The 1940’s were an interesting time for the world. Not only from a historical perspective with what was happening on different continents, but also from the perspective of innovation and design. All the while, watch companies were producing exciting watches that played a big role in fashion and utility.

Longines, one of the companies at the forefront of watchmaking during this era, was actively operating in many markets, the USA market being one of them. In this market, the variety of watches sold was so vast mainly because the company worked with many different casemakers who produced exceptionally individual cases for the watches. The model Longines used was to outsource their casemaking for the USA market, given the import taxes and duties for watch cases were high, and then import watch movements that would be married up with cases in the USA. We’ll come back to this idea later.

The watch today is a reference 2183-1. Technically speaking, this reference number is not a tracked reference because the USA market did not use reference numbers like the European market. This Longines was manufactured in 1943. The watch has a 10k gold filled case that is in good condition. The case features signs of light polishing. A very distinctive part of the overall case design of this watch is the upper section of the case which features a coin-edged finishing to it while the rest of the case has a polished finish. It provides an additional layer from the side-profile of the watch which gives the watch additional depth on the wrist.

The watch features short, fin-shaped lugs that angle gently to the wrist. Because they are not extremely curved, the watch sits flatter, and larger making the 34mm case very wearable. The watch has a cream dial, with gold applied hour markers in an art-deco font, and has a subsidiary seconds dial. The watch hands are long and thin.

To understand more about how this watch case came about, looking at the caseback can be educational. Looking at the caseback markings, the watch was sold by the Longines-Wittnauer Watch Company that operated out of New York and Montreal. The companies name is engraved on the inside case back. Wittnauer was a successful brand in the USA, and was acquired by Longines in 1950, just after World War II where they became a distribution partner for Longines. In 1969, Longines-Wittnauer was sold to Westinghouse Electric Corporation and in 1994, Longines ended their distribution relationship with Wittnauer. But, during their partnership, many different models hit the market that are of interest to collectors today.

Additionally, on the caseback of the watch, one can see a 10K stamp, and a stamp in the shape of an Urn with “Co” on the inside. Normally, one would be able to see additional stamps which indicate the casemaker of the watch. Based on researching this stamp, it appears the case was manufactured by The Keystone Watch Case factory. The factory had two locations, one in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and the other in Riverside New Jersey. They began operations in 1880 and were owned by Hagstoz & Thorpe. In 1886 they incorporated and consolidated many of their individual entities. They manufactured gold and silver cases and focused on the gold-filled case production.

With the caseback off the watch, one can also see the watch movement. The watch runs on the caliber 10L movement. This is technically the Longines caliber 10.68Z movement. The 10.68Z name was used for watches sold in the European market, while caliber 10L was the name of the movement for the USA market. One can see “10.68Z” under the balance wheel. This movement was launched in 1932 and used many of the new developments in movement manufacturing that came about in the late 1920’s. Namely, producing movements at lower cost, quicker production, and higher finishing standards. The caliber is highly finished, with polished steel, and mounted jewels inside threaded chatons. It has been said many times, but Longines really was competing at the highest level during this era.

The balance wheel bridge is stamped with the import code “LXW”. This inscription was the import code used by the Longines Wittnauer group when they imported movements from Switzerland to the USA. So, it is likely this movement was put together in Switzerland, shipped and imported to the USA. It then met up with it’s case made by Keystone Watch Case Company.

The case of this Longines is really distinct. At 34mm some collectors might shy away from this type of watch. But the coin-edged finishing and polished edges really allow this watch to sit a bit larger, and also make it something enjoyable to see on the wrist.

Enjoy!