
Wristwatches · Wristwatch
Longines Serge Manzon Stirrup, Solid Silver, circa 1970s
- Maker / attribution
- Longines (maker)
- Date
- c. 1970s
- Historical period
- Quartz Revolution (1969 – 1990)
- Country of origin
- Switzerland
- Object type
- Wristwatch
- Materials / technique
- silver
- Stock no.
- vws4132
- Credit line
- Dealer listing, Vintage Watch Specialist (vws4132)
- Catalogue title (original)
- Longines Serge Manzon Stirrup - Solid Silver - c.1970s (English)
View the source record (dealer listing) ↗ (opens another website in a new tab)Suggest a correction
Record summary
Catalogued by Vintage Watch Specialist (dealer), United Kingdom (stock number vws4132), this is a wristwatch by Longines, made in Switzerland, dated c. 1970s. The Atlas places it in the Quartz Revolution period (1969 – 1990) of its Wristwatches collection. Materials and techniques recorded by the source: silver. 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 rare 1930s Longines Serge Manzon 'stirrup' in solid silver with an unmistakable design presence - very collectable Serge Manzon was a self-taught designer whose work with Longines brought a distinctly modern, artistic edge to the brand in the early 20th century. Originally a diamond dealer and film producer, he later turned to designing watches, jewellery and objects with bold, unconventional forms. His collaboration with Longines resulted in striking pieces—such as the stirrup-shaped watch—blending horology with avant-garde design and setting them apart from more traditional timepieces of the era. What's on Offer A truly distinctive Longines “Serge Manzon” stirrup watch, dating to the 1970s, and a piece that leans as much into design as it does traditional watchmaking. The bold, architectural case is unmistakable—wide, sculptural and unapologetically different, with a strong presence on the wrist that feels closer to a wearable object than a conventional watch. At its centre sits a small, minimalist square dial with a crosshair layout, deliberately understated in contrast to the case that surrounds it. The manually wound Longines calibre 5602 delivers reliable, period-correct performance, housed within a case that speaks to Manzon’s unconventional design approach. There are visible signs of wear consistent with its age, adding to its honesty and character. Fitted to a leather strap, this is a rare and highly individual Longines—ideal for someone looking for something far removed from the ordinary and rare to find in such exemplary condition.
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 timelineMore wristwatches from this periodEarlier: Modern Mechanical Horology
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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