Title reads.

Are there any reasons why some 50s Longines have 'swiss made' markings on their dials, while others don't?

 

Hi, this was hotly debated on an Italian forum some time ago and there's no definite answer as to how or why they placed the mark on certain models before Swiss law made it mandatory in 1971.

What's clear is that in the 1930s-1940s many (original) watches do not have a "Swiss" or "swiss made" mark-- and in the 1950s there are also what appear to be a handful of references on which the mark is missing from original dials. The watch being debated on the Italian forum was a handwound 12.68Z with gold applied indexes and gold Dauphine hands, so probably early 50s.
In practice, it's best to be cautious with a 1950s dial that doesn't have the mark, but it's not always dispositive and it just takes practice.

There may also have been regulations in some of the countries where the watches were exported, for example "Fab. Suisse" had to be marked for watches sold in France.
I wonder whether @Tire-comedon (or others) know about how and when the swiss mark became systematic at Omega because major manufacturer appeared to adopt similar practices within similar time frames.

PS-edit/ OP, maybe you could consider using the words "hello, please" and "thank you" when you ask strangers to donate their time and give you free advice? I happen to be interested in the subject otherwise I would not have replied to someone rude. A forum is not a robot, it's people.

 

While I am not taking you literally, I believe that there were many more than "a handful" manufactured in the '50s that did not include the reference.

 

I was going to say, not to take me too literally as more experienced observers like @Tony C. will know more

 

Remember that this was all about marketing, and it was well understood by Swiss consumers where such watches were manufactured. It is somewhat analogous to gold hallmarks, which you won't find on most domestic market vintage Swiss watches.

 

Many thanks, apologies for the brevity.

Incidentally I am looking at my Longines and wondering the same thing.

 

How about a picture of your Longines?

 

Good morning watchers. Please tell me what you think of this dial. No Swiss mark. 1943. Serial number 6543228. I think this watch is all original though another member says redial. Thanks for your time and effort.

 

Looks like a redial to me as well.

 

+1

Longines print is dead giveaway

 

In my humble opinion it’s a redial and the dead givaway is the index track with very uneven marks which almost look drawn by hand.

IMO the Longines signature is not visible enough to be able to conclude anything- the resolution of the picture is too low with possible scratches on the crystal obfuscating it in part

 

I am the member who remarked that the dial has been refinished. As @Syrte mentioned, the outer track is poorly executed, and so are the hour markers. I also believe that this reference (looks to be ref. 5192) should have a signature with the usual serif font of Stern Freres, and "Swiss" at 6 o'clock as it is an American-market watch. Additionally, there appears to be a silver dial foot visible, which is characteristic of a refinished dial. As I did in the other thread, I will post a photo of an original dial for comparison. I cannot read the order number in the photo of your watch's case-back, but the example below may even be from the same order. Further below is a slightly later example (mine).


Photo source unknown.



My photos.

Photo from eBay.

 

This reference even came in chrome-plated cases (see below). Photos of another steel example below, as well.




https://wannabuyawatch.com/product/longines-manual-wind-usn-buships-circa-1940s/




https://www.horol.com/items/cat6/1023.html

 

Thanks

Thanks, I will get it apart and post cleaner pictures...

 

I'm nowhere near you regarding experience but imho this font doesn't look right at all

 

There were dials from the period that used sans-serif fonts for the signature (see below). These dial were primarily found in watches for the American market. However, other aspects of the dial in question strongly suggest that it has been refinished.




https://www.horol.com/items/cat6/0215.html