Longines Silver Cased Trench Watch WW1, circa 1917

Dealer description — Vintage Watch Specialist

A Beautiful and Well Preserved WW1 Silver Cased Trench Watch with a Stunning Breguet Dial and Original Lume, c.1917 Longines, a renowned Swiss watchmaker, was founded in 1832 by Auguste Agassiz in Saint-Imier. Initially producing pocket watches, the company quickly gained a reputation for precision and reliability. In 1867, Longines introduced its first in-house movement, the 20A, which earned an award at the Universal Exhibition in Paris. The iconic winged hourglass logo was registered in 1889, becoming one of the oldest unchanged trademarks still active today. By the early 20th century, Longines was known for its pioneering role in sports timing, providing chronographs for events such as the Olympics and horse racing. In 1931, Longines launched its first wristwatch with an automatic movement. The post-World War II era saw further innovation with ultra-thin models and high-frequency movements like the Ultra-Chron. Today, Longines remains a symbol of elegance and performance, blending tradition with modern technology to create timeless timepieces cherished worldwide. What's on Offer Introduced in 1910, the Longines 13.34 movement was used in many Longines wristwatches during the Great War. Using a Longines serial number decoder has given us a rough estimate that this watch was produced in around 1917, which could well mean it was issued to the military during the Great War, although there are no markings to note this watch as property of the MoD, it is certainly a trench watch style. By the by, the watch is in incredible condition given its age of over 100 years! The brilliant white dial is stunning with its Breguet numerals and beautifully aged pale buttery lume and graceful cathedral hands. A recessed sub-seconds dial at 6 o'clock completes the dial which is presented in an unusual tonneau cushion-shaped case crafted from silver. Paired with a simple leather strap, this watch is still in working order and keeps good time. It would make a beautiful addition to any collection - a very special piece!