The 1951 Longines 'Tank' Style Watch

During the 40’s and 50’s, there were many watch brands producing a wide range of watches that pushed the boundaries of watchmaking in many different ways. This was an important time period for watch companies to get their movements certified by the Observatory. Watches like the Submariner and plenty of famous Omega models were released. There were beautiful chronographs being produced by brands like Universal Geneve. Longines has a unique place in this history too.

Many collectors look at the movements produced by Longines during this time period and are quite amazed at the quality of the movement construction. They were ensuring a high level of movement finishing that was not always seen in movements of this era possibly due to the idea that accuracy was on many manufactures minds.

The watch we are looking at today is a Longines watch sold by Longines-Wittnauer and produced in 1951. The watch has a rectangular case design, often referred to as a a ‘Tank’-styled case because it mimics that of the well known Cartier Tank. The watch has a 10k gold filled case with a clean, white dial with applied hour markers. The hour markers, hands, and sub-seconds hands are all in a gold-tone which is consistent with the case. The watch is fitted with a 10k gold filled stretch bracelet, which were very popular during this era. While it might not be the overwhelming fan-favourite of today’s era, a quick switch with a leather strap places this watch perfectly in today’s time.

Not only is the watch a great description of the era the watch was sold, even cooler is the fact that the watch comes with the original inner and outer box, as well as two booklets that were sold with the watch. The red Longines-Wittnauer box is in fairly good condition considering it over 70 years old. The box even has original price indicator that was displayed on the box. Of course ones imagination runs wild thinking of how the watch might have sat in a display window of a retailer and all the interesting people who might have gazed at the watch through the window.

The watch also comes with an instruction and guarantee leather-bound booklet and service pamphlet. If your imagination was ticking away at all the possibilities of this watch, the watch has an inscription on the caseback - “Love H.K to T.G.B”. Unfortunately the names of these two individuals are unknown but it was obviously a gift from one person to another. The watch had a pretty clear significance in at least two people’s lives, something that I think rings true with a lot of collectors, even more so with those interested in the vintage-side of things.

As mentioned before, Longines is known for producing high quality, highly finished movements during this time period which made them stand out among many of their competitors. The watch is running on the 9L movement, which was produced between the 1940’s and 1950’s. There was clearly some thought into the level of finishing applied to the movement. To quote a ‘Watchuseek’ contributor who commented on the 9L movement: “It has solid gold chatons surrounding the ruby jewels. Burnished teeth on the gears. All the plates are chamfered. It's Geneva Seal quality.”

To wear this watch is to realize your understate, nonchalant self. The watch does not have any high complications, nor will it stick out on your wrist. But wearing the watch optimizes a classic watch with an exceptional movement produced by one of the world leaders of watchmaking.

The watch is available on our store here.

Enjoy!