Hey guys!
Recently acquired the subject watch. Can you help me in valuating it?

Longines Calatrava 34mm (circa 1955?)
Caseback No. 23658
Top of caseback stamped with 1010
Movement: 23Z hand-wound


Concerning is the Patina or water damage around 3 - 5 o’clock dial position.
9507935 on movement - meaning?

Watch keeps great time.
Please advise - is this a shitter or not

 

I don’t see Patek anywhere on it.

 

Agreed that’s what it was advertised as.

 

Well the caseback states 10k gold filled..

so does the watch have a gold coating on it?

 

Welcome to the forum, are you prepared to hear a disappointing answer? It’s worth little. Gold filled watches are not considered as desirable as steel or solid gold. This is not a famous reference or one of the most desirable periods. And the dial is refinished with means it has usage value for someone who likes to wear it but it’s considered to lack collectability.
So in short, I would say it’s worth the sum of its parts, ‘ the movement is the most valuable part, assuming that it is working properly.
PS it’s not a calatrava.

 

I agree with Syrte, that the dial appears to have been redialed. The logo should look the one in this Youtube video:

That being said, depending on how much you paid for it, it's not a "shitter" watch by any means. It's a classic, gold (filled), mid-century dress watch. It was made for the US-market and features a high-grade 23z caliber. However, it does not hold much collector interest.

 

@Syrte good constructive feed back thank you.
Question I have is where did you spot the refinishing on the dial?

I agree on the “Calatrava” it was nicknamed in similar fashion a Seiko Sarx055 is named “baby snowflake”. As both watches borrow desired designs from the higher end watches.

 

Great feedback and loved the informative clip. Thanks for sharing.
I sourced it for $275. - With allowable return policy.

 

If possible then return it. Plenty of decent stuff with original dials can be found for around that price. Unfortunately no Calatravas tho

 

I agree wholeheartedly with everything that's been said so far. To answer this particular question though - this is a serial movement serial number and can be used to date the production to approximately 1954-55.

 

Correction it was $375 - worth it?

 

Good question.
Gold coating No. Gold Filling - Yes.
Gold coating is like gold plating where the object is dipped in gold. Once removed a thin layer of gold remains, but because it is so thin - it is prone to flaking and chipping would reveal the underlying material.

Gold filling is a superior process, contains more gold and is less prone to chipping, flaking off.

The watch appears more silver-ish than yellow gold. Possibly white gold? Or the gold rubbed off?

 

Not worth it imo - there are better ones to be found

 

I would also suggest returning it if possible. It's pretty much the bottom of the barrel as a collectible vintage Longines ... redialed, gold-filled (with a low gold content), locally cased, needing service (based on regulator position). Not how I would suggest spending your hard-earned money.

Also, it's not a Calatrava.

 

Excellent observations. What I learn on this site in single day - I have not been able to learn in months on WUS ;-)

Many of you have observed the watch being redialed. For my future knowledge can you please point to the location revealing this? Is it the "Longines" text or Logo?
Below are two images. The first is from the "Longines Watch Review" clip appropriately posted by SportChief. The second is from the watch I acquired.
1.


2.


Wow - I think I just answered my own question. At first I thought Longines fashioned their text almost in a hand painted fashion during the 50's. But it appears from the video the text is Stenciled or machine printed.
You guys are Best!

 

biggest tell is the wrong non-serif font but there are others

 

Others noticed:

*I see the wings on the logo thicker on no. 2
*The center Longines Logo X-Box appears placed lower down the Longines wings; inverse true for no. 2

 

You’re getting good already. Here’s another one: logo should be straight along the length of it (either side of the wing sits lower on the redial)

 

Sans-serif dials do exist but this emblem (see below) is much more prevalent in this style of watch. Also notice how the concentric circles in the sub-dial are not nearly as obvious.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/old-wristw...=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557Purchases made through these links may earn this site a commission from the eBay Partner Network

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-LO...=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557Purchases made through these links may earn this site a commission from the eBay Partner Network

 

Ooooohh the spacing between the Longines and the Logo - that was a good catch! Missed that one.
The "Longines" font spacing matching the length of the Longines wings - Good detail!

You and the rest in this thread are simply Awesome!