Hi everyone,

I could use some help. Bought this on EBay, sent it off to Longines for a service, but they wouldn't do it due to the age and the inability to guarantee the "seal" of the watch. Waited 6 months for that bit of news.....but i'd like to know what's the model and year....I was thinking 1940's and the model: Presentation since it's a 14k gold case, but the face is off. Pics attached. Thank you!

 

errata

 

No particular model name, and the serial number from the movement will be needed to give a production date. Longines will give you detailed historical information for free if you send them the serial and case numbers through their website. Open it up and take good photos.

Set up an account and follow instructions to request an Extract from the Archives.

https://www.longines.com/en-us/certificate-of-authenticity

 

Neat watch with quite a large case. It is likely from the early to mid-1940s. It would have been for the American market as per a number of details including the American-made case. There were often names associated with models for the American market, but no reference numbers in Longines' archive. Most collectors would refer to the watch using its caliber name, which in this instance is 9L. Unfortunately, the dial of your watch has been refinished. You can compare the "Longines" signature and sub-dial printing with the example below.

Source: https://preadored.com/shop/vintage-longines-curvex-solid-14k-gold-grade-9l-1942/

 

Great suggestion and thank you.

 

Super helpful, thank you!

 

identical 12 , 4 , 7 and 9 as far as I can see

https://www.chrono24.de/longines/lo...age-art-deco-fully-maintained--id16775315.htm

 

Just wanted to add that according to my jeweler, the face wasn't redone and lines ups with what the seller stated. It sat in a vault for years and hardly worn. What's the truth....eh don't know. I just know the watch is beautiful and runs well.

 

I would be curious to know how your jeweler came to that conclusion? The fact is, very few people specialize in vintage Longines. Without being a specialist, one usually lacks the required knowledge to properly assess the originality of a dial. In this instance, the dial of your watch has obviously been refinished. I do not think that one would need to be a specialist to reasonably come to this conclusion. However, one would have to be quite familiar with Swiss watch dials from the 1940s. The most glaring giveaway is the crude printing in the sub-dial. Anyway, sorry to be the bearer of bad news. Hopefully, it will help you to begin to train your eye if that is of interest.

 

No question that the dial was refinished.

 

That’s great info and need to train my eye as well. Thanks again

 

My pleasure!

 

More info I popped the back off

 

As you no doubt already know - but I'm state it clearly anyway, the movement of that watch is a caliber "9L" (as indicated on the movement). A nice quality movement!

http://www.ranfft.de/cgi-bin/bidfun-db.cgi?10&ranfft&ae&2uswk&Longines_9L

The movement is also marked "LXW", on the balance cock. This is a US import code used for Longines at the time, telling us it was intended for the US market. The case also makes this clear (Cased and Timed in U.S.A.).

The movement is marked "unadjusted", which means that the movement was not declared to have been tested and adjusted for precision in multiple physical orientations at the factory. This was to cut down on import fees (the US cared about that stuff). But the case suggests the watch was adjusted to some degree after entering the US.

The movement would have been shipped out alone and supplied with a case upon entering the USA (again, as declared on the case).

 

Late 1940s from the serial.

 

Maybe 1949.

Source: https://www.chrono24.com/longines/vintage-monopusher-chronograph-cal1268z-1949-ref-5034--ultra-rare--id26555566.htm#gref


Source: https://www.rmvintagewatches.nl/pro...cond-with-extract-of-the-archives-by-longines


Source: https://www.awco.nl/shop/icons/rare-finds/longines-one-button-chronograph-ref-5681-klm/

 

Thanks for the detailed info about the movement and no I didn't know about the movement. I have been mainly collecting Omega vintage watches lately and this one is my first Longines.

 

Very cool!! I sent those pictures to Longines yesterday to ask for a certificate as well. Researching on line it looks to be a 1947 serial number, but I'll see what the "Officials" have to say.

 

Research I did looks like it's from 1947.