Longines Red Cross

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Manual
26 MM
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SKU AS04367
Article Number 40990192
case size 26 MM
movement Manual Winding
approximate age 1950s
dial color Black
material Stainless Steel
style Field
category Vintage
bracelet Leather
lug width 20 MM
Includes Analog:Shift Wells Red Alpine leather strap with stainless steel pin buckle.
material Alpine
overall condition The case is in very good condition overall showing normal signs of wear consistent with age and use. Matte black dial with printed art-deco indices is in very good condition showing only faint signs of wear. Matching 'feuille' handset. Snap-down steel caseback. Unsigned crown.
Manual
26 MM
– Show less
SKU AS04367
Article Number 40990192
case size 26 MM
movement Manual Winding
approximate age 1950s
dial color Black
material Stainless Steel
style Field
category Vintage
bracelet Leather
lug width 20 MM
Includes Analog:Shift Wells Red Alpine leather strap with stainless steel pin buckle.
material Alpine
overall condition The case is in very good condition overall showing normal signs of wear consistent with age and use. Matte black dial with printed art-deco indices is in very good condition showing only faint signs of wear. Matching 'feuille' handset. Snap-down steel caseback. Unsigned crown.

Why We Love it

Sometimes, a bit of mystery is exactly what the doctor ordered.

Such is certainly the case with this stunning, manually wound watch from Longines, anyway. As Longines — a company dating back to 1832 — has a detailed, robust archive, we were able to ascertain that this unusual timepiece was invoiced in 1957 by Longines-Wittnauer Watch Co, the company’s agent for the USA, and that it’s powered by the Caliber 25.17ABC, also known as the 9LT. 

Beyond that, its other parts were produced under license from Longines — a common practice in mid-century watchmaking. Though certain other vintage Longines models from the Great War through the 1940s have surfaced with red crosses on the dial, we don’t have detailed information as to why this model in particular features such a large example of the Swiss national symbol. We can say, however, that it makes for a bold, attractive dial!

This particular Longines is housed in a 26mm x 50mm oversized stainless steel case with a snapback, a smooth bezel, an unsigned crown, and an acrylic crystal. It features a non-luminous black dial with printed, wildly cool Art Deco Arabic indices, subsidiary seconds, an inner ‘railroad’ minutes/seconds track, an oversized ‘Swiss Made’ signature, and an oversized ‘red cross’ symbol. Showing light patina, the sum of these parts makes for one of the most unique Longines models we’ve ever seen.

Whether you’re looking for an oversized watch, a vintage watch, a Longines watch, or any combination of the above, this special model from the late 1950s is not to be overlooked.

Brand Story

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Founded in 1832 in Saint-Imier, Switzerland, Longines was at the sharp end of the watchmaking spear during the beginnings of modern horology. Constantly innovating, the company devised some of the most important wristwatches of the 20th century. Indeed, by 1919, Longines was the official supplier of timepieces for the International Aeronautical Federation, working to develop highly accurate navigation chronometers for many of the era's great aviation pioneers.
Most famous among Longines' forays into navigation pieces is the Lindbergh Hour Angle watch, a wristwatch designed by famed aviator Charles Lindberg in conjunction with the brand to allow aviators to calculate, with the help of a sextant and a known latitude, their exact geographic location.
From the 1930s to the 1950s, Longines also released a series of stunning time-only watches. Often referred to as “Calatravas” after the iconic model by Patek Philippe, most of these watches had thin stainless steel cases at 32-35mm, standard sizes for the time. Like the Patek Philippe Calatrava, these timepieces were known for their perfect proportions and the elegant simplicity of their designs.

But it wasn’t just time-only watches that drew the attention of clients the world over — particularly in the Americas: The company’s caliber 13ZN, first released in 1936, is widely regarded as one of the finest chronograph movements ever devised by any brand. This development would form the basis of work in sports timing, in which Longines developed timepieces with flyback functionality as well as 1/100th-second counters.

Today, Longines produces a remarkable number of watches annually — over 1.5 million of them — and rakes in over $1B in annual revenue through the sale of everything from simple quartz watches to sophisticated moon phases and chronographs. Incredibly, they produced their 51 millionth timepiece in 2019 and in some ways, it feels like the brand is just getting started.

A:S Guarantee

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Our Pledge

Analog:Shift stands behind the authenticity of our products in perpetuity.

Condition

Since our pieces are vintage or pre-owned, please expect wear & patina from usage and age. Please read each item description and examine all product images.

Warranty

We back each Analog:Shift vintage timepiece with a one-year mechanical warranty from the date of purchase.

International Buyers

Please contact us prior to purchase for additional details on shipping and payment options.

Shipping & Returns

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All of our watches include complementary insured shipping within the 50 states.

Most of our products are on hand and will ship directly from our headquarters in New York City. In some cases, watches will be shipped directly from one of our authorized partners.

We generally ship our products via FedEx, fully insured, within 5 business days of purchase. An adult signature is required for receipt of all packages for insurance purposes. Expedited shipping is available at an additional cost. We are also happy to hand deliver your purchase in Manhattan or you may pick it up at our showroom.

Returns must be sent overnight or by priority international delivery, fully insured and paid for by the customer. A restocking fee may apply. Watches must be returned in the same condition as initially shipped.

We welcome international buyers, please contact us prior to purchase for additional details on shipping and payment options.

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Longines Red Cross

Longines Red Cross

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Longines Red Cross

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