Longines, late 1940s

LONGINES. Switzerland, late 1940s.
Vintage wristwatch with a circular gold-plated steel case, polished bezel, and distinctive teardrop lugs, showing a strong Art Deco influence. Stainless steel caseback and fluted crown at the 3 o’clock position.
Champagne-colored dial with Arabic numerals alternating with applied circular hour markers, lance-shaped central hands, and a small subsidiary seconds sub-dial at 6 o’clock, featuring concentric decoration and a minute track around the perimeter.
Swiss manual-winding mechanical movement, Longines Caliber 12.68Z, with 17 jewels.
Black leather strap with a gold-tone metal buckle.
It works.
Measurements: 35 mm (case diameter, excluding crown).

During the 1930s and 1940s, Longines cemented its reputation among the great Swiss watchmakers thanks to the quality of its in-house movements and its advancements in chronometry, chronography, and precision timekeeping. The Caliber 12.68Z dates from this period; it is one of the brand’s most iconic hand-wound movements, developed in the late 1920s and used for several decades. With 17 jewels, a frequency of 18,000 vibrations per hour, and a robust mechanical architecture, this caliber offers a fascinating glimpse into the technical heritage of the Saint-Imier manufacture.
This example stands out in particular for its teardrop lugs, a design element characteristic of certain dress watches from the 1940s, which lends a sculptural character to the case and reflects the influence of Art Deco on the watchmaking of the era.

In the descriptions of the watches, the phrase “it works” means that the watch is functioning. Since collector’s watches typically have delicate and complex mechanisms, the buyer is responsible for any general servicing, inspection, battery replacement, adjustment, or repair that may be necessary. We do not guarantee the perfect functioning of any watch. All photographs of our watches are original and have been taken by our photographers; in other words, we do not use stock photography, which is why the photographs are considered part of the catalog listing.