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Longines MN research

DirtyDozen12
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In early 2016, I began to collect data on Longines' Marine Nationale watches. My primary objective was to make sense of the different dial types that I had observed. With an admittedly small sample size, a pattern emerged. Three distinct dial designs that were produced consecutively with very little, if any, concurrence. I posted this information in a summarized form here: https://omegaforums.net/threads/marine-nationale-longines.35401/page-2#post-429837

Now, I have been encouraged by a fellow OF member to post my data. I was reluctant in the past as I did not want the information to be misused. This has become a moot point, it seems, as much has been written/published on these watches. Hopefully some find the information below useful or interesting. And feel free to share the details of your example if you do not see it in the spreadsheet.

MN dials dec2019.JPG 2025_02_16_table1.webp 2025_02_16_table1.1.webp 2025_02_16_table1.2.webp
Edited:
 
Syrte
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Bravo @DirtyDozen12 👍
and thanks for putting together and sharing this ressource. No such research has been published or made available before.
 
DirtyDozen12
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Syrte Syrte
Bravo @DirtyDozen12 👍
and thanks for putting together and sharing this ressource. No such research has been published or made available before.
My pleasure!
 
w154
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Great work and a nice resource 👍

Wide Sans 259 reporting for duty...

ABFD47C9-049F-4CFF-A13B-DF60A0F02128.jpeg 17A21CC2-27DC-411F-850C-E3F572AFF4B3.jpeg
 
DirtyDozen12
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w154 w154
Great work and a nice resource 👍

Wide Sans 259 reporting for duty...

ABFD47C9-049F-4CFF-A13B-DF60A0F02128.jpeg 17A21CC2-27DC-411F-850C-E3F572AFF4B3.jpeg
A lovely example. Thanks for your contribution!
 
Warthog
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DirtyDozen12 DirtyDozen12
In early 2016, I began to collect data on Longines' Marine Nationale watches. My primary objective was to make sense of the different dial types that I had observed. With an admittedly small sample size, a pattern emerged. Three distinct dial designs that were produced consecutively with very little, if any, concurrence. I posted this information in a summarized form here: https://omegaforums.net/threads/marine-nationale-longines.35401/page-2#post-429837

Now, I have been encouraged by a fellow OF member to post my data. I was reluctant in the past as I did not want the information to be misused. This has become a moot point, it seems, as much has been written/published on these watches. Hopefully some find the information below useful or interesting. And feel free to share the details of your example if you do not see it in the spreadsheet.

View attachment 878930 View attachment 878929
Brilliant! Useful, interesting and typical of your excellent postings. Wish I had one....
 
DirtyDozen12
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Warthog Warthog
Brilliant! Useful, interesting and typical of your excellent postings. Wish I had one....
Thank you very much! I will update it soon.
 
Z
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I think someone needs a refresher course on how to use copyright watermarks. Here is how NOT to do it:

MN dial series2.JPG

... stolen from my original picture.

rx0916.jpg


I normally let things like this go, but seeing someone ELSE's claim via a watermark on my photo is a bit too much.

Have a good day.

Zaf
Edited:
 
Syrte
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Hi Zaf, I’m sure that was unintentional.
Without knowing where the pictures came from I encouraged @DirtyDozen12 to mark the juxtaposition he showed me several years ago summarizing his research, because so many people steal and rehash other people’s research in the watch world. Including for profit companies and blogs which free ride on the work of enthusiasts without crediting them.
However I completely agree with you it is also quite unpleasant not to be credited for a picture, even if the purpose is not for profit.

From a pure legal viewpoint some lawyers on the forum made the point in another discussion that copyright does not apply when someone transforms the « product » to create something new — in this instance a comparison between several styles.

I will gladly donate a picture of my own MN «wide serif » dial so that yours can be removed from this collage.

Best regards,
S
Edited:
 
w154
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MN4011 to be added to the list. Just sold at auction for circa £1k including fees. Obviously wrong hands but all the other stuff like serial, order, and dial layout seem to be correct for the number.

A4213DA0-9F19-40C0-A32A-EFD7B9E4FF1B.jpeg B55A439B-6E07-4BB0-91EF-3FE605614A4E.jpeg C83AB6A3-BCEE-4748-A280-F5F8A7E3760D.jpeg
 
Servius
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Thank you very much for all the work done, wonderful ressource for Longines enthusiasts 😀

Glad to have a special one (for now ! 😉 ), even in very bad shape

Longines.jpg


Have some others to add to the database... List in PM 📖
 
Syrte
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Servius Servius
Thank you very much for all the work done, wonderful ressource for Longines enthusiasts 😀

Glad to have a special one (for now ! 😉 ), even in very bad shape

Longines.jpg


Have some others to add to the database... List in PM 📖
That’s not “very bad shape” at all for a Longines MN. As a matter of fact I find it very nice. Here’s one I have which was arguably in very bad shape. I asked a friend to try cleaning the dial because I could not stand the green gunk on iy. He did a great job - but I now regret not keeping it as it was, because I have since found a much nicer one, and it would have been nice to have an unmolested pair.

before and after pictures below.
 
43A20729-A3CE-4B90-9617-A78E1414CC6D.jpeg F502C804-9743-46F2-B669-B3B7DEF4A67E.png A3CAAFD0-8011-4577-9E9E-447B976578DC.jpeg
kov
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Very interesting, I wish we had more of content of this kind on OF. Thanks for sharing ! 👍
 
Servius
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@Syrte

What you can not see on the picture, is that the upper lug is completely bend, the case have deep scratches and there's no markings on the back. But you're right, I don't forget that it was a watch for the military, so tough living conditions. Maybe I'm becoming grumpy about its condition because of what I'm seeing on OF 😁

And what about pictures of the much nicer one? 😗
 
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