Hello all, Seeking some advice and information here. One of my 'practical' grails for some time had been the IWC ref. 521 with a cal. 89 and 'shark' or 'bombe' lugs in an 18-carat case. Then I saw a post here on the vetting of a Longines 6983 and fell in love with it. Eccentric lugs, a rose gold case, a great manual movement....all that I wanted in the 521, with that sunburst dial to kill for in addition. At around half the average prices. So when I saw one of these on the bay in a quite acceptable condition, I put in a sneaky bid and managed to secure the object of my passions. At just under 700 USD, I think I can call it a deal (the horrible pics helped, I guess). Does anyone have info on this very reference or series? Fast forward to a week ago, when it finally arrived, I discovered that one of the lugs was slightly bent, making the lug width 19 instead of 18mm. It's not noticeable from afar, but the very idea of it keeps me from sleeping. My jeweler proposed to have it laser-repaired, but I'm afraid this might impact the originality of the watch. Any ideas as to what should I do? Should I repair it or just throw in a 19mm on it and call it a day?
Seems like there's a crack in the metal or something of that order which prevents the lug from simply being bent back. I'm trying to get second opinions!
I think a repair would enhance the watch, not decrease its value. A good jeweler should definitely be able to do it.
Does it bother you? If yes, ask a watchmaker if it is possible to repair. I personally think it is not noticeable. Adds a special feature to the watch - or at least, you'll know which one is yours in case you should mix it up with a bunch of other identical Longines.
I think the real question is, what’s your purpose with this watch? If you love it and plan on enjoying it, who cares if it’s a little bent? This is just a little accident in the life of a watch which has been around for decades. Leaving it as is and finding a strap which will fit is the easiest option—you are sure it cannot damage the watch or your wallet— and you’ll avoid the headache. We all want our watches to be perfect but why? If you think you might want to sell it— then a repair is ill advised too as you might not recoup the cost. What would the laser repair do? Laser is good for filling holes and cracks. If there’s a crack which needs to be filled then perhaps seek other opinions indeed.
Thank you for your kind comments, everyone! Wearing it for a few days my OCD faded away from "aw I can't possibly wear a bent watch" to "Wish it wouldn't rain tomorrow so I can wear it". Thinking about it I do agree that the flaw is not something that could cause trouble in the long term, and I might even grow fond of it in time. Maybe I'll consider repairing it with the next overhaul.... or use the money to buy another one As for resale value, this one was a mini-grail for me and probably will stay here for some time, so no worry. I just love the lugs and dial combination, my favorite among all 30Ls. Ah .....if only it had a Flagship caseback (watch greed is endless isn't it? Anyhow, I currently have a 19mm lizard incoming, but any strap recommendations for this one?
The lizard strap on the picture looks very good on it. Otherwise a brown flat matte croc strap would look really nice too. If you want I can pass on contacts for an Italian craftman who can make one at the size you like for a super reasonable price— he could even make it 19mm on one side and 18mm on the other. His turn around time is fast.
Thanks, @Syrte, that does indeed sound lovely. I'll be sure to PM you if the lizard is unsatisfactory.
Quick update: I ended up not bothering with the lugs anymore and instead bought a green croc strap for it. So opinions: exotic and fun; or gaudy and loud?
Green croc is perfect with gold! However.... it looks like there’s a gap at the bottom lug because you bought a 18mm strap, and not a 19mm. The gap poses a risk that the strap will pull at the spring bar and snap it off unexpectedly, which could cause your watch to fly off. Happened to me once— never again. So you need so called « non removable spring bars ». They are in fact removable but cannot spring off- they must be broken. I use them on watches that I wear with NATO straps. Add/ but it means I need my watchmaker to change them. Best regards S
I'd have never noticed the bend lugs except that you told me. I love vintage Longines, love the 30L movement, and love solid gold watches. Your watch is a winner.
Heavens! A forlorn brother, hidden in plain sight! How does yours compare to mine? Ref. 6983-6, casemaker code 141, serial 11mil, sunburst emanating from subdial.
Interesting, yours is the highest serial I have seen for this particular reference. The 6983 seems to be quite common among 18ct Longines. I have found serial numbers ranging from 11.2mil to 12.9 mil, indicating roughly a period from 1959 to 1965. All of these were in rose gold with the same dial configuration and sub-seconds sunburst, usually in good condition. Case codes seen are 141 and 129, less commonly 108. The rather long production date and use of multiple case-makers lead me to believe that, along with the 7515 it was probably a popular "frontline" model, high-grade but not priced quite as high as Flagships. I couldn't find a catalog entry with this model, so this remains an educated guess.