Offered here is a beautifully honest 1949 Longines manual-wind wristwatch, powered by the highly regarded Longines calibre 23Z movement. This is a classic post-war design with applied Arabic numerals, small seconds at 6 o’clock, and a warm, naturally aged dial that has developed attractive period character over more than seven decades.
The watch is housed in its original Longines–Wittnauer 10K gold-filled case, produced for the US market, and remains in very pleasing overall condition with strong mechanical performance.
Dial & Hands
The original silvered dial shows even, honest aging with a gentle champagne tone and fine spotting consistent with age. Importantly, the dial has not been refinished and retains excellent originality and character.
Applied gold Arabic numerals are crisp and well defined, complemented by gold baton markers and matching gold hands. The small seconds sub-dial at 6 o’clock is cleanly printed and well balanced within the overall design.
Signed LONGINES with the winged hourglass logo.
Case & Crystal
The round case is a quality 10K gold-filled Longines–Wittnauer example, showing light, honest wear consistent with age. The case lines remain well defined, with attractive curved lugs and a polished bezel. case is 31mm, 33mm with crown.
The caseback carries a period presentation inscription, reading:
“Kay to Hov., Dec. 10th 1950”
The engraving is neatly executed in an attractive mid-century script and adds a subtle sense of personal history while firmly anchoring the watch to its post-war era.
A clear acrylic crystal is fitted, allowing the dial to be viewed cleanly.
Movement
Fitted with the excellent Longines calibre 23Z, a 17-jewel manual-wind movement widely respected for its robustness, reliability, and long-term serviceability.
Swiss made
Manual wind
Small seconds
Fully signed Longines
Movement serial number: 7,900,523, dating production to 1949.
The watch has been tested on a timegrapher and is running strongly, showing approximately:
+2 seconds per day
224° amplitude
1.4 ms beat error
Very strong results for a vintage movement of this age.
Strap & Buckle
The watch is fitted with a high-quality brown leather strap with contrast stitching, paired with a gold-tone buckle. This is a modern replacement strap selected to complement the watch’s period aesthetic.
Key Details
Brand: Longines
Year: 1949
Movement: Longines Cal. 23Z, manual wind
Jewels: 17
Case: 10K gold-filled (Longines–Wittnauer)
Dial: Original, naturally aged
Crystal: Acrylic
Functions: Hours, minutes, small seconds
Provenance: Period presentation inscription dated 1950
Condition & Notes
This is a well-preserved, honest vintage Longines, showing appropriate signs of age while remaining mechanically strong and highly wearable. The inscription is period-correct, neatly engraved, and adds character rather than detracts.
As with all vintage watches, this piece is not water resistant and should be worn accordingly.
🌍 International Buyers – Please Read
Shipping is via ebays global shipping.
Import duties, customs charges, VAT, or local taxes are not included in the shipping and remain the buyer’s responsibility.