Lots of growth this year in the Longines department! We'll start with 3 new 14ct pieces: On the left is a1950 caliber 22A, in the center is a 1962 caliber 280, and on the right is a 1953 caliber 23Z. Next up is a nice stainless 19A from 1959 - one of the first front loading cases: Let's do two more 2013 arrivals - a 1959 stainless Silver Arrow caliber 23ZDS and a 1967 stainless Flagship caliber 345: Flagships have the coolest caseback medallions: Here's my favorite acquisition for the year - a 1961 18ct Flagship caliber 341: Did I mention how über-cool Flagship casebacks are? While we're on the subject of Flagships, here's a caliber 285 version in a gold filled case: Here's another date-at-12 automatic - a 1960 18ct Conquest caliber 291: Not too shabby caseback on these Conquests either! How about a pair of Admirals? On the left is a 1961 gold filled caliber 350, on the right is a 1966 Pulsations dial caliber 342. Next up is a pair of Ultra-Chrons: On the left is an 18ct caliber 431, on the right is a stainless caliber 6651 chronometer. Here's a fan favorite - a 1950 14ct caliber 22AS: Here's a 1960 14ct Admiral caliber 340: Next up is a 1958 14ct Summit caliber 19AS: Whoops, still got another Admiral - a 1973 stainless caliber 6952: And for the finale, my first solid gold Longines and a birthyear watch bought on my birthday a few years back: A 1966 14ct caliber 370; part of the Diamond Dynasty collection.
Wow, great additions in fine condition! I really like the 22AS and the Summit, I have never seen either of these models for sale before, what's the story? Were they produced in small numbers? And I wonder why don't I see them in the market? Are you hoovering all these nice specimens up before they reach our poor European waters?
I'm all for natural remedies, who needs Viagra when looking at these magnificent pieces will do the trick.....
amazing collection of Ls!!! will be great references when I get to that letter of my watch collecting alphabet. I skipped to 'O' ... really nice
The Summit was only produced with the 19AS for a year or two before the 34x series was put into it and then Grand Prize was put on the dial. Here's a better dial shot: The 22A (automatic with subdial seconds) or 22L & 22LS (manual winds) was more often seen than their 22AS cousin. I don't know how many were produced of either. I've seen a handful of Summits show up on eBay in the last couple years. Even made a thread a few months ago about a seller who kept changing his price. I only own one and that's all I need. I do have a couple of 22A's, one uncased like the 22AS dial shown and another identical 22A that's been shipped off to be cleaned up & sold.
Dennis, lovely collection - the dial on your summit is similar to the one you helped me buy, but i think my favourite is the date at 12 conquest.
Thanks for all the comments guys! Still my favorite, and still considered the centerpiece of the lot. The Flagship caliber 341 is a close second. That's the whole Longines group. 7 or 8 are new this year, and 1 or 2 replaced slightly lesser conditioned nearly identical models. Pretty sure I started 2013 with around a dozen Longines in the box.
More than envious of your longines collection. And you do know my favorite of the lot is still the Conquest.
Anders "Andsan" has cornered the vintage Longines market here in Sweden but I have managed to get these two into my collection. I hope that the future bears a rose gold Conquest in it for me...
They pop up in gold filled cases once a year or so, going for a minimum of $800 in mediocre condition. This particular 14ct example came with all the box and papers and was nearly 3x that amount.
Doug at Custom Case Designs made me a few 12 watch boxes. At the time, he had 3 trays of 4 watches each - either vintage watch size as shown below, or larger modern watch size slots with wider circles for larger diameter watches. He makes various sizes too: http://www.watchtalkforums.info/forums/thread38937.html I had the lady who does alterations make me little cloth pockets to put the watch heads in. I think I need another Longines case.