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Vintage Longines Tank-Style Wristwatch

Close-up of a vintage rectangular Longines tank watch with a textured dial and sub-seconds register. - view 1
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Estimated value

$250 - $650

Rarity

Uncommon(5/10)

Category

Watches

Brand

Longines

Era

1945-1955

Origin

🇨🇭 Switzerland

Authenticity

Very High(85%)
25

INSIDE VINTAGE LONGINES TANK-STYLE WRISTWATCH

A classic mid-century rectangular 'Tank' style wristwatch. Based on visual cues, this timepiece features a textured 'honeycomb' or waffle-pattern dial, which was a sophisticated design choice during the 1940s and 50s. The dial includes a sub-seconds register at the 6 o'clock position and applied gold-tone indices. The case appears to be gold-filled or possibly solid gold, showing the soft, warm glow characteristic of vintage Swiss horology, though heavy oxidation and surface grime are present around the lugs and crown.

TIMEKEEPING ACROSS CULTURES

Where This Object Echoes

Art Deco1920s-1940s

The rectangular 'Tank' silhouette is a direct descendant of the Art Deco movement's obsession with geometric symmetry.

Ritual & Ceremonial Use

  • •Professional milestone gifting, specifically retirement or graduation, where a Swiss watch served as a 'lifetime' instrument.

Meaning Through Time

1950s

A essential tool for the modern professional man.

Current

A nostalgic heirloom and a statement of 'slow fashion' and mechanical appreciation.

A JOURNEY THROUGH TIME

Longines, established in Saint-Imier, Switzerland in 1832, is legendary among collectors for their mid-century 'golden era' movements. In the post-WWII period, rectangular watches were the height of sartorial elegance, directly competing with the Cartier Tank. Longines movements from this era, ...
Longines, established in Saint-Imier, Switzerland in 1832, is legendary among collectors for their mid-century 'golden era' movements. In the post-WWII period, rectangular watches were the height of sartorial elegance, directly competing with the Cartier Tank. Longines movements from this era, specifically the 9L or 10L calibers often found in these rectangular cases, are considered some of the finest mass-produced manual-wind movements ever made.

HOROLOGICAL SECRETS

1

The 'honeycomb' dial was not just a stylistic choice; the texture helped reduce glare and hidden micro-scratches better than flat painted dials.

2

During this era, Longines was often considered a direct peer to brands like Omega and even Rolex in terms of movement finishing and chronometric accuracy.

HOW SCARCE IS IT?

Uncommon70-80%
CommonLegendary

Genuine antiques with fewer examples on the market. Named makers, documented provenance, or early production examples.

Typical Characteristics

  • Limited production
  • Named makers
  • Growing collector demand

Confidence Factors

  • Consistent wear patterns for a mid-century timepiece
  • Logos and sub-seconds placement align perfectly with documented 1950s models
  • Textured dial is difficult to fake convincingly in this aged state
How does authenticity detection work?

WATCHMAKER'S ASSESSMENT

Cabinet of Curiosities Generalist

Interdisciplinary Investigator

The visual evidence strongly supports the user's identification. The patina and design are consistent with genuine Longines production of the era, though the blurry image prevents a 90%+ score.

KEY EVIDENCE

  • 1Applied 'Winged Hourglass' logo and serif font are period-correct for the late 40s/early 50s.
  • 2Honeycomb texture on the dial is a specific high-end finish from this era.
  • 3Case lugs show 'hooded' or semi-integrated design popular in mid-century tank watches.
  • 4Presence of verdigris (green oxidation) suggests a gold-filled or low-karat gold case interacting with base metal.

UNCERTAINTIES

  • •Image quality is blurry, obscuring potential 'Swiss Made' text at the bottom of the dial.
  • •Case back is not visible, which is where critical hallmarks and serial numbers reside.

WHAT WOULD IMPROVE CERTAINTY

  • →Take a sharp photo of the case back and any markings between the lugs.
  • →Open the case (if comfortable) to identify the caliber number on the movement.
  • →Check for '14k' or '10k GF' stamps on the inner or outer case back to determine metal value.
  • →Consult a watchmaker for a 'movement health' check before attempting to wind it.

CONDITION & GRADE

Condition

Significant restoration needed. The crystal is heavily scratched, the dial shows age-related 'patina', and the case requires professional cleaning to remove oxidation. The mechanical state is unknown but must be assumed to need a full service.

Surface

The dial exhibits a wonderful 'honeycomb' texture with light tropical spotting; the case shows significant 'schmutz' and verdigris near the seams, indicating long-term storage.

Weight & feel

Likely feels delicate yet substantial for its size, typical of a high-quality manual-wind caliber encased in gold or gold-fill.

WATCH MARKET VALUE

$250 - $650

Updated: Mar 31, 2026

Who buys this

Vintage Swiss watch enthusiasts and 'project' collectors who enjoy restoring mid-century pieces to their former glory.

What increases value

  • •The textured 'honeycomb' dial is highly desirable among Longines collectors
  • •Originality of the hands and indices
  • •Potential for the movement to be a high-grade 9L caliber

What lowers value

  • •Cost of professional restoration may exceed the immediate market value gain
  • •The dial looks potentially 'dirty'—if it's actual water damage (rust) rather than dirt, value drops significantly
  • •Gold-fill wear-through ('brassing') on the lugs

What makes top-tier examples

  • •Solid 14k or 18k gold case versus gold-filled
  • •A 'mint' uncleaned dial with no spotting
  • •Original signed crown and buckle

Grade & condition

Dial clarity, movement cleanliness, and case integrity (lack of 'brassing').

Rarity & demand

UncommonModerate demandModerate liquidity
Browse similar watches objects

For informational purposes only, not a formal appraisal.

YOUR INPUT VS. SCANNER FINDINGS

How your provided context compares with Curiosa.com scanner findings.

What Aligned

  • User stated 'Longines' - confirmed by visible dial branding.
  • User stated 'Swiss' - confirmed by Swiss horological design and brand origin.
  • User stated 'Needs restoration' - confirmed by visible case oxidation, crystal damage, and surface grime.

FROM THE CABINET OF

OM

omnasir
Wonderseeker•1 item

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