it. Here are some additional photos. Wonder if I can have the back of the case lightly polished to get rid of the scratches?

 

Polish? I will pretend I did not read that.....


Never the less a cool little watch

 

LOL. I was wondering about using the "P" word in that post.

Thanks.

 

Interesting caseback btw. Never seen that patent before.

 

Here's another one I found. Looks like more than one person doesn't know how to carefully remove that case back.

 

Very nice, but how does it look when nestled in some ferns?