Rare Longines Calibre 18.75 Movement & Original Porcelain Enamel Dial (c. 1922)

Technical Description

A fine and historically significant horological lot comprising a high-grade manual-wind movement and matching dial, manufactured by the prestigious Swiss maison Longines.

• Manufacturer: Longines, Saint-Imier (Switzerland).

• Movement Calibre: 18.75.

• Movement Serial No: 3,853,881.

• Chronology: According to Longines archives, this serial number dates the production of the movement to 1922.

• Movement Features: Signed "Longines" on the main plate. Bridge-style architecture with 15 jewels, bimetallic compensation balance, and blued steel hairspring.

• Dial: Original white porcelain/enamel dial. Features a double-track scale: a classic bold Arabic numeral hour track and a secondary outer minute/second track with 5-unit markers (5 to 60). Signed with the historical "Longines" serif typography and the winged hourglass logo.

• Hands: Original blued steel "Breguet" (pomme) hour and minute hands.

Condition Report

• Movement: Visually complete and in remarkably clean condition for its age. The balance wheel exhibits a steady and healthy amplitude. Working status: Running.

• Dial: The enamel surface is vibrant and well-preserved. Minor edge chipping/oxidization is present around the 7 and 8 o’clock periphery, consistent with age and previous housing.

• Overall: An exceptional survivor from the early 1920s, ideal for a high-end restoration or for the archives of a serious Longines collector.

Auctioneer’s Notes

The Calibre 18.75 represents the pinnacle of Longines' early 20th-century engineering, often utilized in high-precision pocket watches and early oversized wrist conversions. The presence of the original blued steel hands and the specific "chemin de fer" dial layout makes this a highly desirable lot for specialized horological restoration.