Longines Calatrava

nimzotech · Jul 28, 2020

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

Foo2rama · Jul 28, 2020

I don’t see Patek anywhere on it.

nimzotech · Jul 28, 2020

Foo2rama
I don’t see Patek anywhere on it.

Agreed that’s what it was advertised as.

Foo2rama · Jul 28, 2020

Well the caseback states 10k gold filled..

so does the watch have a gold coating on it?

Syrte · Jul 28, 2020

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.

SportChief · Jul 28, 2020

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.

nimzotech · Jul 28, 2020

@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.

nimzotech · Jul 28, 2020

SportChief
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.

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

janice&fred · Jul 28, 2020

nimzotech
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 😁

rondeaux · Jul 28, 2020

nimzotech
9507935 on movement - meaning?

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.

nimzotech · Jul 28, 2020

R rondeaux
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?

nimzotech · Jul 28, 2020

Foo2rama
Well the caseback states 10k gold filled..

so does the watch have a gold coating on 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?

killer67 · Jul 28, 2020

nimzotech
Correction it was $375 - worth it?

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

Dan S · Jul 28, 2020

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.

nimzotech · Jul 28, 2020

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!

killer67 · Jul 28, 2020

nimzotech
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.

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

nimzotech · Jul 28, 2020

K killer67
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

killer67 · Jul 28, 2020

nimzotech
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)

DirtyDozen12 · Jul 28, 2020

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.l2557

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-LO...=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

nimzotech · Jul 28, 2020

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!

Longines Calatrava - a 1955? Vintage

nimzotech

Foo2rama

nimzotech

Foo2rama

Syrte

SportChief

nimzotech

nimzotech

janice&fred

rondeaux

nimzotech

nimzotech

killer67

Dan S

nimzotech

killer67

nimzotech

killer67

DirtyDozen12

nimzotech

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