Hello and thanks for looking.

A buddy of mine owns a jewelry store and when something old/interesting comes in the store for sale or trade he likes to send me a picture.

I've spent some time on the net and found similar models, but can't quite peg this one (plenty of similars, but none with the same lugs or dial features) or it's value and was hoping that some of the experts here could assist.

Appears to be 14K (at least that's what the case back says). Also, I tried opening the caseback with my friction ball, but it's beyond my abilities.

Thanks again for looking and for any clues that as to its id and approximate value.

 

You won't be able to open it from the back unless you have a hacksaw. It's a front loading case.

Only a few Longines automatics came with sub seconds. Longines started making self-winding automatics in the mid 1940's with the 22 series, the 22A having sub seconds. The next generation 19 series had the 19A and 19AD. They skipped a sub seconds auto in their 3rd generation 290 series, and came back to it in the 4th generation of 340/350 series with the 352.

So, unless I missed a caliber it would have a 22A, 19A (since the 19AD had a date feature and this watch doesn't have a date window), or a 352. I think we can eliminate the 352 (actually the whole 340/350 series) because the fonts and case style used predate that series.

L&K was one of the authorized case makers for Longines. They were an American company, of which Longines used several (Star, K&E, Wadsworth, etc.) to make their gold cases here in the US. Their was a large import tax on gold, so Longines avoided this with US made cases that were shipped to the Longines plant in NY to have their Swiss made dials/hands/movements installed into. 14k was popular in America, so many of these are that purity.

In it's current raw (read: unserviced) condition that's probably a $500-ish watch. If it were serviced and the dial in a little nicer shape, it could sell for $700 or more.

 

Huh?

 

Damn, missed that! Haven't seen many of them for sure! The gasket must have turned to the gooey glue then.

 

Forgiven, there must be a reason for that lapse in focus.



That view of a battery watch must have shaken you up a bit

 

@ulackfocus , thanks so much for taking the time and for sharing your expertise. This place is awesome!