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Lot Essay
The present set of two watches was put together for a special edition by Longines to celebrate 125 years of sports timekeeping. Introduced by the Swiss watch company as the "Honour and Glory" set, only 125 such units were made in 2003.
The two timepieces in the set consist of a chronograph sports timer and a new automatic Longines wristwatch created for the special occasion. The calibre 24''' movement, which is used in this large chronograph pocket watch model, Ref. 4507, was originally created in 1939. The large watch itself was manufactured in 1951, according to the Archives of Longines.
Longines' commitment to sports timekeeping dates back to 1878 with the introduction of a simple pocket-watch-sized chronograph. Similar watches were used in Athens in 1896. Since then Longines has been present as an official timekeeper at many important sporting events from the Olympic Games to world championships and other events. At present, the company from the Swiss Jura mountains focuses its timekeeping attention mostly on equestrian sports and gymnastics.
The lot comes with a Longines Certificate of Authenticity card stating that the 24 line chronograph No. 8'115'396, Ref. 4507, is "one of the 125 large-calibre chronographs manufactured in 1939". The Certificate further states that the calibre of the watch is based on the company's calibre 24.99, which was created in 1908. Longines further confirms that the split-seconds chronograph had been used as an official sports timekeeper in the past and as such may "show faint traces substantiating its earlier service in the world of sport". It is further explained that the other 18K white gold automatic wristwatch of the Longines "Honour and Glory" set, bearing the numbers L78946 and 30'491'832, was "specially designed".
The present "Honour and Glory" set is further accompanied by instructions for both the calibre 24''' and the calibre L651, a tag for the wristwatch, fitted veneered presentation box and outer packaging.
The two timepieces in the set consist of a chronograph sports timer and a new automatic Longines wristwatch created for the special occasion. The calibre 24''' movement, which is used in this large chronograph pocket watch model, Ref. 4507, was originally created in 1939. The large watch itself was manufactured in 1951, according to the Archives of Longines.
Longines' commitment to sports timekeeping dates back to 1878 with the introduction of a simple pocket-watch-sized chronograph. Similar watches were used in Athens in 1896. Since then Longines has been present as an official timekeeper at many important sporting events from the Olympic Games to world championships and other events. At present, the company from the Swiss Jura mountains focuses its timekeeping attention mostly on equestrian sports and gymnastics.
The lot comes with a Longines Certificate of Authenticity card stating that the 24 line chronograph No. 8'115'396, Ref. 4507, is "one of the 125 large-calibre chronographs manufactured in 1939". The Certificate further states that the calibre of the watch is based on the company's calibre 24.99, which was created in 1908. Longines further confirms that the split-seconds chronograph had been used as an official sports timekeeper in the past and as such may "show faint traces substantiating its earlier service in the world of sport". It is further explained that the other 18K white gold automatic wristwatch of the Longines "Honour and Glory" set, bearing the numbers L78946 and 30'491'832, was "specially designed".
The present "Honour and Glory" set is further accompanied by instructions for both the calibre 24''' and the calibre L651, a tag for the wristwatch, fitted veneered presentation box and outer packaging.