Our vintage Longines watch collection showcases the Switzerland based luxury watch company’s finest pieces. Founded in 1832, Longines is widely recognised as a class above the rest. In the early days, Longines started by making and selling pocket watches with crown-wheel escapements and has evolved into one of the world’s leading watch. The following tables will help you date your vintage Bulova watch. Watches dated post 1949 have a 2 alpha-numeric date code on the outside backcase, whilst watches dated before 1950 usually contain a date code symbol on the inside movement (see below for examples).
Our vintage Longines watch collection showcases the Switzerland based luxury watch company’s finest pieces. Founded in 1832, Longines is widely recognised as a class above the rest. In the early days, Longines started by making and selling pocket watches with crown-wheel escapements and has evolved into one of the world’s leading watch companies.
The name Longines comes from the location of their first factory in 1867, that same year, Longlines produced its first movement, the award-winning “20A”. Later on, in 1878, with the new findings by the technical director at Longines, Jacques David, Longines produces the 20H calibre - a simple chronograph movement that could be used for precise timing. A movement that would go on to empower timekeeping for major sporting industries including Formula 1 and horse racing. Since 2011, Longines has been the official timekeeper for Royal Ascot and the Dubai World Cup.
Longines cleverly combines excellent craftsmanship with innovative designs in pieces that have become collectors’ items among those who adore extraordinary timepieces. The much sought-after vintage Longines watch designs exude this commitment to aesthetics and functionality, whilst chronicling the progression and evolution of the brand.
In 1889, Ernest Francillion patented the soon to be famous logo of the winged hourglass symbol which is still, today, one of the oldest trademarks in use in its designs. Each of Longines’ carefully crafted luxury watches bears the Longines name on the dial and the iconic winged hourglass featured on the movements.
![Serial Serial](/uploads/1/2/5/6/125628401/325330220.jpg)
In 1999, Longines created the ‘elegance is an attitude’ slogan for their first women’s collection - the advertisement featured the inimitable Audrey Hepburn.
Longines watches have featured in many recognizable movies over the years especially the Longines Evidenza collection. Humphrey Bogart wore the Longines Evidenza wristwatch in the classic movie Casablanca in 1942, and more recently Mads Mikkelsen wore the Longines Evidenza Chronograph watch in the Casino Royale movie. The truly extraordinary mechanisms and designs also caught the eye of Albert Einstein who wore Longines watches throughout the 1930s.
If you have an eye for detail, an appreciation for technical innovation and a love for elegant high-quality designs, a vintage Longines watch is the only way forward. You could own a piece of history with one of Longines vintage watches thanks to Open for Vintage.
serial number | year | serial number | year |
20,000 | 1870 | 3,815,000 | 1920 |
36,000 | 1871 | 3,880,400 | 1921 |
52,000 | 1872 | 3,945,600 | 1922 |
68,000 | 1873 | 4,047,000 | 1923 |
84000 | 1874 | 4,031,000 | 1924 |
100,000 | 1875 | 4,148,500 | 1925 |
121,400 | 1876 | 4,500,000 | 1926 |
142,800 | 1877 | 4,625,000 | 1927 |
164,300 | 1878 | 4,750,000 | 1928 |
185,700 | 1879 | 4,886,000 | 1929 |
207,100 | 1880 | 4,959,000 | 1930 |
228,500 | 1881 | 5,031,800 | 1931 |
250,000 | 1882 | 5,104,500 | 1932 |
291,700 | 1883 | 5,177,000 | 1933 |
900,000 | 1884 | 5,250,000 | 1934 |
333,300 | 1885 | 5,333,000 | 1935 |
375,000 | 1886 | 5,416,000 | 1936 |
416,700 | 1887 | 5,500,000 | 1937 |
458,350 | 1888 | 5,750,000 | 1938 |
500,000 | 1889 | 5,850,000 | 1939 |
600,000 | 1890 | 5,950,000 | 1940 |
650,000 | 1891 | 6,140,000 | 1941 |
700,000 | 1892 | 6,332,000 | 1942 |
750,000 | 1893 | 6,523,000 | 1943 |
791,100 | 1894 | 6,714,000 | 1944 |
832,800 | 1895 | 6,905,000 | 1945 |
874,400 | 1896 | 7,107,000 | 1946 |
916,000 | 1897 | 7,309,000 | 1947 |
957,800 | 1898 | 7,511,000 | 1948 |
999,400 | 1899 | 7,713,000 | 1949 |
1,124,700 | 1900 | 7,915,000 | 1950 |
1,250,000 | 1901 | 8,225,000 | 1951 |
1,320,000 | 1902 | 8,535,000 | 1952 |
1,440,000 | 1903 | 8,845,000 | 1953 |
1,500,000 | 1904 | 9,183,000 | 1954 |
1,750,000 | 1905 | 9,521,000 | 1955 |
1,850,000 | 1906 | 9,859,000 | 1956 |
1,950,000 | 1907 | 10,201,000 | 1957 |
2,100,000 | 1908 | 10,544,000 | 1958 |
2,250,000 | 1909 | 10,886,000 | 1959 |
2,375,000 | 1910 | 11,212,000 | 1960 |
2,500,000 | 1911 | 11,538,000 | 1961 |
2,750,000 | 1912 | 11,864,000 | 1962 |
2,900,000 | 1913 | 12,116,000 | 1963 |
3,075,000 | 1914 | 12,368,900 | 1964 |
3,250,000 | 1915 | 12,621,000 | 1965 |
3,375,000 | 1916 | 12,874,000 | 1966 |
3,500,000 | 1917 | 13,839,000 | 1967 |
3,625,000 | 1918 | 14,834,000 | 1968 |
3,750,000 | 1919 | 15,000,000 | 1969 |
Begining about 1970, it appears that Longines changed their serial numbering system. The numbers below are assumed to be the result of the new numbering.
![Vintage Longines Serial Code Vintage Longines Serial Code](https://images.antiquesatlas.com/dealer-stock-images/thevintagewristwatch/Gents_9ct_gold_Longines_automa_as170a6234b.jpg)
serial number | year | serial number | year |
50,842 | 1972 | 53,902 | 1980 |
52,216 | 1974 | 55,300 | 1982 |
53,478 | 1977 |
These are approximate production dates. Accurate annual number lists for Swiss watches are often not available. Some of the dates in this list are interpolated for years for which there may be no accurate list.
Ccwatchmaker has no affiliation with Longines.