One of the significant characteristics of Longines early vintage era chronograph models is that they featured "in house" movements fully designed and built by Longines. Very few of even the top chronograph watches use "in-house" produced caliber; iconic movements that power distinguished watches like the Rolex Daytona, Gallet Multichron 12, or even the exceedingly rare Patek Philippe 1518 perpetual calendar chronograph are not true "in-house' calibers which makes watches like vintage Longines chronographs that much more noteworthy.
Although most of their chronographs attained a high level of quality, the Caliber 30 CH movement is particularly fine - perfectly engineered and balanced and complete with a flyback or "retour-en-vol" feature.
Besides possessing the capabilities of a traditional chronograph - the ability to start, pause, and resume timing - the additional flyback function allows it to be directly reset to zero without stopping the chronograph. Designed especially for use by pilots, it saved time by instantly resetting the chronograph and continuing timing with the push of only the bottom button.
And equipped with not only a flyback but also early shock resistance, and a column wheel and carrying arm, the 30CH met the needs of demanding clients in the medical, aviation, sporting and other technical fields.
Today's listing showcases this collectable caliber 30CH flyback chronograph complete with digital copy of its Extract from the Longines Archives showing its original sale to Ostersetzer, Longines agent in Italy.
It has original parts down to all of the hands. Its only replacement part is the winding crown, which was replaced in vintage times.
It s pleasingly large 38mm case presents in excellent condition. One of the reasons these watches have grown in popularity is their larger than normal size for the era. Note that the case has a slightly stronger rose gold tone than the photos seem to suggest.
Its silver dial has had a very high quality refinishing in vintage times.
A Master Watchmaker has fully serviced the watch which consists of fully disassembling the movement, carefully inspecting each part, replacing any overly worn components, reassembling and fully lubricating the movement, and extensive timing testing and regulation (a $595 value). We have also installed a mineral glass crystal to give a clear, unobstructed view to the very edge of the dial. Photos of the inside available upon request.
It continues to keep very accurate time nearly on par with a new Longines running approximately 7 seconds fast per day on a machine that spins the watch in all directions simulating it being worn on the wrist. Besides running very well, the chronograph starts, stops, and consistently resets to a precise zero.
For the finishing touch we have equipped it with a brand new leather strap making it ready for immediate enjoyment.
Included with the purchase is a one-year warranty on the movement and its function and a digital PDF copy of its Extract from the Longines Archive.
Longines chronograph watches:
During Longines' golden era from the 1910's to the 1940's, while the idea of flight grew from the margins into a practical and valuable endeavor, the company's wristwatches earned a reputation as the constant cockpit companions of pioneering aviators.
Partly because of the company's aviation niche and partly because of their involvement in sports and timing, the focus of development of the company's complicated watches pointed almost exclusively to chronographs. This specialized focus prompted their development of sophisticated, advanced, and beautiful chronograph movements beginning with their pocket watches and ending with their marvelous and historically important 13.33 caliber - the world's very first chronograph wristwatch and carrying through to its successor the 30 CH.
While chronograph pocket watches were not uncommon at the time, the significance of having a chronograph that could be worn on the wrist and operated with only one hand cannot be overstated - and it naturally lent itself to aviation and military uses.
- Manufacturer: Longines
- Country of origin: Switzerland, sold to Longines Italian agent at the time
- Date sold: Nov. 8th, 1950
- Serial no.: 7,718,851
- Model: Ref. 5967
- Functions: Hours, Minutes, Subsidiary Seconds, Chronograph with Retour en Vol
- Designed for: Men
- Case material: 18K rose gold
- Case condition: Excellent condition with fairly light wear and fairly light previous signs of polishing
- Dimensions: 38mm wide (excluding crown), 45mm long lug tip-to-tip
- Dial: Silver/cream with rose gold applique dart, half-spherical, and Arabic indices, black outer minute/seconds track with 1/5 second markings, further outer tachometer scale, guilloche subdials for the continuous seconds and 30-minute register, well-restored in vintage times, bright and clean with very light aging around the very outer periphery
- Hands: All original, rose gold, "feuilles", blackened chronograph and subsidiary seconds hands
- Band: Leather, fully stitched with contrast stitching, padded, brand new and unworn
- Movement type: Signed Longines, caliber 30CH, 18 jewels, rhodium plated, crown wheel
- Width between lugs: 19mm
- Crystal type: Mineral glass, mint condition
- Working order: Running very strong and true.
- Timing: Timed to precision on a state-of-the-art computerized system. Your watch is important to us, and we will take care of it for its lifetime. We provide the best after sale care in the business with an experienced team of watchmakers both of whom each have over forty years of experience and a large number of parts.
- Warranty: 1-year warranty. Please email [email protected] for details.
- Box/Papers: BOX - Vintage Longines box (missing insert); PAPERS - Custom printed Connoisseur of Time Certificate of Authenticity; New timing certificate
- Returns: 7 days full refund. 100% satisfaction guarantee
