Hi all! I recently stumbled across this really attractive WW2 Longines watch on eBay. I wanted to hear everyone's thoughts on it. The seller hasn't provided any information on whether the crown/crystal is original (though in the listing has said that the dial is original). I'm not sure if the crown is original, since many WW2 watches seem to have a bigger crown. Thoughts on the crown/dial/crystal and the watch in general?
Hmm, I like it, but also don't want to buy a frankenwatch. Here are pictures of the inside and case back photos.
The bezel is correct, it’s a 1940s gold filled model indeed- and it shd be 30mm with a 12L movement inside. I believe those were marketed as pilots watches (civilian) among other things. My journey into vintage watches started with a watch just like this one, great provenance as it had belonged to a decorated WWII air force pilot who flew dozens of missions over Eastern France. It was also a great education into Ebay ordeals. The seller was the son, it was hard to believe he would sell such a watch but he needed to. Once I made the payment he never shipped the watch, despite having great Ebay ratings selling plates and other knick knacks. He claimed he had a problem and had to go to hospital etc. By the time I filed a claim I saw the same thing happened to someone else with an old typewriter he said had belonged to his father. It’s kind of sad, I ended up thinking this was someone who got desperate and used Ebay essentially to get a loan for a few weeks. I was very patient at first as he had claimed he was getting it serviced for me. PS I see as I was posting the OP updated the thread. It’s not a franken watch but it’s in bad condition. I think it’s hard for someone who hasn’t seen a number of those to say if the dial is refinished- which it is. I’ll let the OP explain why now.
A couple of more things about the watch: 1. Here is a closer view of the movement. It is a caliber 12L per the US designation, but is also marked 12.68N, which is the Swiss caliber number. This is common on early US imports. 2. It is a U.S. market watch. You can tell by the full name of the importer on the movement, the “LXW” import code on the balance bridge (for Longines-Wittnauer) and the word “Unadjusted” stamped on the movement. 3. I would suggest going over to the Vintage Watch Resources website. You will find a serial number database over there that will tell you that the serial number dates from 1940, or before US entry into WWII. 4. Longines used several different logos during this time. This makes authenticating the dial very difficult. I would assume a redial unless one can document other examples with the same dial. Hope this helps, gatorcpa
I love the rather subtle patina on the dial. Why is the crown bent like that? Does that happen often?