Longines Nonius Chronograph Fly-Back ref. 8225, 1969 — view 1 of 6 — View 1 of 6 · Image: Bulang & Sons · original image source (opens another website in a new tab)

View 1 of 6 · Image: Bulang & Sons · original image source (opens another website in a new tab)

Wristwatches · Wristwatch

Longines Nonius Chronograph Fly-Back ref. 8225, 1969

DocumentedDocumented from a dealer's listing; attribution and date as stated by the dealer.

Maker / attribution: Longines (maker)
Date: 1969
Historical period: Quartz Revolution (1969 – 1990)
Country of origin: Switzerland
Object type: Wristwatch
Dimensions: Case 41 mm
Dealer: Bulang & Sons (dealer), Copenhagen
Stock no.: W-694
Credit line: Dealer listing, Bulang & Sons (W-694)
Catalogue title (original): Longines Nonius Chronograph Fly-Back ref. 8225 (English)

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Record summary

Catalogued by Bulang & Sons (dealer), Copenhagen (stock number W-694), this is a wristwatch by Longines, made in Switzerland, dated 1969. The Atlas places it in the Quartz Revolution period (1969 – 1990) of its Wristwatches collection. Recorded dimensions: Case 41 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

The 1/10 th Second Chrono with Rare Bracelet We are offering a rare and unusual Longines Chronograph – the Nonius Fly-Back. Named after the Portuguese mathematician P Nunes, the Nonius is a minutes, seconds and 1/10th second timer. Housed in a robust, 41mm pillow-form steel case, this watch houses the original single minutes sub-register dial in perfect condition. The yellow chronograph hand features a unique attached-scale that can measure 1/10ths of a second. The watch houses the high-quality calibre 538, which is based on the iconic 30ch movement, the successor to the iconic 13ZN movement. Not all Nonius models have this movement, which makes this the most desirable version. The watch comes on the original steel bracelet, which is exceedingly rare to see. The watch has been fully serviced by our watchmaker. Specifications - Longines Nonius - Fly-back chronograph - Dates to 1969/70 - Steel 41mm pillow-shape case - Original yellow 1/10th second chrono hand - Calibre 538 based on 30ch movement - Original rare Longies steel bracelet - Fully serviced by our watchmaker - Includes a handmade single leather watch pouch

Historical context

Quartz Revolution (1969 – 1990)

Seiko's Astron begins mass quartz timekeeping; traditional industries contract sharply.

Quartz and digital watches transformed the market after 1969. Swiss employment collapsed, Japanese and Hong Kong production soared, and the Swatch (1983) helped the Swiss industry recover; mechanical watches survived as luxury goods.

Read the period in the timeline More wristwatches from this period Earlier: Modern Mechanical Horology

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.

Mechanisms mentioned

Chronograph — Complication
Flyback chronograph — Complication

Record completeness

Maker or attributionRecorded
DateRecorded
Place or countryRecorded
MaterialsNot in source
DimensionsRecorded
Narrative descriptionRecorded
Inscriptions / marksNot in source
ProvenanceNot in source
Several photographsRecorded

Editorial status: Documented — facts as published by the source; not independently verified by Atlas editors.

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Sources & image rights

Record source: Bulang & Sons (dealer), Copenhagen (opens another website in a new tab).

Image rights: © Bulang & Sons — dealer photographs; permission required (opens another website in a new tab).

Images are hosted by the Atlas for study and credited to their owner. Rights holders may request correction, credit changes or removal, or grant permission, via the editorial office.

Cite this record

"Longines Nonius Chronograph Fly-Back ref. 8225, 1969." Bulang & Sons (dealer), Copenhagen, W-694. Catalogue record in The Horology Atlas, WatchMuseum.org, https://atlas.watchmuseum.org/museum/longines-nonius-chronograph-fly-back-ref-8225-7eef46.