As some of you pointed out, ladies' watches can be found at incredibly low prices, so when this came along a few weeks ago it was hard to pass up, even as a non-runner. After an easy repair (relief) and for less than a pair of costume earrings in total, here's a little gem of (true) art deco design. Steel and 9k rose gold. Beautiful little 8.68N caliber. The first pics are the seller's as they are very crisp: The seller didn't have any movement pic but I wasn't too worried. Here it is: And worn...
Thanks S., not yet as I just got the movement serial -- but I'm eager to find out. Also eager to know if the rose gold loops and buckles are original to the watch as the combination is both appealing and bold. It would not surprise me in a watch of that era but it adds to the sophistication of the design.
Thank you gents, I did find it stood out, compared to the gazillion, run of the mill Longines ladies' watches one finds on the 'bay (often with horrid redials), like so : Or like this... (pretty dull even with an original dial): Aside from its lugs (quintessentially art deco in style), it struck me how much the dial design ressembles the best 1930s-1940s men's examples -- including the execution of the indexes on the subdial, despite the minuscule 21mm size of the watch. (I might try to take and post another picture taken through a loupe so you can see for yourself).
I was going to ask what this would be called but that could open the flood gates My youngest wears it occasionally and it really looks good on her wrist,
All right, if you push me, I would say "Belle epoque". By the way, here's a close up subdial pic of the OP.
Great watch! Movement looks to be in excellent shape. the 8.68 (8LN for most American watches) is a nice, compact movement and yours looks to be in great shape. Glad the repair was an easy one.
Delivered to Cabri, Longines' agent in Egypt, July 9, 1948. Between this and the Cuban one this is the big Longines world tour! Mind you, those caliber numbers are numbing: Longines is confirming this is a 8.68N -- which is also what my watchmaker read under the balance. One would think this had to be a Z, as it's a subsecond -- while the "N" should be the center second variant. Just as 12.68Z and 10.68Z are subsecond/ 12.68N-10.68N center second. Well no. This an 8.68N subsecond movement. (And the matching center second movement is 8.68NS).
