Thank you to the two individuals that I privately exchanged information here about this watch.
It may not be too exciting to look at, but I enjoy it and hope some of you will too. It is a 1914 - 1917 era 13.33z with a four color dial no cracks. Doesn't photograph well, but the colors are black, red, blue, and olive green. Sterling 900 silver 6 Gran Prix exposition medal fix bars case. 35mm. Pin set , co-axial crown activation pusher movement.
Updated: 6 medal case. Confirmed 1916 invoice date.

 

pretty amazing. historic and the onion crown its a classic. you can just decipher the olive green with these pics, i'm sure more pronounced in the sun. congrats!

 

Monopusher with a tiny hacking button?

 

No ... slide finger nail into slot to set the time.

 

I’m puzzled though ... 1913 cases were wire lugs and 14mm were they not?

 

I'm waiting for Longines Heritage Museum to give me the exact date. Larry, I think you are correct. I am using an internet serial number webpage to estimate the date. Serial number is 2,96x,xxx that dates to 1913.

My understanding is it was something like this.

1 generation: Pin Set, Wire Swivel Lugs, Crown Pusher
2 generation: Pin Set, Hard Lugs or Wire, Co-axial Crown Pusher (like above example)
3 generation: Crown Set, Hard Lugs or Wire, Co-axial Crown Pusher (Hodinkee example)
4 generation: Crown Set, Hard Lugs or Wire, 2 O'clock Pusher
5 generation: Crown Set, Hard Lugs, Two Pushers, Flyback

 

Nice watch though. That dial is to die for.

 

Almost certainly quite a bit later than 1913.

@Seiji Regarding the "generations" of 13.33Z, you are missing the crown set, co-axial crown-pusher variant. Also, I do not recall seeing a two-pusher variant without flyback. Can you show us an example? I would caution conjecture about lug design and chronology as there was a lot of overlap.

 

I would also have initially guessed the date to be around 1930s, but the case back is a 5 medal caseback and it is pin set which indicates a pretty early case not much after 1913. I have yet to find a 4 medal caseback on a 13.33z.

Ok, I think I fixed the order of introduction of the 13.33z variants.

 

Something about a pin set I just love

 

My guess is 1920s but the extract will confirm.

 

Reminds me that this beauty has been sitting in the safe too long.

 

That is one if my favorite dials. The hight of craftsmanship.

 

Larry, you need to bring this beauty out more often. For me that's as close to perfection you can get. I have been looking for an early enamel dial Longines but haven't found one like yours or Seiji's and not knowledgeable on what to look for and concerned about it being married or I have heard there are even new dials being made!! For me it would be buying the seller as much as the watch.
I was impressed when Seiji listed the generations and Dirty Dozen adding too it and wondering where this information comes from. The only book I can find is Goldbergers which I have but that doesn't go into much detail. Does a primer exist that goes thru the different generations? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

I share my methodology. Not taken from books. Copied 30 - 40 images from internet. Observed, sorted, categorised, hypothetical questions, test ideas, adjust ideas, identify knowledge gaps, etc... You can ask DD12, I initially thought mine was related to a Kilometrique (look those up, it’s fun reading) End result is an ontological hypotheses based on your own taxonomy if you don’t have a book.


Aside:
Orologi Passioni site popularized categories
Instantaneous 1: Pin set
Instantaneous 2: Crown set
Flyback: Two button

 

Go to HODINKEE and search 13.33z ... there is an article there on the evolution of Longines Crono by PH Zhou that got me on the hunt. Same lots of internet study. I was fortunate to have a trusted source who found mine and I validated it and pricing here. @DirtyDozen12 and others were very helpful. Original thread on my buying decision is here with more picks of the case and movement. I have a copy of an archives extract. You do need to be careful as the cases were often melted down, so there are a lot of franken with these dials. Not just a problem with Longines. You also have to be extra careful wearing these because they don’t have shock absorption. You also need a good watchmaker at your back because these can be temperamental. Good hunting.

 

I haven’t spotted an accurate fake case yet. Has anyone seen one for 13.33z? I always check serial number matches on case and movement before taking interest in watch of this era.

 

No but UG Enamel dials, yes.

 

Thanks Seiji for sharing your methodology, I think I need to start a file for Longines and start saving all this information. I did look up Kilometrique and found it very interesting. Of the 2 watches shown on the posting and Matt Bains, all 3 had small differences, whether it be hands, location of the name on the dial.

 

The major trick used to fake enamel dial is to find a genuine generic enamel dial and then print Longines on it using a process to transfer the logo and bake it onto the dial. I have spotted one and returned a Longines 15 / Valjou 22GH ( Israel). Look for smooth glassy surface! Genuine Longines dial of this era is not as shinny or glossy. All my Longines enamel dials are matte for military or semi-gloss civic. Adriano Divadoni wrote an article on enamel dial manufacturing.