Buyers beware, the movement and case serial numbers do not match and neither do the extracts from Longines' archive. Also, the fact that this watch has been "published" means absolutely nothing.

 

«Published» sounds pretty fancy though Any pictures of the extract?

 

Eleven years between the two parts really makes any claim to originality void..!

 

Ok, I'm the fool that bought it. Honestly, I didn't see anything disclosing this major issue. Christie's didn't include this fact in the conditions report. Any suggestions?

Well, looks like I own a famous parts donor : )

 

Well, there can be a legit reason for the movement swap as maybe water damage
etc. But I find it a little strange it was donated from a gold to a silver case.

 

Agree. I would be upset too.


They could have gotten the info from Longines for free, I hope they didn´t hold back the info with intent.

 

Called up Christies after sales department. They are escalating our concerns to the Watch department. I might be able to cancel the purchase. Thanks to DirtyDozen12.

I may still keep the watch for parts as it was not so mysteriously cheap. $1750 total isn't that much money for a working and aesthetically pleasing everyday vintage Longines chronograph watch that I wouldn't care if it got broken.

Scrap value:
Dial: $800
Hands: $300
Movement: $500
Case: $200
Crown: $100
Historical value: Zero.

Anyone care to vote to keep or cancel?

 

I would keep it for that price, still a published watch

 

Given the low estimate and low price, it is no surprise. It is a nice watches nonetheless and definitely worth its price in terms of parts and it is a nice wearer so I would vote for keeping it.

Christies were surely aware of this discrepancy but they still pushed a watch with an incomplete description.

On another note, it is disappointing to see that such mistakes made it in the first Goldberger book. It is still the best reference available. How many of you have looked at the latest Goldberger book. A great reference but most of the emphasis is still on chronographs and pre-50s watches. Also, some redials from book one made it in book two. In the latest reference, Goldberger acknowledges when some watches have been re-cased. It could be worth starting a thread on the Goldberger books as they are de facto the books of reference in the Longines community.

 

To me, this is unacceptable.

Starting a thread on Goldberger's books might be worthwhile, given that so many use them as a reference. I have not seen the second book but I believe that there are a number of problematic examples in the first, this being one of them.

 

Maybe the 1st Goldberger is furthermore a reference - but just one of numerous. Most of the issues of this book are identified now. Lenght of hands (not matching with the pictured dials) and others like the 8225 "Nonius" with high gloss case and "NO-Nonius hand". Now I´m curious about the permanency of the 2nd Goldberger. Maybe in 10 years the 3rd one will appear. I believe the big times of watch books are gone...

Difficult to start a thread about Goldbergers little mistakes without using the pictures in his book(s). As I have learned earlier this year, violation of copyright may become expensive.

 

Aurelie wrote it is a 13.34zz case, but the extract shows it is the case for a 13.33z

 

Did 1920s Longines chronographs have matching numbers on case
and movements?

 

From 1867 until somwhere in the 1940s, Case numbers and Movement numbers matched on Longines watches. On rare occasions, Longines did make more than one case for a serial number and this is documented in LEA.

The exceptions are for some watches that were shipped movement only.

 

Legit models sell for far more than that. Christie’s knew this was BS. It’s a pretty thing but I’d cancel.

 

Christie's issued an invoice, but I haven't authorized payment. I called again, no reply from watch department. The watch is nice...and cheap...but not that special. Especially missing the middle cover that should have the medal count. What is that? The condition report only mentions relume, but hides the case doesn't have a cover and serial numbers doesn't match.

 

in my non-purist mode, this watch is really nice and for parts value, i think it was not too bad.

 

It would bug me, over time. In your place, even if I would concede and keep it (because, as you say, it is pretty) it would bug me over time until I would put it up for sale and probably incur a loss. Still a lot of money for something that would feel "not quite right".

So, were I you, I would cancel the sale. But I am not you.

 

With a re-lume and missing case lid I tend to agree. The plot thickens.....