This watch

An exceptionally elegant and historically verified timepiece from the renowned Swiss manufacture Longines, featuring their high-grade Calibre 37.9M movement and accompanied by official Longines Archive documentation.

This handsome, open-faced pocket watch is a superb example of the Art Deco aesthetic applied to a functional pocket watch. Made of stainless steel, a popular and durable material for high-quality pocket watches during the 1930s and 40s, this watch features a noticeably slim profile, making it an elegant dress piece.

The clean, perfect white/silver dial is a model of clarity, featuring finely printed black Arabic numerals and a subsidiary seconds dial at 6 o'clock. The dial is signed "Longines", and the case has a crisp snap-back.

The watch is powered by the celebrated Longines Calibre 37.9M manual-wind movement. This 17-ligne (approx. 37mm) calibre is a high-grade movement known for its reliability and was often used in precision pieces.

Crucially, this watch is accompanied by official Longines Archives information, which authenticates the serial number, confirms its original specifications, and often reveals the original invoicing date and agent, providing exceptional provenance for the collector. This watch is a truly special collector's piece from the "World's Most Honoured Watch".  Chain not included

Extra Points

Founded in 1832, Longines has a rich and exciting history.  The company produced their first movement, the 20A, in 1867 near the Swiss town of Saint-Imier, in a place called Es Longines ("long meadows").  This movement won an award at the Exhibition Universelle in Paris in the same year.  Longines are credited with advancing the industrialisation of Swiss watchmaking and it because of their new mechanical procedures, they were able to produce a simple chronograph movement, the 20H, as early as 1878.  It was the first mechanism that Longines had made that could be used for precise timing and it was so popular with horse racing bettors and spectators that by the end of 1886, Longines were supplying chronographs to the majority of New York's sports officials.  It is still the official timekeeper of many horse races, with over 40 in its annual calendar.

The Longines brand name and logo were officially registered with the United International Bureaux for the Protection of Intellectual Property (later the WIPO) in 1889.  Longines is the oldest brand name registered with the WIPO that is unchanged and still in use today.  Longines is now part of the Swatch Group, having joined in 1983. 

What We Think

As London watch dealers, the name Longines carries immense weight, synonymous with precision and a continuous, documented history. This particular watch is a gem for several reasons:

1. The Calibre 37.9M: This is a fantastic, reliable movement often used by Longines in their higher-end pocket watch line. The design of the movement and the nickel plating are typical of high-quality Swiss watchmaking of the period.

2. The Steel Case: While most luxury pocket watches were gold, the choice of stainless steel (sometimes referred to as StayBrite) was increasingly popular in this era for its durability and modern, "machine age" aesthetic. The slim, crisp edges of this case perfectly capture the Art Deco spirit of the 1940s.

3. The Archives: The inclusion of the Longines Archive Extract elevates this watch from a beautiful vintage piece to a historically documented artifact. Longines maintains one of the largest and most complete archives in the Swiss watch industry, and having this document provides an indisputable link back to its manufacture in Saint-Imier.

It is a stunning example of how Longines combined technical quality with elegant design, preserved in excellent condition and ready for the next chapter.