Longines Greenlander Military Watch

[Paul78]

Hi all, I've recently acquired a Longines 'Greenlander' military watch which I'm going to be looking at selling, I've done a bit of research and from what I can find these are very rare, they were issued to the military during WW2 and after. Between 1943 and 1950 I believe.

Can anyone tell me if they know of anywhere online I can maybe get some more info or advice on how much it's worth and where best to sell.

I've tried registering on a military watch forum I found which has some info on the watch but I don't receive the activation email to use the site and when I contact them I get no reply... Any advice greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[oldhippy]

There is this I found. They do have an address I'm sure there will be a phone number on there but at the moment I cant find one. As its an auction place and they have sold one like yours they should be able to tell the price it fetched.

http://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/auction-catalogues/watchesofknightsbridge/catalogue-id-srwatc10004/lot-a4e7760e-b08d-4277-b161-a44500a8387c

[wls1971]

Its worth as much as someone is prepared to pay and that depends on condition and originality a quick google search brings up quite a bit of information on the watch and prices seem to vary quite a bit but below is a list of recent auction prices:

 

Watches of Knightsbride auctioneers, 12/3/2015 £1400, 15/8/15 £600, 21/3/2015 £1,150 12/7/2014 £1,400 16/3/2013 £850

 

Toogood and May, 15/8/2015 £1200

 

Reemans  12/3/2012 £1,700

 

The Greenlander would not be consider very rare with production figures of around 5000, but it is desirable to many collectors.

Where to sell all the usual suspects, Ebay, auction house or forum sales posts. Auction houses will hammer you on commission with the bigger sales asking commissions of 25% plus vat but they do take all the hassle out of selling.

Edited February 2, 2016 by wls1971

[BeyondWorld]

If condition is good, I'd be quite interested in buying. Send me a pm.

Edited February 7, 2016 by BeyondWorld

[BeyondWorld]

I can also help out in letting you know if everything is original, military watches are my thing.

[Paul78]

hi guys, thanks for the info, sorry for taking so long to reply. I'll get some photos up so you can have a look at it, its working, not sure on the time keeping yet, haven't really tested it, just wound it up and away it went, it winds up very smooth, you can definitely feel the quality. The dial isn't great though, the lume is discoloured and has come off in places from the hands. Will having the dial restored affect the value?

 

cheers

[BeyondWorld]

The dial being restored will almost make it near unsellable, It'd be very hard to sell it at half the price than if you'd of kept it original. Military buyers are train spotters compared to the rest of the watch market and everything needs to be right and not messed around with.

 

Lume is no problem for me to restore on my watches, I have my own batch mixed up in a variety of vintage colours. 

 

The main thing with the longines is the white numbers and printing, which is extremely fragil, a puff of air from a watches air pump is enough to make them flake and fall off. 

[Geo]

Will having the dial restored affect the value?

Unless it's in really bad condition I would leave as is, especially if it is a rare piece. If you restore it the specialist collector will see it as worth less, but on the other hand the ordinary person that wants a vintage watch may pay more for it. There is no simple answer.

[Paul78]

Heres one image that i took the day i got, I'm removing the expander and putting on a canvas military strap, but to me it looks in original condition, the movement looks very good too, i inspected it but didn't take any photos, i can take some more tomorrow when i get to the shop.

[BeyondWorld]

Yeah, some of the paint has come off the 12, longines logo and military arrow, but that's fairly common. It knocks down the value a bit, but it's in okay condition. 

 

The lume and hands are no problem. 

 

Inside it should have the movement ring and a spring.

 

I'd still be interested.

[Geo]

Leave the dial and hands as is, it's absolutely brilliant, even though somebody has touched up the lume in the past.

[Paul78]

Hi all, ive finally had a moment to take some more photos, i am going to be selling this, but i think im probably going to opt for ebay, i think i might get a good price for it as there doesnt seem to be many around for sale.

[oldhippy]

A very nice looking movement. You can tell its been looked after hardly any marks on the screw heads, serviced by a good watch maker.

[Paul78]

It keeps perfect time too, its immaculate, i have to say i was surprised at the condition of the movement when i opened the case.

[Paul78]

Hi Guys, just to let you know if anyone is interested in this watch I've put it on eBay, you can find it here... http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Longines-Greenlander-Military-Watch-/322007232789?

 

It looks so much better with that awful metal expander removed! :)