Longines 13zn Reference 3901

Posts

207

Likes

656

doctor steel

·Apr 28, 2023

Hi to all Longines vintage chronographs lovers : I present to you 2 13zn with the same cases but with very different dials

Both reference 3901, have an almost 37mm steel case, tilting lugs and stepped bezel

The pushers are rectangular and the snap casebacks haven't the Longines writing ( typical of the very first 13zn )

°The first one has a sandwich two tone dial ( with blue and black scales ) with very nice patina which makes it a real vintage piece : I love it !!!
The same serial number of the caseback and of the movement ( 5,4 million ) dates it to 1936 with delivery to the Longines Agent in 1937

° The second one has a silver two tone dial with red, blue and black scales and printed indexes, but the most striking feature are the very, very large counters ( bigger than the large ones observed on some books !!! )
This piece also has the serial number of the caseback and of the movement 5,4 million, sent to the Agent in 1938

Thanks for reading and sorry for the bad pics

Alfredo

 

Posts

510

Likes

1,912

valjoux72

·Apr 28, 2023

Really beautiful. Wear them in good health!

 

Posts

595

Likes

1,526

jantjewgm

·Apr 28, 2023

🥰

 

Posts

2,801

Likes

4,864

DirtyDozen12

·Apr 28, 2023

The example with the sandwich dial is a dream. The other example remains intriguing with those very large sub-dials.

Thanks for sharing these watches here.

 

Posts

207

Likes

656

doctor steel

·Apr 28, 2023

valjoux72

Really beautiful. Wear them in good health!

Many thanks 😀

 

Posts

207

Likes

656

doctor steel

·Apr 28, 2023

DirtyDozen12

The example with the sandwich dial is a dream. The other example remains intriguing with those very large sub-dials.

Thanks for sharing these watches here.

Thanks, agree with you 👍

 

Posts

1,680

Likes

8,482

bubba48

·Apr 28, 2023

Bellissimi Alfredo, il primo poi...🥰

 

Posts

207

Likes

656

doctor steel

·Apr 29, 2023

bubba48

Bellissimi Alfredo, il primo poi... ::Amore::

Grazie Luigi, sono d'accordo ... entrambi hanno caratteristiche particolari, ma il quadrante sandwich è davvero affascinante 😀

 

Posts

3,627

Likes

38,354

LesXL

·Apr 29, 2023

Gorgeous ones!! congrats

 

Posts

207

Likes

656

doctor steel

·Apr 29, 2023

Many thanks 😀

 

Posts

321

Likes

840

BlueHands

·Apr 29, 2023

Phantastic! Great you let us have a look on these two beauties. The watches with sandwich dials are not often seen. It is some kind
of a grail for me 🥰.

 

Posts

207

Likes

656

doctor steel

·Apr 29, 2023

BlueHands

Fantastico! Fantastico, ci hai permesso di dare un'occhiata a queste due bellezze. Gli orologi con quadranti sandwich non si vedono spesso. È una specie
di un graal per me ::Amore::.

Many thanks, you're very kind 👍

 

Posts

12

Likes

15

mod221

·Apr 26, 2025

here is a pic of my Longines 3901 with two tone telemeter dial and blued hands, also has flexible lugs and stepped bezel....

 

Posts

79

Likes

97

Knebo

·Apr 27, 2025

Very cool.
You had it serviced/restored by Longines? How did that go? Did they respect the originality etc? Was it very expensive?

 

Posts

5,922

Likes

9,188

Mark020

·Apr 27, 2025·not the sharpest pencil in the ΩF drawer

I sincerly hope this is not a factory redial

 

Posts

12

Likes

15

mod221

·Apr 27, 2025

Mark020

I sincerly hope this is not a factory redial

its the original dial-they replaced the hands which had a lot of damage...

 

Posts

12

Likes

15

mod221

·Apr 27, 2025

Knebo

Very cool.
You had it serviced/restored by Longines? How did that go? Did they respect the originality etc? Was it very expensive?

yes expensive and difficult to communicate since you are dealing with so many levels in a huge company...i woudlnt recommend it frankly...

 

Posts

5,922

Likes

9,188

Mark020

·Apr 27, 2025·not the sharpest pencil in the ΩF drawer

mod221

its the original

Seriously?

 

Posts

12

Likes

15

mod221

·Apr 27, 2025

yes

 

Posts

2,801

Likes

4,864

DirtyDozen12

·Apr 28, 2025

mod221

yes

Though the dial (brass disc) may be original to the watch, it has been refinished at some point in its life. The quality of the refinish is relatively poor. This is evident when comparing the execution of the printing with the other examples shown in this thread. Further, the dial has a number of anomalous features such as the sub-dial designs and font of the hour markers.