Longines - Rare Pearl Spiral Dial by Singer - Circa 1959

In the Jura mountains of western Switzerland, there was a valley called Saint-Imier, in 1867 Ernest Francillon bought a stretch of meadow at the edge of town in that valley. The locals called the field Les Longines, the long meadows, and Francillon built a factory on it, he employed all the valley's workers under his roof, and gave the company the field's name. Longines never left. The factory is still on the same meadow 100 years later, and everything Longines produces is is created there.

The winged hourglass printed on this dial has been the company's mark since 1889, the oldest unchanged trademark still in force in the world's international registry. Nearly every Longines of these years wore a plain silvered dial, and plain silvered dials are what the market is full of now. A spiral pearlescent dial like this is incredibly scarce. The dial is cut deep with hundreds of fine lines swirl outward from its center. When the wrist turns, a wave of light dances around the face. Applied gold batons cut with triple flutes mark the hours, with broader fluted blocks at twelve and six, and gold dauphine hands ride above the texture. The seconds keep to a small recessed register at six, ringed in fine circles beneath a crosshair, and the winged hourglass sits under the Longines name, printed sharp. The back of the dial likely carries the repeating stamp of its maker, Singer, the house that made the dials of the Paul Newman Daytona and Longines dials from this period.

Inside is the caliber 23Z, Longines' own seventeen-jewel movement, wound by hand, from the workhorse family the company introduced in 1948. Its serial number places it in 1959, and its bridges carry the LXW stamp of the American import. 

The case is 10k gold filled, made in America and stamped inside by the Longines-Wittnauer Watch Co. of New York, with Geneva and Montreal beneath it. Longines and Wittnauer were partners during this time period. The screw back carries a period instruction cut into its rim, Use Admiral Wrench, the case maker's note to whichever watchmaker opened it next. This is becaue this is a front loading watch the back is not removable. The case shows some scratches from its years. It comes on a brown lizard strap. The watch runs good, its service history is unknown. 

Terms: Please review all photos carefully as they are a part of the listing. This is a vintage timepiece. Accuracy, power reserve, and water resistance are not guaranteed. Vintage watches may require periodic service. Performance can vary with wear, temperature, and position. 

All sales final.