A collector finds the oldest Longines watch known to date, a historical discovery for the brand

Longines is particularly proud to have discovered, thanks to one of its faithful collectors, a real treasure of its past, the Longines 183 watch. This serial number indicates that this pocket watch was manufactured in 1867, making it the oldest Longines watch that has been found to date. With a long and rich history, the brand has always made a point of taking care of its heritage and of showcasing it. Text and images by Longines.

Through its museum, the preservation of its archives and the know-how of its watchmakers, or by growing its historical collections, Longines places great importance on honouring its rich past, a source of inspiration to this day. It is in this spirit of tradition and preservation of its heritage that the winged hourglass company passionately seeks to find traces of its oldest pieces.

The Swiss watch brand is therefore extremely proud to have recently discovered, thanks to the research of one of its collectors, the oldest Longines watch known to date. Its owner, an American collector of Japanese descent, went to the headquarters of the brand to authenticate his piece. Thanks to its small serial number – 183 – and to the indications inscribed in the archives registers, preciously preserved, the brand’s historians and watchmakers can attest that this pocket watch was manufactured in 1867, the year the Longines factory was created to replace the original counter founded in 1832.

Housing a mechanical wind-up movement, this “savonette” type silver pocket watch is characteristic of the pieces created by Longines at that time. Emblem of the brand since the very beginning, a winged hourglass is engraved on its movement and inside its cover. An engraving showing two blank crests and a floral motif adorn its cover. This piece, the condition and proper functioning of which impresses specialists, is a major discovery for the Swiss watch brand.