Wristwatches · Wristwatch
Longines 5699 Sommatore Steel Chronograph 13ZN Calibre, 1945
- Maker / attribution
- Longines (maker)
- Date
- 1945
- Historical period
- Modern Mechanical Horology (1945 – 1969)
- Country of origin
- Switzerland
- Object type
- Wristwatch
- Materials / technique
- steel
- Dimensions
- Case 39.5 mm
- Stock no.
- W-709
- Credit line
- Dealer listing, Bulang & Sons (W-709)
- Catalogue title (original)
- Longines 5699 Sommatore Steel Chronograph 13ZN Calibre (English)
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Record summary
Catalogued by Bulang & Sons (dealer), Copenhagen (stock number W-709), this is a wristwatch by Longines, made in Switzerland, dated 1945. The Atlas places it in the Modern Mechanical Horology period (1945 – 1969) of its Wristwatches collection. Materials and techniques recorded by the source: steel. Recorded dimensions: Case 39.5 mm. 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 — Bulang & Sons
An Important Watch – An Important Owner – An Important Story The Longines Sommatore is one of the most desirable steel chronographs ever made. And this one is more than just a watch – its original owner was a fascinating man who lived an amazing life. Read all about him here . This was a big watch for era, with a 39.5mm case and features four central hands – minutes and hours plus centre minutes (red) and 1/5th seconds chronograph hands. The dial has two sub dials – a running seconds on the left and chronograph hours counter on the right side. The case is waterproof thanks to the ‘6 tacche’ screw down case back. The dial features painted luminous Arabic numeral hour markers and matching lume-filled central hour and minute hands. The whole watch remains in stunning condition and we love it…its simply stunning on the wrist and we are excited for this watch to commence the next chapter of its journey with one of you! This 5699 comes with an extract from the Longines archive, plus copies of original documents and photographs related to the original owner. The watch has been fully serviced by our watchmaker. Specifications - Longines 5699 Sommatore Chronograph - Serial 230xxxxx - Dates to 1945-47 - Steel case with screw case back and round pushers - Original dial with dual scales - Calibre 13ZN movement - Longines Certificate of origin and Authenticity stating a Delivery in 1952 to the U.S.A. - Fully serviced by our watchmaker - Includes a handmade leather watch pouch
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:Flyback chronographChronograph
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