Looking at this on eBay. Not sure of authenticity, I'm thinking about getting a Longines but not trying to spend too much. http://m.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Gent-...Jewels-Cal-431-Watch-/201654228101?nav=SEARCHPurchases made through these links may earn this site a commission from the eBay Partner Network
I think the watch is authentic. Hard to tell the condition of the dial from the pictures on eBay. Price is not bad at current level. I wouldn't go much higher, given the postage and import costs. I don't trust eBay's Global Shipping Program. gatorcpa
If you're referring to https://omegaforums.net/threads/red...on-cal-431-10k-gold-filled.44634/#post-529717 it's not. That one is still up for grabs and in very collectable condition with some extra goodies thrown in.
No, that's a different dial. I remember seeing a patinated chocolate dial Ultra-Chron exactly like that here somewhere.
As someone completely new to this, does the high serial number mean that parts of the mechanism have been replaced?
No. They started a new series of serial numbers at 50 million around 1972. No clue as to why. gatorcpa
By the mid 1970's, Longines stopped putting serial numbers on movements. Many other Swiss companies did the same. So the 50M series didn't last long. Main reason was that by that time, Longines was sourcing movements from several factories and manufacturers. This saved a lot a money at a time where a lot of the Swiss companies were close to bankruptcy due to intense competition from Asian and American (think cheap LED and Quartz) companies. Hope this helps, gatorcpa