Old/vintage Longines watch

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specu

·Sep 22, 2019

Hello,

I would like to ask you about Longines watch I have found some time ago during cleaning my house.

At first I wrote to Longines for more info and the answer is:
"The original serial number 5'320'561 identifies a wristwatch in stainless steel bearing the reference 3796. It is fitted with a Longines manually wound mechanical movement, caliber 18.69N. It was invoiced on 20.6.1936 to the company Wolfgang Guth in Prague, which was at that time our agent for Czechoslovakia.

You wrote that you found this watch "robiąc porządki" during a home cleaning. It's a nice discovery. If you are not particularly attached to this watch, the Longines museum would be interested to buy it. So, please keep us informed if you want to receive a proposal from us regarding this watch."

I posted a post on one of Polish watch forum to gather as much informations about this watch as possible and people send me price offers for this watch, Longines wants it too but I am not sure if I want to sell it. Now the most important thing for me is to know the history of this watch. Meaby you know something more about this watch? It would be very helpful.

Thank you in advance,
Rafał

Edited: Jan 21, 2022

 

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Radiumpassion

·Sep 22, 2019

Wow. This is a great find😀 Even the Longines museum want`s it.

 

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Syrte

·Sep 22, 2019

As far as I can tell it looks like a very beautiful and rare Longines Weems.

With that word you can do a google search and find a lot more information.
You will probably get offers from other people and should take your time to decide what to do. Be careful as some people will try to take advantage of your ignorance and make you unfair low offers. It is worth several tens of thousands of US dollars.

Best regards

Edited: Sep 22, 2019

 

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Syrte

·Sep 22, 2019

This was sold by a famous international dealer.
https://davideparmegiani.ch/watch/longines-16/
"Oversized stainless steel wristwatch, black dial, sweep centre seconds, Weems angle hour model with setting system for air navigation, circa 1930"

You should also look for information regarding the « Lindbergh Hour Angle » watch.

 

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fbf

·Sep 22, 2019

amazing. that's why i love this hobby. thanks for sharing.
would love to see more info/history about this watch

 

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LarryG

·Sep 22, 2019

absolutely fabulous!
Serial very close to this one in Goldberger:

Along with the Longines museum folks, I too would have some interest in adding it to the collection.

 

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Syrte

·Sep 22, 2019

This was sold some years ago by a dealer in Eastern Europe who sold a lot of those Weems and Lindbergh watches- although I only saw a black one among his various watches.
Also caliber 18.69N, and as far as I can tell also delivered to Guth Longines’ agent in Prague.


PS - please make sure you DO NOT TOUCH or try to clean your watch. Anything that gets done to it risks damaging its value permanently. This is a watch which probably no one should touch or restore except Longines themselves, because it’s worth so much money. In any event right now do not try to have anything done that will improve it. Part of its great value comes from the fact it is untouched.

Edited: Sep 22, 2019

 

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Martin_J_N

·Sep 22, 2019

Nice find, congratulations

 

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gatorcpa

·Sep 22, 2019·ΩF InvestiGator

If you want to read some historical information about your watch:

https://monochrome-watches.com/the-history-of-the-pilot-watch-part-four-longines-and-lindbergh/

http://thesydneytarts.blogspot.com/2012/03/rare-longines-wittnauer-second-setting.html?m=1

You can use Google Translate to get these websites into Polish if you want.
gatorcpa

 

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gefmey

·Sep 22, 2019

Very nice. Other than being the large size, the movement is very similar to my small Lindbergh (in Longines forums). That copper/brass strap is attached exactly the same.

 

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specu

·Sep 22, 2019

Thank you for your fast and accurate answers.
The only thing to do is to sit down for reading. Unfortunatelly I don't know every english words so it will take time.
Also I will try and ask the oldest family members - meaby they will know something about this watch(I know only that grandpa got it from his father, unfortunately both are death).

 

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Omega world

·Sep 22, 2019

Very beautiful watch...I think you got there the Daddy of the Longines Weems....One thing....Don't sell that watch.!

 

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64Wing

·Sep 22, 2019

Keep. It.

 

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gefmey

·Sep 22, 2019

ditto, ditto, ditto. Keep it.!

 

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fbf

·Sep 22, 2019

if you are not a watch person and has no attachment to the watch, i vote for selling the watch to longines or private collectors.
definitely try to investigate the history of the watch or any paperwork associate with it. It will probably help to boost the value of the watch and you can have a proper "closure" with the watch if you decide to part with it.

 

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DirtyDozen12

·Sep 22, 2019

Hello Rafal,

Firstly, thank you for posting photos of both the dial and movement. It is also great that you contacted Longines.

Secondly, this watch is very uncommon and extremely desirable to Longines collectors. It is known as a "black Weems" since most Weems Longines have white outer dials. Even the more common white dial examples sell for upwards of $20,000 USD:

Phillips- https://www.phillips.com/detail/longines/HK080219/813
Christie's- https://www.christies.com/lotfinder...sual-oversized-stainless-6067345-details.aspx
Christie's- https://www.christies.com/lotfinder...stainless-steel-military-5967759-details.aspx

As others have said, the most important things to do are, (1) do not alter the watch in any way, and (2) do no act in haste and sell the watch without learning more. The historical value of the watch depends greatly on its originality and even bringing it to a qualified watchmaker to have it cleaned could result in irreversible damage.

As someone who loves Longines, this is a very exciting watch. Thanks for sharing it with us.

 

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DirtyDozen12

·Sep 22, 2019

P.S. A bit of information, these large Weems watches were produced for pilots and used pocket watch movements for greater accuracy. The very larger diameter also improved legibility but was highly unusual as most men's watches of the period were between 30 mm and 35 mm. These watches were also relatively expensive. Unsurprisingly, such a specialized watch was not produced in large numbers. Big Weems are considered the pinnacle by Longines collectors, along with Lindberghs, certain 13ZN chronographs, and a few other rare references.

 

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oinkitt

·Sep 23, 2019

Syrte

This was sold some years ago by a dealer in Eastern Europe who sold a lot of those Weems and Lindbergh watches- although I only saw a black one among his various watches.
Also caliber 18.69N, and as far as I can tell also delivered to Guth Longines’ agent in Prague.


PS - please make sure you DO NOT TOUCH or try to clean your watch. Anything that gets done to it risks damaging its value permanently. This is a watch which probably no one should touch or restore except Longines themselves, because it’s worth so much money. In any event right now do not try to have anything done that will improve it. Part of its great value comes from the fact it is untouched.

What is the story with this watch??? How was it worn??

 

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specu

·Sep 24, 2019

Thank you for further information and advice. I really appreciate that. Unfortunately, no family member knows anything about this watch so everythig I know is what you said. More pictures of the wach:

 

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fbf

·Sep 24, 2019

just wow