
Wristwatches · Wristwatch
Longines 'President Washington', 14k Gold, Knotted Lugs, circa 1952
- Maker / attribution
- Longines (maker)
- Date
- c. 1952
- Historical period
- Modern Mechanical Horology (1945 – 1969)
- Country of origin
- Switzerland
- Object type
- Wristwatch
- Materials / technique
- gold
- Stock no.
- vws3804cs
- Credit line
- Dealer listing, Vintage Watch Specialist (vws3804cs)
- Catalogue title (original)
- Longines 'President Washington' - 14k Gold - Beautiful Knotted Lugs - c.1952 (English)
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Record summary
Catalogued by Vintage Watch Specialist (dealer), United Kingdom (stock number vws3804cs), this is a wristwatch by Longines, made in Switzerland, dated c. 1952. The Atlas places it in the Modern Mechanical Horology period (1945 – 1969) of its Wristwatches collection. Materials and techniques recorded by the source: gold. 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 — Vintage Watch Specialist
A beautiful Longines dress watch in an opulent 10k gold case with distinctive knotted lugs, showcasing a charming sector dial accented by a guilloché chapter ring, 1952 Founded in 1832 in Saint-Imier, Switzerland, Longines is celebrated for its precision, elegance, and rich heritage in watchmaking. Known for its winged hourglass logo—the oldest registered trademark in the industry—the brand has been a pioneer in sports timing and aviation watches. Longines gained acclaim for producing reliable chronometers, elegant dress watches, and iconic lines such as the Conquest and Master Collection. Blending timeless design with technical expertise, Longines remains a respected name in both vintage and modern horology. While the "Longines President Washington" is a term you'll often see circulating in collector circles and sales listings, it remains purely informal—there's no official or historical link to President George Washington. What's on Offer We are delighted to offer this distinctive 1952 Longines “Knotted” President Washington, cased in 14k yellow gold with a beautifully aged ecru dial. The design features intricate guilloché detailing on the outer chapter ring, applied gold indices combined with applied Arabic numerals at 3, 9 and 12, and a recessed small seconds sub-dial at 6 o’clock. Powered by the manual-wind Calibre 22L with 17 jewels, the case’s knotted lugs add a dash of period drama and give this watch a unique aesthetic. There is some light patina centrally on the dial, which may continue with the passing of time, and there are signs of previous wear consistent with its age. An unusual-looking Longines - this is sure to pique the interest of any Longines lover!
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
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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