The serial number points to the 1913-1914 production year along with the xase stamped with a 1914 London import sterling hallmarks (‘U’ and ‘h’ in shield).
Longines 13.34 calibre movement stamped with B&Co mark – Baume & Co was an important Longines distributor in the UK (see more below)
This watch was certainly built for military use, as evidenced by its design and features. Back in 1913-1914, wristwatches were primarily made for non-civilian purposes, particularly in the military. The fact that this watch is also luminous further supports its military origins, even though it may not be explicitly marked as such.
The watch has a screw-type coin edge front bezel and case back, with rare “bow” type lugs, which add to its unique character. The mineral glass crystal is another notable feature. With a diameter of 35.5 mm without the crown and 37.5 mm with the crown, this watch is well-proportioned and comfortable to wear.
Originally, the luminous paint used on this watch was radioactive, which was common in that era but not ideal for modern wear. We’ve replaced the old lume with a vintage-style, non-radioactive compound that retains the watch’s original charm while ensuring safety.
About Baume & Co
Baume & Company was established in 1844 as the London branch of Baume Frères, a Swiss watch manufacturer located in the village of Les Bois in the Jura Mountains. Although the Swiss and British companies operated as separate legal entities, they maintained a close relationship.
About Longines
The Longines watch company was founded in 1832 by watchmaker Auguste Agassiz, and his two partners, Henri Raiguel and Florian Morel. Initially, the original name of the company was Raiguel Jeune & Cie. However, by 1846, Raigeul and Morel had retired from the watch industry, leaving Agassiz as the sole head of the company.
The name ‘Longines’ comes from a famous pocket watch model created in 1867 by a later head of the company, Ernest Francillon, who had established a manufactory outside the village of Saint-Imier in the meadows of the district Langgewann (Les Longines). This model became so popular that the company began to experience problems with counterfeiting, and so in 1889 the trademark name of ‘Longines’ was registered, making this company the oldest registered watch manufacturer in the world.
The success of Longines has a long history. They have developed highly regarded reputations in equestrian sports such as horse racing, due to their creation of the 20H ‘mono-pusher’ chronograph 1878, which enabled the creation of precise stopwatches suitable for timing professional events.
In the 1940’s, Longines actively collaborated with both UK and US allies, as well as with the Wehrmacht, supplying watches to all warring parties. Many military style watches from the company can be found. In 1945 Longines brought the first watch with automatic winding to market, and in 1952 they were the official timekeeper of the Olympic Winter Games in Oslo.
Today, Longines continues to thrive just as successfully as ever before, and along with Omega and Tissot, is one of the largest brands inside the Swatch Group.
Overview
Case and Strap
- Sterling silver case
- Sterling silver crown
- New stock black leather riveted strap
- Sterling silver caseback
Dimensions:
- Width w/o crown: 33.2mm
- Width w/ crown: 37.2mm
- Height: 36.50mm
- Thickness w/o strap: 9.6mm
- Thickness w/ strap: 14mm
- Strap width:24mm
Dial and Hands
- near perfect condition white ceramic dial
- Subseconds dial with Longines text arched above
- Yellow lumed indices
- Matching yellow lumed hands with black border
Movement
- Longines 13.34
Testing results:
- Testing duration: 1 week cyclic test
- Average timekeeping range: 15-30 sec/day
Servicing and Guarantee
- Fully serviced.
- Mechanics in full working order.
- Care and usage guidelines.
