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Updated -Astonishing Egyptian design art nouveau Longines

  1. Syrte MWR Tech Support Dept Dec 19, 2016

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  2. Fritz genuflects before the mighty quartzophobe Dec 19, 2016

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    Wow. The serial number dates it to the early 20s, wasn't King Tut still a big thing then?
     
    Benbradstock, Mr.Cairo and Syrte like this.
  3. Tony C. Ωf Jury member Dec 19, 2016

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    The movement is lovely! Thanks for posting!
     
    Syrte likes this.
  4. Larry S Color Commentator for the Hyperbole. Dec 19, 2016

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    well its obviously special and very expensive.
     
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  5. aap Dec 19, 2016

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    Man, that is beautiful!
     
    Syrte likes this.
  6. JimInOz Melbourne Australia Dec 20, 2016

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    I can just see that watch being lifted from Howard Carter's pocket to see if it was time for morning tea while he was supervising a dig near the great sites.

    A lovely find Sylvie, do you have an interest at all?
     
    tyrantlizardrex, Larry S and Syrte like this.
  7. Syrte MWR Tech Support Dept Dec 20, 2016

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    Er, at 7500 euros I didn't even remotely consider it. :p
     
  8. Darlinboy Pratts! Will I B******S!!! Dec 20, 2016

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    C'mon, the seller takes offers... take your best shot. :thumbsup:

    The outcome is binary - isn't that a 50% probability you'd get it? ::stirthepot::

    Lovely watch - bespoke perhaps? Certainly conjures up exotic images of a bygone era.
     
    Severin, DaveK, JimInOz and 1 other person like this.
  9. Larry S Color Commentator for the Hyperbole. Dec 20, 2016

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    I stared at this thing listening to music and drinking whiskey by the fire. I came dammed close to drunk bidding on this and then pocket watches. It's probably a cursed object I decided. Original owner was a tomb raider! Seriously is just so weirdly cool and beautiful. I'd want to know who owned it.
     
    Benbradstock, DaveK, Pjotr1 and 5 others like this.
  10. Interstatetime Dec 21, 2016

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    Very cool watch. Way, way to much money...but who knows. Somebody might just have to have it.

    JohnCote
     
    Syrte likes this.
  11. Syrte MWR Tech Support Dept Dec 22, 2016

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    Agree on all counts.

    One does wonder.... quite beguiling in any event.
     
  12. Mr.Cairo Dec 22, 2016

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    Super nice, makes me want to take a ride on the Orient Express and solve some mystery
     
    Joe_A, kkt, Syrte and 1 other person like this.
  13. RegF Dec 22, 2016

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    Its amazing the things that pop up on the internet, isn't it?

    This is just one amazing piece of design!
     
    kkt and Syrte like this.
  14. Syrte MWR Tech Support Dept Aug 5, 2018

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    A recent member who liked this thread just reminded me of it. At the time I did not want to post anything publicly which might encourage the seller to persist in seeking a ridiculous price for that unbelievable watch.

    However I did not resist at the time the temptation to flag it to the Longines museum in case they found it worthy of attention. And I can now reveal what I know (guess it fits with the Agatha Christie vibe).

    Longines’ reply was very interesting, as they confirmed this watch was indeed invoiced to Longines-Wittnauer in the US in 1923.

    A tad more research showed @Fritz’s instinct was totally right that King Tut was a big deal back then. A quick Wikipedia internet search shows the treasure was found in november 1922 and for months after it sparked media stories worldwide (which seem to have been the source of rumors of a curse). Thousands of tourists went to Egypt to see the tomb and artefacts in the years that immediately ensued the discovery.
    So indeed, bravo @Fritz for making that connection.
     
    Edited Aug 5, 2018
    yande, Joe_A, Benbradstock and 8 others like this.
  15. Radiumpassion Aug 5, 2018

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    Awesome movement as well as a spectacular case!

    Love that Wilmot's regulator::love::

    Almost looks like a down scaled 24.99

    image.jpg
     
    Edited Aug 5, 2018
    Flatfoot, GregH, Deafboy and 3 others like this.
  16. Fritz genuflects before the mighty quartzophobe Aug 5, 2018

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    Elementary my dear Watson, my Mummy used to have one just like it.
     
    Archer, Farmer, Pjotr1 and 4 others like this.
  17. Deafboy His Holiness Puer Surdus Aug 5, 2018

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    Maybe it isn't scaled down...
     
  18. allwoundup Aug 5, 2018

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    Beautiful watch. The discovery of King Tut's tomb was indeed "big" in the 1920s (and beyond)...Egyptian design/motifs were central to the Art Deco movement and found its way into architecture, interior design and home decor, fashion, automobiles, movies, music, advertising, etc.
     
    1920s-fashion-Egyptian-party2.jpg CartierMystryClock.jpg Deco.jpg Grauman'sEgyptian.jpg Old-King-Tut.jpg Palmolive.jpg Papyrus-deco.lores_1.jpg Radio-City-collage.lores_1.jpg RosevilleEgypto.jpg Stutz-Ra.jpg
    Duracuir1, Shabbaz, Flatfoot and 14 others like this.
  19. Syrte MWR Tech Support Dept Aug 5, 2018

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    Fantastic post @allwoundup, thanks much for the input— and feel free to keep more coming!! I love those old posters and pictures of architectural elements. Interesting as it had never occurred to me before that a lot of the typical 1920s ladies fashion and hairstyle was indeed Egyptian inspired. But indeed looking at those pictures the connection seems obvious.
     
  20. allwoundup Aug 5, 2018

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    Thank you....I have always enjoyed Art Deco, and appreciate the contribution of Egyptian design to it. It was such a huge movement for so many years we have a tendency to take it for granted in our daily lives even though it surrounds us most everywhere we go in details large and small. Keep an eye open for it....take a quick photo when you encounter it, and post your photos....it might make for a fun thread. The design elements are all over watch case designs from the '20s, '30s and '40s. Happy hunting!