A bargain purchase

pedrocarlone · Apr 17, 2025

I was lucky enough to pick this up today for £7 in a charity shop. The caseback serial number is 16717730 which my amateur sleuthing suggests was made in 1969. I’m a bit scared of taking the back off so was wondering if anyone could tell me if this model of watch had an in-house movement or would Longines have started using ETA by this point? Any other info would be great to hear. Personally I would have thought such a watch (in terms of style) would have come from the 70s or 80s.

Walrus · Apr 17, 2025

Sorry can’t help with your question but nice pick up. I attempted a quick hunt today had 0 luck. Would have been very pleased to run across that.

sonicosa · Apr 17, 2025

Nice find!

Spruce · Apr 17, 2025

This is currently on offer on Chrono24 for £1047 with a Longines cal 508 movement.

Obviously this is a day/date version and IMO less attractive than your date only but I’m confident that yours will have a Longines movement.

Edit: and I’m assuming that yours will also have the Longines signed bracelet clasp

pedrocarlone · Apr 18, 2025

Yes it has the original bracelet and clasp with Longines logo. I suppose its indicative of how the Longines brand is regarded nowadays by the general public that such bargains are sometimes out there.

DirtyDozen12 · Apr 19, 2025

Below are a couple of examples with close serial numbers. The first one has a serial number of 16'716'171, and the movement is the in-house caliber 6651 (based on the case-back marking). Also, the case-back is marked 1526-1, which might be the reference number. The second one has a serial number is 16'716'875, and an in-house caliber 431. I would guess that yours has one of these two calibers.

Source: https://www.elcoleccionistaeclectic...square-case-bracelet-1960s-p22997#imagenes-21