One of the nice things I like about Longines, is their trick of producing high quality watches at affordable prices. And that’s what we’ve got here with this vintage Auction find for under a £100. I say value for money as I spotted a pre-owned one, co-incidentally just the other day from a Retailer, for £450 and this one is in far better condition.
This is the Longines 1992-4 Conquest Date model in stainless steel, with the Longines L1.614.4 ETA quartz movement. Slipped into a sleek well finished stainless case that’s only at around 5.5 mm thick is what I call neat. In fact the entire watch is neat at just around 34 mm (excl. crown)in diameter. This version has an original Longines French made leather strap, with the proprietary Longines deployment clasp with twin button release. Note this is a bespoke strap as it has to fit the lug case design with the centre cut out. I also noted when searching this model on Google it’s actually rare indeed to find a strapped version, as almost every one I’ve seen comes fitted to a Longines bracelet.
Anyway this watch is in pretty much perfect condition with no marks or scratches at all (I hasten to add that the images shown are as I bought it, uncleaned), the Sapphire crystal is perfect and there are no intrusion marks on the back, which is also pristine. The fact there are no intervention marks is a real bonus, as so often ex Auction pieces have had a few over zealous buyers poking around them with their penknives! (Yes! it happens – I’ve seen it! and that really annoys me!).
The deployment strap is not actually damaged but is very oily/dirty with accumulated crud from obviously been worn 24/7 by the previous owner, so do I try and clean it or not?
The Longines branded deployment clasp itself is actually very good and I note it doesn’t have your typical friction fit clamp adjustment. It is more subtle than that. To alter the fit length you have to push in one of the pushers (it’s marked with a little arrow) which allows the small push-button assembly to lift out. Once out, re-position the deployment over the strap hole you want, then pop it back in – job done.
Now whilst I am a great believer in deployment clasps for certain styles of watch and even with this one being rather good, on this very slim model it tends to defeat the purpose. I find that deployments can hold the strap away from the wrist by virtue of the fitting itself and in this case, as it’s such a neat, super thin and almost delicate watch I decided to fit a standard Longines leather strap and buckle instead.
Fortunately I have a superb original leather one salvaged from another Longines with the correct end fit profile, sitting in my spares drawer which will be ideal.
Note – shown fitted with photograph at Post end.
So an excellent Auction buy, quartz it may be but it is a very high quality one and great value.
Longines watches are still and always have been undervalued in my opinion, which fortunately makes them a good choice when looking for a pre-owned watch. And I mean this for both quartz and mechanical models. Part of the reason is that they are not sold at inflated prices and even new they represent good value as the quality is really, really good and the closer you get to one, the better they look.
This particular model is from the early 1990s and as good today as when it was made and I have to say there is a certain “comfortable quality” about it. What I mean is just everything about the watch feels right. The smoothness of the silky satin finished stainless steel case case, the rounded edges, the elegantly designed dial, subtle luminous markers and hands, it really is a sweet little watch for men or women.
So this purchase was both a surprise and a delight. A surprise as it was so cheap to actually get and a delight, in that once seen, in your hand, then worn on the wrist, the realisation that this watch is a keeper, no question.
Note – it is important when checking the serial number of this model, it is NOT the the obvious one on the case back, which yes, it does have between 5 and 8 numerals. Though conversely the movement calibre IS on the back.
To date the watch, you need the number On the movement module itself, so you need to snap off the back and check it on the movement module.
Watch space 