51 Longines Extremely Rare and Very Well Preserved Stainless Steel Fly Back Chronograph Wristwatch With Multiscale Color Dial and Original Luminous Arabic Numbers

Estimate: € 100,000 –⁠ 200,000

Sold € 156,000

Model: Progressive Counter
Material: Stainless Steel
Reference N°: 5699
Year: 1946
Case N°: 23086 (200)
Caliber: 13ZN
Movement type: Manual
Movement N°: 6964497
Bracelet: Leather Strap
Dimensions: 39.5 mm
Signed: Dial, case and movement
Accessories: Certificate
Literature: This specific watch is published in the LONGINES LEGENDARY WATCHES book on pages 404–405

A pleasant sighting at auction, vintage chronographs from the ’40s have always been appreciated by young and astute collectors. Among these chronographs there are some of them which have the ability to attract even more the enthusiasts thanks to the little characteristics that equip those timepieces. The present lot is immediately recognizable as one of those for many features. First of all the movement, a 13ZN which substituted the 13.33 in 1936, 23 years after its introduction. Second, its peculiarity of recording the time. It is common practice in vintage and modern chronographs to see a subsidiary counter on the dial to register the minutes but with the present reference 5699 Longines tried to do something absolutely innovative and never seen before. The red hand clearly visible at the center of the dial is the one in charge to allow the owner to control the registration of minutes with the aid of the external scale for 60 minutes. Right at the center of the silvered dial is positioned a light blue spiral case while the ocher shade radium arabic numerals and an external tachometer scale complete the whole structure of the quadrant. The massive stainless steel case is well preserved and acts as a perfect frame for this “doppia lancetta”, as Italian collector call it for the double hand of seconds and minute in the dial. For a similar model, please also see lot 64 in this catalogue.

With the Longines Extract from the Archives confirming case, movement, production and subsequent sale on 10 January 1947 to the company Longines – Wittnauer Company, INC., which was at that time the Longines agent for the USA.