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Pre-purchase opinions invited on '59 Longines Flagship

  1. DaveK Yoda of Yodelers Jul 23, 2021

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    Hi all, I've found this '59 Longines Flagship for sale and would value your opinions on it being legit. It is described as working, 35mm diameter and has a trashed crystal. I've requested movement and inside caseback pics. The long-service inscription is identifiable (but not military or famous or otherwise valuable) and regardless I have embarrassingly marked it up to protect my selfish claim on this piece :whistling:

    Of particular concern is the dial. The script looks (to my eye) just like many other Flagships of the era, but...thicker? Too thick? Redial? The second markers, they don't seem to be consistent. Possible patina spot at 10:30. I can't tell what tricks the crystal is playing on the state of the dial. The second hand seems the right shape and length, but, it's blue?

    3C64B49B-9A66-49E9-BCFA-44DE04187FBA.jpeg

    64A53A91-9D55-458C-BD4A-C9E67F06B989.jpeg


    Wait, is that spam? The caseback has what may be half a sandwich worth of spam smeared into the crevices. What do we think, corrosion or DNA? The bezel has some scratches at 8:30, but if everything else works out, then that's okay the case seems otherwise to have led a brave and not overly polished life.

    60D7F106-0207-4F8D-91AC-E5F8C38CF531.jpeg

    39EFDE09-CBD2-464A-9992-FE75E1680D9B.jpeg

    A170A92F-1C85-48C9-BF86-392C216AF452.jpeg

    If someone asked me, I would vote that it is an older redial. But, I do love the colour of that dial so I didn't want to needlessly pass it by. Thank you in advance for your guidance :thumbsup:
     
  2. Dan S Jul 23, 2021

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    I'm also voting redial. Printing looks thick, and the minute track is too uneven in length and spacing and position. It would also be unusual to see a dial age uniformly to this color.
     
    Syrte, Tony C. and DaveK like this.
  3. Canuck Jul 23, 2021

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    When the seller can provide a picture of the movement, please post it. If the movement is as distressed as the outside, cost to service makes it a bad purchase. Google “vintage Longines Flagship watches”, and check out the dials. Then get back to us once you form an opinion of the dial on the subject watch. Maybe you can see a future for this watch that few others of us can.
     
  4. DaveK Yoda of Yodelers Jul 23, 2021

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    My gut was leaning on redial. But I really like a salmon dial, and wanted to be sure if wasn't was the trashed crystal making it look bad. Sober light of day, yah, it doesn't look right. Many thanks
     
  5. Canuck Jul 24, 2021

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    When you bought your perfect Hamilton 992B, you paid a premium for condition for a watch that ticked al the boxes based on what you wanted. As you evolve in this mania of collecting watches, you will learn that it costs a premium to try to bring a sub-standard watch up to the standard you expect. And in many cases, you find you are unable to improve a sub-standard watch to the level of perfection you expect. So you end up with a watch that stands you more than you expected, and it is still not good enough to give you pleasure! You will never be sorry you walked on the Flagship! John Keats said, “a thing of beauty is a joy forever!”
     
    Edited Jul 24, 2021
    DaveK likes this.
  6. Tony C. Ωf Jury member Jul 24, 2021

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    I really have no doubts that it is a redial.
     
  7. gatorcpa ΩF InvestiGator Staff Member Jul 24, 2021

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    I don’t know how anyone could express an opinion with such awful pictures. Unless this is priced cheap as a parts watch, it’s a hard pass from me.
    gatorcpa