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Longines 30CH Pulsations Flyback Chronograph, 1950s

DocumentedDocumented from a dealer's listing; attribution and date as stated by the dealer.
Maker / attribution
Longines (maker)
Date
1950s
Country of origin
Switzerland
Object type
Wristwatch
Stock no.
40992102
Credit line
Dealer listing, Analog/Shift (40992102)
Catalogue title (original)
Longines 30CH Pulsations Flyback Chronograph (English)

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Record summary

Catalogued by Analog/Shift (dealer), New York (stock number 40992102), this is a wristwatch by Longines, made in Switzerland, dated 1950s. The Atlas places it in the Modern Mechanical Horology period (1945 – 1969) of its Wristwatches collection. 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 — Analog/Shift

Longines is a brand that needs no introduction. It was a staple of the Swiss watchmaking industry throughout the 20th century. They are well-known for their broad assortment of models and designs, as well as their masterful — and iconic — chronographs. This particular chronograph, among others produced by Longines, represents an era when achievements in horology reached their zenith, marrying traditional designs with the cutting-edge technology of the day. It features the highly praised Calibre 30CH column wheel chronograph movement with a useful flyback function which allows the wearer to reset the chronograph without having to stop it first. From a design and stylistic standpoint the overall look of this piece is the perfect amount of symmetrical and minimalist. It features a beautiful silver sunburst dial with matching applied hour markers and handset, all housed in a modern precious metal case. With the subtle pop of red and blue from the scales, it’s a classic Longines Chronograph suitable for everyday wear. This piece dates to the 1950s, and captures the best of mid-century manually wound chronographs, which by the way, comes equipped with flyback functionality! This example is in wonderful condition, which is a true rarity on pieces of this kind. This piece provides an opportunity to get a piece that characterizes its era perfectly, and represents much of what we love so much about the period of watchmaking as a whole. All this comes in a wearable case format that still looks appropriate in a modern context.

Historical context

Modern Mechanical Horology (1945 – 1969)

Tool watches for divers, pilots and astronauts; electric watches anticipate the electronic age.

The classic era of the mechanical wristwatch: dive watches, chronographs for motor racing and space flight, GMT watches for jet travel, slim dress watches, automatic calendars, and the rise of Japanese manufacturers alongside Swiss, American, German and Soviet industries.

Read the period in the timelineMore wristwatches from this periodEarlier: Golden Age of Mechanical Watchmaking

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:Chronograph

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