Exclusive Timepieces 7 –⁠ 8 December 2019 | Monaco

Auction Details

A wide selection of very fine vintage timepieces, property of various prominent collectors will be presented in this sale. Including a fine selection of Longines Chronograph coming from one of the most important collections worldwide.

118 Longines Unusual and Attractive Flyback Chronograph Wristwatch in Yellow Gold, French Marks Case, Glossy Black Dial, Gold-Colored Scales and Fancy Lugs

Estimate: € 10,000 –⁠ 20,000

Sold € 22,100

Model: Chronograph
Material: Yellow Gold
Year: 1949
Case N°: Longines Francia
Caliber: 30CH
Movement type: Manual
Movement N°: 7564138
Bracelet: Leather Strap
Dimensions: 37 mm
Signed: Dial, case and movement
Accessories: Certificate
Literature: This specific watch is published in the LONGINES LEGENDARY WATCHES book on pages 412–413

Over the last few years, with the advent of modern design, has crept into the mind of many people the idea that an object should primarily be beautiful to the detriment, sometimes, of functionality and above all efficiency. Exponents of a past time, wrist chronographs created by Longines from 1913 (the year of the introduction of the 13.33Z caliber) onwards have never considered such a concept plausible, giving life to creations capable of making an extraordinary design of cases and dials with the efficiency of absolute value movements. The chronograph offered here in the auction immediately strikes not only for the almost perfect condition of the case but above all for the beauty of the unusual grooved lugs. Entirely made of 18k yellow gold, the watch also features a convex snap-on back and two buttons to activate the functions of the chronograph square. The caliber is the iconic 30CH. The dial is not only a lamina on which numbers are depicted but an absolutely fundamental component of the object capable of raising the watch even more. The black laquered color is in remarkable conditions with its shiny effect still vivid; the two counters for constant seconds and 30 minutes registration show a nice guilloché concentric decoration while the touch of class is given by the use of the alluring gold-colored print that recalls the gold of the case and stands out against the black background of the dial. Looking at the case back is also clearly visible the French stamp which means that this special watch has been produced directly in France under license from Longines. (as confirmed by the extract of the archives).

With the Longines Extract from the Archives confirming case, movement, production and subsequent sale on 30 April 1949 to Longines France. The other parts of the watch were produced locally under license from Longines.