31
Longines
Ref. 4914 L2.813.4
Calatrava Longines Heritage 1945
A lot of two stainless steel wristwatches accompanied by one warranty and one presentation box
- Estimate
- $8,000 - 16,000
$25,400
Lot Details
- Manufacturer
- Longines
- Year
- Circa 1950, Circa 2018
- Reference No
- 4914 L2.813.4
- Movement No
- 6’955’834
- Case No
- 487 46’403’205
- Model Name
- Calatrava Longines Heritage 1945
- Material
- Stainless steel
- Calibre
- Manual, cal. 12.68Z, 17 jewels Automatic, cal. L609, 27 jewels
- Bracelet/Strap
- Leather Leather
- Clasp/Buckle
- Metal pin buckle Stainless steel Longines pin buckle
- Dimensions
- 37mm Diameter 40mm Diameter
- Signed
- Cases, dials, movements and buckles signed.
- Accessories
- Accompanied by a Longines International warranty card dated March 3, 2018, fitted presentation box product literature, and outer packaging.
Specialist
Catalogue Essay
Not everything I owned and loved comes from Patek Philippe and Rolex – in fact some of my most fun and interesting pieces come from other brands. In this particular case – I am referring to a wonderful Longines “Calatrava” reference 5030 that I found many years ago on 47th street here in New York. The minute I saw the watch, with its large, thin profile, incredibly sharp, flat bezel, and beautiful rose, salmon colored dial. The deco-style Arabic hour markers, alternating with beads for the hours is also just beautiful, set against the blued hour and minute hands. This watch, which I purchase and immediately put on a tan suede Hodinkee strap, represented everything wonderful about vintage watch collecting and the types of things you can discover if you just keep your eyes open. [Full disclosure, its caseback was replaced at some point.]
Things got even more interesting one day when I received an email from the head of product development at Longines in St. Imier saying he’d seen my watch on Instagram, and would they mind if they could borrow it. I obliged, of course, and then about 18 months later, I was told I’d be pretty excited by one watch in particular at Baselworld 2017. The Longines Heritage 1945 was my watch. OK, it was now automatic, and 40mm instead of 38mm, but effectively, Longines had taken my watch and made it into a production piece! It was not a Hodinkee limited edition, but the Heritage 1945 has long been a favorite of our community, and this particular example was a gift to me by Longines HQ upon its release. Both the original and the new are just simply wonderful watches.
Things got even more interesting one day when I received an email from the head of product development at Longines in St. Imier saying he’d seen my watch on Instagram, and would they mind if they could borrow it. I obliged, of course, and then about 18 months later, I was told I’d be pretty excited by one watch in particular at Baselworld 2017. The Longines Heritage 1945 was my watch. OK, it was now automatic, and 40mm instead of 38mm, but effectively, Longines had taken my watch and made it into a production piece! It was not a Hodinkee limited edition, but the Heritage 1945 has long been a favorite of our community, and this particular example was a gift to me by Longines HQ upon its release. Both the original and the new are just simply wonderful watches.
Full-Cataloguing
Literature
Longines
Swiss | 1832Auguste 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.