I recently inherited a Longines watch that was my grandfathers. It had been in a safe deposit box since at least the 1970s. The original band (an expansion bracelet) had broken so I had a very good jeweler here in Chicago go through the watch for function and install a nice leather band. Please take a look at the pictures and let me know if you have any info on when the watch was made (I'm assuming the 1940s) and what model it might be. Thanks in advance.

 

Well ...it certainly has some interesting lugs. Any photos of the back or movement...some ref:#s would indeed help.

 

I'm no longines expert, but that is a beautiful watch! did the jeweller actually service the movement (i.e. take it apart, oil each piece, put it back together)? If not, please DO NOT use the watch until it has been serviced, as without oil, you risk doing damage to the watch. with a new crystal, that will look spectacular.

 

He did do a full service on it (to the tune of almost $600 including the new band). I'll have to get some pictures of the back of it, but I don't have any of the movement and I'm not qualified to take the back off to take any. Thanks for the info so far.

 

LouS,

I'm going to have to take a look at the paper work. I don't think he did. I really wish I had asked him to grab a photo while he was in there.

As for the movement, it is definitely a manual wind without any sort of "clutch" to prevent over winding. I'm certainly not wearing this every day, but when I do, I have to be very careful to pick up on the spring getting tighter as I wind it. A full wind (and I'm conservative on what I would call a full wind to avoid any over winding) gives me about a day of reserve.

Thanks

 

Very interesting watch! I like it.

Doesn't look like he replaced the crystal during service?

 

Yeah, he asked about that and I told him not to. A bit of sentimental value to those scratches I guess. I wouldn't have had the band replaced if the old one wasn't broken (they did give me the old one back though).

 

It's really lovely, those lugs are devilish..

 

Likely purchased in Dallas, Texas in the 1940s. Unfortunately everyone who could tell me for sure is gone. It could have been as late as the 1950s, but my mother remembers it being earlier.

 

Makes sense, it seems to be in decent nick. Would be amazing if it's original to the watch...

 

I'll have to do that, it just didn't occur to me when I had it serviced. Thanks.

 

I'm away from my resources, but LouS is correct that it's either a 13ZN or 30CH. I would bet it's a 14ct case if bought in the US, and would have an LXW mark on the balance since the movement was likely imported to Longines' NY plant. It still could be an 18ct case that came straight from Switzerland too. Only way to tell is to look at the movement and the inside of the caseback.

BTW, that's a FANTASTIC heirloom!

 

Everyone,

Thank you very much for the information. I'll take the watch back by and ask them to take the back off for me. I'll post the photos in this thread when I get them.

 

Wow, thank you so much. That is exactly the information I was hoping to confirm. I'll get those pictures of the inside of the case and check for the marks.

 

I'm keeping it in my safe deposit box for now, I'll get the measurement and post it in the thread tomorrow.