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Posted (edited)

I've been after a nice hand-wound Longines movement for some time - their movements are usually beautifully crafted - but you don't get much for less than £250. By chance, I spotted this little lot from 1964 on eBay this morning for less than a 5th of that price:

 

post-64-0-73385000-1404813265_thumb.jpg

post-64-0-00949900-1404813278_thumb.jpg

 

The dial's in good nick and the movement looks gorgeous. Now all I have to do is find a decent case...

 

Cheers,

 

Will

Edited by WillFly
Posted

Looks like another excellent watch has been butchered for the gold. I hope you find a nice case, because that movement deserves it!

Posted

It certainly does! The movement is advertised as 34mm but, looking at another pic which shows the movement in between some calipers, I've deduced (by the power of Photoshop) that it's actually 31mm in diameter - which is about 14 lignes or size 1. So, the search is on.

 

I could get a new Longines case from Cousins, but they're BIG money!

Posted

WOW! Nice one Will.  That my friend is a piece of art.

 

The thing looks as clean as a whistle too ... I bet it doesn't even need a service?!

Posted

The seller says "should be serviced" - but they all say that to cover themselves. I'll check it out when it gets to me.

Posted

This is very nice Will. I saw this on ebay and was very tempted. It will make a lovely addition to your collection.

Posted

Well, I've taken a punt on this - made an offer (after getting some more exact sizing) which was accepted - and we'll see what happens when it gets here...

Posted

Fingers crossed Will, if it fits OK it will make a cracking watch!

`

I hope so - a new Longines case from Cousins is around £250!

Posted

I wonder what most every supplier think their cases are made of! No matter Will, the bay is the way to go and that movement will be right at home with that beautiful Italian case! Think positive!

Posted (edited)

The Longines case arrived this morning - and it fits snugly round the movement. Hurray! So, the next steps are: (1) get the movement cleaned as it's a little sticky (2) get a crystal installed (3) fit a new strap - think I'll get stainless steel mesh for this one, just for a change... Geo - thanks again for the heads-up on the case!

 

 

post-64-0-39508800-1405327163_thumb.jpg

Edited by WillFly
  • Like 1
Posted

I'm really pleased for you Will. It will be an absolute cracker for the money when your finished with it.

Glad to have been so assistance!

Posted

Nearly there,  watches do not come much better than a Longines,  you will be able to hold your head high whatever company you are in.  :thumbsu:

Posted

you will be able to hold your head high whatever company you are in.  :thumbsu:

I thought he'd retired! :-)

  • 2 weeks later...
Posted (edited)

Well, I thought I'd cracked the Longines movement/case marriage. Not so - the case width is good, but the case height is not so good. The winding stem won't fit into the movement while the spacing ring is in place - the movement's too much one way - and, with the ring removed and the stem in place, the movement is too loose and rattles around. Ho hum - back to square one.

 

Anyway, the movement's being cleaned at the moment, so I'm going to regroup and have a think. The case is very, very nice and I might just sell it on - or I might have a think about a movement for it - but I'm not sure yet.

 

The movement, however is absolutely terrific and I'm going to keep it through thick and thin! I might even contemplate having a case made for it, but we'll see...

 

Decisions, decisions... :pulling-hair-out:

Edited by WillFly

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