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Longines Ladies Vintage Wristwatch, Switzerland, c. 1938 — view 1 of 4
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Wristwatches · Wristwatch

Longines Ladies Vintage Wristwatch, Switzerland, c. 1938

DocumentedDocumented from an auction catalogue; attribution as stated by the auction house.
Maker / attribution
Longines (maker)
Date
c. 1938
Country of origin
Switzerland
Object type
Wristwatch
Materials / technique
silver
Lot
Item 41558967
Credit line
Auction lot record: lot 56, Jewelry, Auctionata U.S. (2015), via LiveAuctioneers
Catalogue title (original)
Longines Ladies Vintage Wristwatch, Switzerland, c.1938 (English)

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

Record summary

Catalogued by LiveAuctioneers auction archive (lot Item 41558967), this is a wristwatch by Longines, made in Switzerland, dated c. 1938. The Atlas places it in the Golden Age of Mechanical Watchmaking period (1900 – 1945) of its Wristwatches collection. Materials and techniques recorded by the source: silver. The record is illustrated with 4 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

Lot description — Auctionata U.S.

Longines Ladies Vintage Wristwatch Switzerland, circa 1938 Manual movement, caliber 4LL, 17 jewels, No. 5817954; hours, minutes Matte Silver dial with printed black Arabic numeral hour-markers; Blued Feuille hands Platinum case, with Diamond bezel with decorative motif, crown, and snap-on caseback Black rope strap with 18kt White Gold deployant clasp with saftey chain Hallmarked on the inner caseback and clasp Case No. 110647 Case Dimensions: 14.35mm x 28mm; Height: 6.6mm Length of Strap: 13cm Very good age-related condition with minor traces of wear; Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense Estimate by Auctionata Expert: $ 300 The watch case dimensions are 14.35 x 28mm and 6.6mm in height. The strap length is 13cm. Timepiece is in very good age-related condition with minor traces of wear. Overhaul is recommended at the buyer’s expense. Long-term precision and regularity cannot be guaranteed. Size and weight may deviate from the manufacturer’s indication. All watches are hand-measured and weighed. Please be advised that straps or bands made of materials derived from regulated species materials (including lizard, alligator, crocodile, et al) may not be sold with the watches and may be for display purposes only. We reserve the right to remove these straps or bands prior to shipping. Conditions may not specify mechanical replacements or imperfections to the movement, case, dial, pendulum, separate base(s) or dome. Watches with water resistant cases may have been opened to inspect the movements; however no warranty is given that the watch(es) are currently water resistant. We do not warranty nor guarantee the authenticity of any individual component parts, including wheels, hands, crowns, crystals, screws, bracelets, leather bands, and strap hardware, as repairs, restoration, and other subsequent work may have resulted in the replacement of original parts. Timepieces often contain extremely complex, fine, and rare mechanisms, as such, buyers should be aware that a general service, battery change, or further repair work, which is the sole responsibility of the buyer, may be necessary. No warranty of representation is made that any watch, clock, or timepiece is in working order and no catalog description of any lot should be interpreted as stating the aforementioned. Condition reports are only for general guidance and may or will not specify mechanical replacements or imperfections. Please be advised that certificates are not available unless otherwise specifically stated. Prospective buyers acknowledge the aforementioned paragraphs and accept responsibility for investigating and inspecting to satisfy themselves of the lots in which they may be interested. Shipping costs excl. statutory VAT and plus 2,5% (+VAT) shipping insurance.

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

Wristwatches

Bracelet watches were worn by women from the early nineteenth century — Breguet made one for Caroline Murat, Queen of Naples, in 1810–12 — but the wristwatch only became a man's instrument with military use and aviation in the early twentieth century. Between the World Wars it overtook the pocket watch; the 1920s and 1930s brought rectangular Art Deco cases, water-resistant cases and the first automatic winding systems.

After 1945 the wristwatch became a carrier of identity — dress watches, sports and dive watches, chronographs, calendars — produced by Swiss, American, Japanese, German, Soviet and Chinese industries. The quartz revolution after 1969 and the mechanical renaissance since the 1990s, including the rise of independent watchmakers, complete the story.

What to look for

  • The reference number (between the lugs or inside the case back) and serial number, the starting point for dating.
  • The calibre: its maker and number are often stamped under the dial or on the bridge.
  • Originality of dial, hands and crown — refinished ('redial') dials are common.
  • Case material marks: 18K/750, 14K/585, stainless steel, gold-filled, plated.

Dating clues

  • Wire-lug cases: before c. 1925.
  • Water-resistant screw-down cases: from 1926.
  • Quartz movements: from 1969; sapphire crystals widespread after c. 1980.

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.

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