Longines

Longines chronographs of the 1930s to the 1950s have captivated collectors for decades, some reaching record prices at auction, though the brand’s time-only offerings of the same era have long been overlooked. In truth, Longines was one of the best-selling watch manufacturers of the vintage decades, and for good reason. The in-house movements, chronographs and time-only, are of serious quality, built strong yet beautiful for daily wear at a time when a wristwatch was more functional than fashion.

The present wristwatch, powered by the renowned caliber 27.0, would have been among the most stylish offerings from Longines in this era. Cased in 18k yellow gold, the otherwise relatively simple architecture is made bold by thick and triple-stepped lugs – taking the watch to a whole new level. When paired with the gilt-tone, or doré, dial with applied hour markers, the look is brought together, creating one of the most visually striking and design-focused Longines watches of the time.

A final, small detail worth noting is the large yet flat crown, which is slightly recessed into the case flank, making for a cohesive silhouette. The condition throughout is excellent for a watch of this age, with striking and defined lines to the stepped lugs and a very even tone across the entire dial. For a watch that steps outside of the normally staid and utilitarian Longines aesthetic of the vintage period, a collector cannot do much better than the present example.