LONGINES•FRENCH CASE •1913

Rare gold wristwatch signed Longines, dating from the early 20th century.
 
It is fitted with a manual-winding mechanical movement numbered 3,084,882, which allows its production to be dated to approximately 1913–1914.
 
The watch features a square gold case with French hallmarks, indicating that the case was manufactured in France. This reflects the economic context of the period: due to high import duties on gold items, Swiss manufacturers, including Longines, would ship their movements to France, where they were cased locally in gold cases produced on site.
 
This combination of a Swiss movement and a French case explains the absence of a standardized reference in Longines archives, as each piece was assembled according to this specific configuration.
 
The dial, signed “Longines Fab. Suisse,” displays Roman numerals and a railway minute track, in a classic style fully consistent with the period. The watch is fitted with a later leather strap.
 
Thanks to its overall coherence, the presence of original hallmarks, and this characteristic Franco-Swiss configuration, this watch is an uncommon piece on today’s market, with each example exhibiting its own unique features.
 
An authentic antique timepiece, elegant and rich in history, intended for collectors of distinctive early 20th century watches. DA