Skip to content
Longines 18CT Gold Chronograph Pocket Watch, c. 1900s — view 1 of 6
View 1 of 6 · Image: WatchMuseum.org shop · original image source (opens another website in a new tab)

Pocket Watches · Pocket watch

Longines 18CT Gold Chronograph Pocket Watch, c. 1900s

DocumentedDocumented from a dealer's listing; attribution and date as stated by the dealer.
Maker / attribution
Longines (maker)
Date
c. 1900s
Country of origin
Switzerland
Object type
Pocket watch
Materials / technique
gold
Stock no.
Product 2805
Credit line
Dealer listing, WatchMuseum.org shop (product 2805)
Catalogue title (original)
Longines 18CT Gold Chronograph Pocket Watch (English)

View the source record (dealer listing) ↗ (opens another website in a new tab)Suggest a correction

Record summary

Catalogued by WatchMuseum.org shop (stock number Product 2805), this is a pocket watch by Longines, made in Switzerland, dated c. 1900s. The Atlas places it in the Golden Age of Mechanical Watchmaking period (1900 – 1945) of its Pocket Watches collection. Materials and techniques recorded by the source: gold. The record is illustrated with 6 photographs.

Assembled from the source record's structured fields. Dates and attributions are given as the source states them; where a field is missing the Atlas leaves it blank rather than estimating.

Catalogue description

Dealer description — WatchMuseum.org shop

In the realm of horological masterpieces, the Longines 18CT Gold Chronograph Pocket Watch from the early 1900s stands as a testament to the exquisite craftsmanship and timeless elegance that the esteemed watchmaker is renowned for. This heavy 18ct gold keyless lever full hunter chronograph pocket watch showcases a pristine white enamel dial adorned with the Longines Anti-Magnetique signature, featuring easy-to-read Arabic numerals, an outer tachymeter track, and subsidiary dials for seconds and minutes at nine and three o’clock respectively. The original gold-plated hands and blued steel chronograph center second hand enhance its sophisticated aesthetic. Encased in heavy 18ct yellow gold with plain front and back covers, the chronograph button is conveniently located on the side. The inner cover proudly displays the Longines signature and the five Grand Prix prizes won, while the cases are signed, numbered, and Swiss hallmarked, ensuring authenticity and quality. The gilt metal fully jewelled keyless lever movement, signed by the watchmaker, features a chronograph mechanism on the back plate, a slow-fast regulator, and a compensated balance. With a diameter of 52 mm, this round-shaped pocket watch is not only a remarkable example of a chronograph timepiece but also a true collector’s item, embodying the unparalleled skill and excellence of Longines. Crafted in Switzerland during the early 20th century, this pocket watch remains in excellent condition, making it a coveted piece for any discerning collector. Introducing a heavy 18ct gold keyless lever full hunter chronograph pocket watch from the early 1900s, manufactured by the esteemed watch company, Longines. The pristine white enamel dial bears the Longines Anti-Magnetique signature, with easy-to-read Arabic numerals, an outer tachymeter track, and subsidiary dials displaying seconds and minutes at nine and three o’clock respectively. The original gold-plated hands and blued steel chronograph centre second hand add an extra touch of elegance to the pocket watch. The case is crafted in heavy 18ct yellow gold, with plain front and back covers, the chronograph button located on the side. The inner cover bears the Longines signature and showcases the five Grand Prix prizes won. The cases are all signed, numbered, and Swiss hallmarked, ensuring quality and authenticity. The gilt metal fully jewelled keyless lever movement is signed by the watchmaker, with the chronograph mechanism on the back plate, a slow-fast regulator, and a compensated balance. This Longines pocket watch is a remarkable example of a chronograph timepiece, created by one of the most reputable watch companies of its time. It is a true collector’s item and a testament to the unparalleled skill and excellence of Longines. Creator: Longines Case Material: 18k Gold,Yellow Gold,Gold Case Shape: Round Chronograph: Case Dimensions: Diameter: 52 mm (2.05 in) Place of Origin: Switzerland Period: Early 20th Century Date of Manufacture: 1900s Condition: Excellent

Historical context

Golden Age of Mechanical Watchmaking (1900 – 1945)

The wristwatch displaces the pocket watch; waterproof cases, self-winding and grand complications.

The pocket watch reached technical maturity and then began to give way to the wristwatch after the First World War. Complicated watches for collectors such as Henry Graves Jr. and James Ward Packard, railroad watches, and slim Art Deco dress watches are characteristic.

Read the period in the timelineMore pocket watches from this periodEarlier: Industrial Revolution

Atlas type guide

Chronographs and split-seconds watches

A chronograph is a watch with an additional seconds hand that can be started, stopped and returned to zero independently of the timekeeping. Louis Moinet built an early example in 1816 and Nicolas Rieussec a recording 'chronographe' in 1821; Adolphe Nicole's heart-shaped reset cam (patented 1862) made the modern return-to-zero possible. Split-seconds (rattrapante) chronographs add a second hand that can be stopped for intermediate times; flyback chronographs restart instantly.

Chronographs were essential tools for doctors (pulsometer scales), artillery (telemeter), engineers and sport. In wristwatches, Valjoux, Venus, Lemania and later the automatic chronographs of 1969 (Zenith El Primero, the Chronomatic Calibre 11 group and Seiko 6139) are milestones.

What to look for

  • Push-pieces on the case band or a single button in the crown (monopusher).
  • Subsidiary registers for minutes and hours; tachymeter, telemeter or pulsometer scales.
  • Column wheel versus cam control visible in the movement.
  • Calibre markings of specialist makers (Valjoux, Lemania, Venus, Landeron).

Dating clues

  • Pocket chronographs with heart cam reset: after 1862.
  • Wrist chronographs: from c. 1910; two-button designs from the 1930s.
  • Automatic chronographs: from 1969.

General guidance written by the Atlas editors about this kind of object. It is not a statement about this particular piece; for that, rely on the source record above and on physical examination.

Read next:Flyback chronographChronograph

Related records