Uncommon Longines Ultra-Chron Dial - Date at 4:30, Logo at 6, French Text

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Hello everyone,

I’m trying to learn more about a vintage Longines Ultra-Chron, purchased new in Greece around the late 1960s or early 1970s. Its configuration differs notably from the standard Ultra-Chron references I’ve found online.

Dial Layout:
1. At 12 o’clock, it reads: “automatic CHRONOMETRE” - note the lowercase “automatic” and uppercase “CHRONOMETRE” in French spelling.
2. At 6 o’clock, it features the Ultra-Chron logo but no “Swiss Made” text anywhere on the dial.
3. Date Window: Positioned at 4:30, which seems uncommon for this series.
4. Serial Number: 15,XXX,XXX - production likely around 1969 based on Longines’ serial database.
5. Case: Steel cushion case (not opened), likely all-original, with crown and dial intact.
6. Movement: Presumed to be Caliber 431 (36,000 bph), based on the model and period, though I have not opened the case to confirm.

I’d appreciate any help identifying the specific reference, dial variant, or production context. Here are some pictures that might help

Thanks
 
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Hi,

what you have there looks very much like the Longines Ultra-Chron Ref. 8355, though the dial has been redone in the past. The fonts are wrong (especially the "Automatic" line, but the "Ultra-Chron" line is too thin, as well) and the order of the text isn't right.

I'll link a picture with the correct dial (and you can find several others on this website if you search for "Longines 8355"):

1663645-a962ddf37af7e7bd94b00a8ed266d016.jpg

That said, the Chronometer versions of the Ultra-Chron line are not that common. The entire line was "guaranteed to be accurate for one minute a month" (so +-2 sec/day) when new, and shelling out extra cash for a Chronometer certification (when the Chronometer certification was way less strict than this standard) was not done so often.

You can find out pretty easily which movement is inside by using an app like the Watch Accuracy Meter on your phone. If it shows a beat rate of 36000 bph, it's the 431; the later 6651 movement has a beat rate of 28800 bph.