Why This Watch Matters

This Longines features one of the most attractive dial executions we've ever seen on a pocket watch.

The Full Story

Sometimes a watch doesn't need much of an explanation – it's so good looking that you don't need a history lesson or hours of research to appreciate it. We think this Longines pocket watch from 1930 is one such watch. It features a gorgeous vertically brushed dial that transitions from almost champagne to a rich, dark grey in various light conditions. The Art Deco-influenced Arabic numerals are slightly recessed, as is the concentric engine-turned small seconds at six o'clock. The central hour and minute hands are formal and almost appear to be a hybrid design with the shared characteristics of Breguet, spade, and cathedral hands. A railway minute track is the final wonderful aesthetic touch. The entire design is simply *chef's kiss*.

Inside this pocket watch is the Longines caliber 18.79N, a workhorse manually wound movement produced in the 1930s. This pocket watch is accompanied by an extract from the Longines Archive that says the watch was invoiced on December 31, 1930 to the company Perusset, who was the Longines agent in France at the time. (Fun fact: Longines can track the serial numbers associated with 50 million different watches dating back to 1867. The brand maintains one of the largest archives in the entire Swiss watch industry.)

The Fine Print

Maker: Longines
Model: Pocket watch
Reference: 1338
Year: 1930
Case No: 5035457 / 7545
Movement No: 5035457
Material: Chromium metal
Dimensions: 46mm diameter; 11.5mm thickness
Crystal: Plexiglass
Lume: No
Caliber: Longines, manually-winding, caliber 18.79N
Bracelet/Strap: N/A
Lug Width: N/A
Box/Papers: No, this watch is accompanied by an extract from the Archives of Longines and a small plastic watch stand 

What we Love and What You Should Know

This Longines is in overall great condition, especially for being over 90 years old. The case is strong with scratches and wear around the hinge. The dial is in overall very good condition with light patina. The hands have developed patina. The crown has developed some patina.