Longines - The Geneva Watch Auction: EIGHT Geneva Saturday, November 10, 2018 | Phillips

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  • Manufacturer: Longines
    Year: 1948
    Reference No: 5483
    Movement No: 7'345'478
    Case No: 23483 24, stamped "24" under the lug
    Material: Stainless steel
    Calibre: Manual, cal. 12.68N
    Bracelet/Strap: Leather
    Clasp/Buckle: Stainless steel pin buckle
    Dimensions: 35.5mm Diameter
    Signed: Case, dial and movement signed
    Accessories: With Longines Extract from the Archives confirming sale of the present watch on August 20, 1948 to the company Terrasse, Longines' agent in Sweden at the time.
    Literature: An example of reference 5483 is prominently illustrated and described in "Longines Legendary Watches" by John Goldberger, pp 136 and 137

  • Catalogue Essay

    Preserved in extremely good condition, this wristwatch epitomizes the style typical of the 1940s: the dial is very clean and stern, the only graphics present being the fifth of a second baton combined with five minutes Arabic divisions (a style which will be abandoned at the start of the 1950s, in favor of a less busy scale design) and the signature. The numerals are large, to optimize legibility, fully luminous and furthermore executed with a very unusual angular font.

    The radium burn at 2 o’ clock is an unmistakable indication that the watch was stored and remained unused for a long time, thus explaining the superior condition it is offered in. The present specimen appears to be a very rare and attractive version: normally these watches are known with a 33mm diameter, while the present one features the much more scarce - and aesthetically impressive - 35.5mm case. Interestingly, the batch number "24" present on the caseback is also stamped underneath the top left lug. The practice of repeating the batch number or part of the case number (usually the last 3 digits) on the case body was sometimes adopted by casemakers in order to univocally link case and caseback.

  • Artist Biography

    Longines

    Swiss • 1832

    Auguste Agassiz founded Longines in 1832, and today is considered to be a pioneer in the evolution of the chronograph. During the 1930s, Longines' chronograph wristwatches were used as tools for wartime aviators and military personnel. As one of Switzerland's largest manufacturers, Longines was an important supplier of wristwatches to militaries of multiple nations.

    Today, they are owned by the Swatch Group and produce wristwatches for both men and women. Their vintage wristwatches continue to grow in desirability amongst collectors. Some of the most sought-after models include such oversized chronographs as the Lindbergh Hour Angle designed by Charles Lindbergh, Chronostop, Tre Tacche, A-7, Tasti a Spillo and Doppia Lanchetta.

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Ref. 5483
A fine and extremely attractive stainless steel wristwatch with center seconds and luminous numerals

1948
35.5mm Diameter
Case, dial and movement signed

Estimate
CHF8,000 - 12,000 
€7,000-10,600
$8,200-12,300

Sold for CHF6,250

Contact Specialist
Alexandre Ghotbi
Head of Sale
+41 22 317 81 89
aghotbi@phillips.com

The Geneva Watch Auction: EIGHT

Geneva Auction 10-11 November 2018