I’ve been on a hell of a run to start 2020. This beauty was exported to Italy in May 1942. Ref 4636, 35mm, 12.68z. Love the patina on the dial.

I believe I saw a thread some point in the last where @Syrte referred to this case style as a barrel case? Interestingly, it has one fixed bar and one removable. Not entirely sure why, but I have seen others of the reference that also feature this.

Special thank you to @kov, who went way above and beyond to help me bring this one home. He’s a great guy and I appreciate his help with this.

 

Your watch is lovely but not a barrel case. Barrels have two sides that are straight and two curved, like the shape of a barrel. Look at the examples two below from a 1927 Hamilton catalog. They are both barrel designs. One of them is actually named Barrel, the other is Tonneau, which is the french word for barrel.

 

I knew I’d find the comment. Apparently, the Italians referred to this case style as cassa bariletto (barrel case)?

https://omegaforums.net/threads/longines-12-68z-calatrava-help.108051/#post-1420039

I’ve now owned two of this case style, with the straight lugs. Both were exported to Italy in the early 1940’s. Seems most (all?) of the examples where I can find the export market were sent there. I’m wondering if these were exclusive to Italy.

 

Both lugs should almost certainly have fixed bars. Signed crown is a replacement but a neat piece overall.

 

You can have these cases with this dial-style in 32,5 mm and 35 mm, this is a smaller example, as you see, one bar is fix and one is also removable. It is a bit strange, because of your watch with the same features.

 

Thanks, @BlueHands. That is also a 35mm example I believe. Notice that case also appears to have one fixed and one removable bar. I think that may be factory correct.

You are correct about the replacement crown. Should be unsigned, but it at least matches the style so I’m not overly concerned about that.

 

This is the one you posted @BlueHands. It is the 35mm version.

 

Would you happen to know the reference numbers for these versions?

 

Cool watches. But I think there will be no plausible reason for
one loose and one fixed bar....

 

I don’t disagree. But what is the explanation for seeing it on multiple examples of the same watch, if not that it left the factory that way?

 

I have not seen multiple examples of this phenomenon on any makes
or makers.

 

There are two on this thread? lol

 

By multiple I mean more than two. But ok, lets just agree to disagree.

 

Cool piece- I do agree with @Radiumpassion and @DirtyDozen12 on the bars.
It’s possible those bars were prone to breaking.

 

That is a reasonable explanation. If they broke, presumably a watch maker might have drilled out the lugs on the side that did break. So it would just be happenstance that two of the exact same watches are showing this.

 

I have seen multiple examples of lug repairs, often asymetric, on Omega Royal Air Force WWII watches with fragile alloy cases and long lugs which were prone to breaking.

I’ve also seen several other examples of watches with just one fixed bar on one side and a spring bar on the other. I don’t think it’s rare.

On a separate note, I posted in the other thread cited the source of the phrase “barrel case” (cassa a barilletto) from the Italian forum Orologi e Passioni. In any event if an approximate word has to be used I’d prefer using one that makes sense rather than one that doesn’t.

 

Yes, that's right, 35 mm! Have another photo, that was listed at 32,5 mm. I will look for that and post it, sorry for the wrong photo.

Sorry, I don't have the reference numbers. Surely Longines can tell, if @Rumar89 will ask for an extract.

 

This should be the right one in 32,5 mm with springbars on both lugs. Notice, that the "6" is more castrated owed to the smaller case.

 

And mine below are 32mm (or 32.5mm) with fixed bars on both lugs and 35mm with removable bars.

I must admit I haven’t inquired as to whether the drilled lugs are original on my 35mm example but why would they not be?

Longines was the largest manufacturer at the time and made myriads of references and variants. Also those are not rare watches.

edit/ add: also in the other thread linked above @bubba48’s posted a 35mm example with holes for removable bars.

 

I have seen this case style with flat lugs referred to as a "cylinder" case.