After missing having a Longines in my box (again), a while ago I started looking for a keeper Longines. At first I aimed high, looking at a solid gold Chronometre from the 1940s. Then life got in the way, and I was forced to limit my budget. I had my eyes on a 1940s solid gold model with a solid gold bracelet at a ridiculous price of $480 US, but foolishly I slept on it and in that time the seller increased the price to $2500.

Finally, this entered my crosshairs yesterday. The perfect balance of a vintage Conquest and Flagship. At 36.5 mm, it's smaller than the current Heritage Flagship that uses the same movement, based on the ETA 2895. I offered half of what the seller was asking, and to my surprise they accepted. I can only find a very limited amount of info online, mostly from Japanese websites which has me believing it may have been a model predominantly for the Asian market. The model code L4.685.4. Apparently it was part of the Les Grandes Classiques collection, even though it looks more at home in the present Heritage collection (so I'm guessing it predates that collection by a few years).

Has anyone here owned, or seen this model in the metal? If so, I'd love to see your photos!

 

Is the modern Longines undergoing some kind of Sysyphus curse, whereby they develop stunning vintage inspired watches, and when they are about to deliver a masterpiece, they put a date window on int, screw the thing up, and back to square one?

What is that date window doing there?

Otherwise, a thoroughly stunning watch.

 

I liked the watch enough to overlook the date window, for $400 I won't complain. I prefer it at 6 to anywhere else on the dial, so there's that too.


EDIT:
More research has uncovered couple of similar watches without the date, both in .750 gold and from the early 2000's. This collection appears to be quite uncommon so I'm glad I snagged the one I did. Mine in steel is likely to be the entry price point and it goes up from there.

Reference L4.693.6


Reference L7.880.8

 

Why in the world isn’t that hand wound?

 

Same reason it's got the date I'm guessing! It's a product of its time. I don't mind it being automatic either, stylistically it looks a lot like Longines 19A and 22A watches from the 1950's.

 

That date window does not look out of place at all imo. Very attractive proportions and nice aged hands. I hope the crown and caseback are signed nicely too?

 

Thank you! the caseback is signed, but the crown appears to be plain from what I can tell. I've found such few photographs of this model that I can't confirm for certain if it's meant to be signed or not.

 

What's wrong with an automatic watch?

 

If I'm totally honest I prefer manually wound watches for the (marginally) cheaper service costs and the 'bonding time' spent with them each morning before wearing them. But that's only really a factor when a watch is available in both manual and automatic variants so doesn't really count here.

After some searching, I've found what may have been the inspiration behind this dial design, a lovely 22L from 1950 (owned by @prostie1200)



And a lovely 12.68Z

 

Nothing, if it is a diver. I just prefer thinner and simpler movements. They connect me more to the watch, like driving a stick shift car. Purity.