Longines - The New York Watch Auction: SIX New York Saturday, June 11, 2022 | Phillips

Create your first list.

Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.

  • Manufacturer: Longines
    Year: 1941
    Reference No: 4856
    Movement No: 6'194'287
    Case No: 21’598; 11
    Model Name: Chronostop Split Tre Tacche
    Material: Stainless steel
    Calibre: Manual, cal. 12.68Z, 17 jewels
    Bracelet/Strap: Leather
    Clasp/Buckle: Stainless steel
    Dimensions: 33mm Diameter
    Signed: Case, dial, and movement signed.
    Accessories: Accompanied by Longines Extract from the Archives confirming production of the current reference 4856 with serial number 6'194'287 was invoiced on December 22nd 1941 to Wirth, Longines’ agent in Switzerland at the time.

  • Catalogue Essay

    Acquired at a small auction house selling off the estate of its original owner in 2019, the present Longines Chronostop defines “small yet mighty”. According to its Extract from the Archives, it was first sold to Longines’ Swiss agent at the time, Wirth, on December 22nd, 1941. It bears the manually-wound caliber 12.68Z with stop-seconds feature – one chronograph hand is actually a running seconds hand, while the other is the true chronograph hand, able to be stopped and restarted by depressing the pusher at 2 o’clock further than the light push required.

    With its rare and charismatic glossy black dial, red seconds hand, and “brevet” indication over the subsidiary seconds dial, it is a reduced version of the aviator reference 5824, with the engraved and inclined 60-unit outer scale replaced by a tachymeter scale printed on the outer part of the dial. Thus, the pilot’s 47mm case size is taken down to a more wearable 33mm – the ideal case size for the era. The large onion crown as well has been replaced, since gloves would not be necessary to wind the crown on an everyday watch. Turn the watch over to view the caseback and the crisp engravings are placed in the center of the famed “Tre Tacche” case. For a watch entering its eighth decade of existence, it is in remarkable original condition – and is even fitted with its original bund-style strap and steel buckle. Its overall originality, outstanding state of preservation, and aesthetic with the wide bund strap, ticked all the boxes for the Ride the Wave collection. Recently fully serviced where the slightly bent chronograph seconds hand was not touched in order to preserve its absolute originality, its cowhide bund strap gives the watch an impression of a much more substantial case size.

  • 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.

    View More Works

99

Ref. 4856
An extremely rare and interesting stainless steel split-seconds monopusher chronograph wristwatch with black dial, tachymeter scale, and Extract from the Archives

1941
33mm Diameter
Case, dial, and movement signed.

Estimate
$22,000 - 25,000 
CHF6,000-11,900
€5,800-11,500
HK$47,100-94,200
S$8,400-16,700

Sold for $27,720

Contact Specialist

Paul Boutros

Head of Watches, Americas

+1 (212) 940-1293

WatchesNY@Phillips.com

 

Isabella Proia

Head of Sale, New York

+1 (212) 940 1285

iproia@phillips.com

The New York Watch Auction: SIX

New York Auction 11-12 June 2022