
Wristwatches · Wristwatch
Longines Flyback Chronograph 'Cal. 13ZN' (Ref. 5449), 1944
- Maker / attribution
- Longines (maker)
- Date
- 1944
- Historical period
- Golden Age of Mechanical Watchmaking (1900 – 1945)
- Country of origin
- Switzerland
- Object type
- Wristwatch
- Stock no.
- LNGFB13ZN
- Credit line
- Dealer listing, Craft & Tailored (LNGFB13ZN)
- Catalogue title (original)
- 1944 Longines Flyback Chronograph 'Cal. 13ZN' (Ref. 5449) W/ Extract From The Archive (English)
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Record summary
Catalogued by Craft & Tailored (dealer), Los Angeles (stock number LNGFB13ZN), this is a wristwatch by Longines, made in Switzerland, dated 1944. The Atlas places it in the Golden Age of Mechanical Watchmaking period (1900 – 1945) 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 — Craft & Tailored
Whether it's a chronograph, diving watch, or a simple dress model, a Longines wristwatch never seems to disappoint. Longines' history is sprawling with an array of beautiful and functional watches, including military-issued timepieces, unique dress watches, and beautiful sports watches. The Longines' legendary 13ZN movement was created in 1936, making it the very first flyback chronograph wristwatch movement ever produced, and is renowned as one of the best movements ever created. Needless to say, the 13ZN isn't just a must-have for any die-hard Longines collector but is horological royalty that paved the way for generations of ingenuity and experimentation of what was possible within the limited capacity of a wristwatch. SPECS Stock # LNGFB13ZN Brand Longines Style Flyback Chronograph Model 5449 Serial 67XXXXX Size Men's Material Stainless Steel Dial Silver "Aged" Millimeters 37.5 Bracelet 2pc Handmade Leather Strap CASE & BRACELET The beautifully executed oversized stepped case is in exceptionally well-preserved condition, featuring also stepped, tear-drop lugs that exhibit signs of only minimal polishing in the past. The original square pushers are also in excellent condition. The unsigned crown is believed to remain original. The case back remains clean, free from any notable age or wear. The watch will come supplied on a 2pc handmade leather strap. DIAL & HANDS The obvious aging on the dial is a true and present indication of its originality, though for a dial of this age, its integrity remains exceptionally well-preserved and actually creates a charmingly beautiful aesthetic that could only be created from existing for its sum of 78 years. With almost all of its elements remaining fully intact, the warm dial acts as the perfect backdrop for the vividly blue hands that are also original to the watch. ACCESSORIES
Historical context
Golden Age of Mechanical Watchmaking (1900 – 1945)
The wristwatch displaces the pocket watch; waterproof cases, self-winding and grand complications.
The wristwatch overtook the pocket watch. Military use in the First World War, aviation, water-resistant cases (1926), automatic winding (1923–31), rectangular Art Deco designs and early chronographs and calendars defined the period.
Read the period in the timelineMore wristwatches 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:Chronograph
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