For your entertainment, here is an odd (and beautiful) All Guard Longines watch with a waffle (guilloche) dial. I have never seen that dial configuration on a conquest case before. The waffle dials were usually put in US-cased watches and had a sub-second configuration. Intrigued by this oddity, I asked the wonderful people at Longines for more information on this watch and this is the response that I got (big thanks to Ms Jennifer Bochud):


"Originally, the serial number 10'26X'XXX identifies a wristwatch in stainless steel bearing the reference 9006, in Conquest style. It is fitted with a Longines mechanical self-winding movement, caliber 19AS and was invoiced on 14 November 1957 to the company Longines-Wittnauer, which was at that time our agent for the USA.

Our books mention there is a special mark for "New-York" on the case back and on the inner part of the case back. There also is a mention of R.F.D. 2.R.A. which must be on the dial but I have no explanation of the meaning.

As for the dial, we have never seen such one like this for a reference 9006. This white guilloche is usually used for the American production."

The mystery thickens. The registry mentions odd facts about the watch that are not found on the watch but the odd registry entry matches the oddity of the watch. There is no evidence that any marking was removed from the case or the dial. Why would there be a mark for New-York? What does R.F.D. 2.R.A. stand for? Has anyone seen a waffle dial like this one with a central second on a 19AS movement?

Fire your shots. What do you think about this rare bird?

Here is my wild speculation. R.F.D. 2.R.A. stands for Rosendale (of whatever city starts with an R) Fire Department, Station 2, rescue ambulance. A bunch of firemen wanted a special Longines and ordered that superb waffle dial one-of-a-kind All Guard. I warned you that this was wild speculation...

Now with the pictures...

 

Fantastic piece! Really unique and I agree quite the mystery as to where the markings disappeared to! Dibs pls!

 

Ditto, and second dibs please!! (Thankfully I don’t think @dodo44 is the selling type, or else I’d have to call dibs on nearly every single one I’m afraid ).

I really like the wild theory about the fire department order— I vote for Riverdale!!!
Affluent community in the Bronx with beautiful old homes overlooking the Hudson river— it is part of New York city and their fire dept would have had the cash for a special order!!

 

I'll buy that speculation...makes sense to me.

This is why I love Longines...so much free info for collectors, as you can easily place the watch at place and time.

 

Great watch and great story! Thanks for sharing! What seems weird at first makes so much sense on a closer look.
The All-Guard from Longines what more could a fireman wish for in the 50ies?

 

Thanks for sharing. The waffle dials are pretty cool - one of them was the first Longines I ever purchased, but with sub-seconds configuration as you mentioned. I guess I am thirds dibs at this point

 

Maybe the dial was replaced during service some times ago?... That would explain many things...

But th e watch is really lovely anyway, what is the size?
Congrats!

 

I am not sure where this dial would have been sourced. What is the chance that a watch with a odd entry in Longines' registry got a replacement dial that is just as odd. My view is that it is unlikely but it is a possibility.
Has anyone seen a center second guilloche dial on a 19AS movement?
The width without crown is 35mm. It is now on a cognac shell leather strap and wears very well.

 

Thanks for the photos of that Longines. I like that watch. I like the 19AS movement and the dial has a lot of appeal.

 

This is the closest dial configuration that I have found (on US cased Longines with 23Z movements; exists in silver and black finish). An important difference is obviously the subsecond configuration and the fact that it is on a manual movement. The markers and hands are similar. We will have to wait until another similar watch emerges to learn more about this configuration. I have followed your advice and sent an email to the rochester fire department. Not too hopeful but who knows... I will let you know if they have a truckload of those in their basement

Photo credit: FinerTimes.com

 

That is the model I have always seen. That one is obviously cleaner than mine. Dial markers the same. Mine has a 23z as well, from 1956 by serial number. Screw back case.
Would love if the fire dept had long lost stash somewhere