1930s stainless steel vintage Longines Calatrava watch

Date:           1934

Case:            Stainless steel, 32.5mm

Movement: Longines Calibre 12.68z

Dial:             Champagne with black batons

Lugs:            16mm

A fabulous 1930s vintage Longines Calatrava watch! 

A 1934, stainless steel vintage Longines Calatrava watch. The case measures 32.5 mm in diameter with 16mm lugs. The case is signed Longines, Acier Inox and numbered to the back. The 12.68z calibre manual wind movement is signed Longines, Swiss Made with 15 jewels and numbered, circa 1934. The dial, with original patina, has black baton hour indicators, a subsidiary seconds dial, fine blued steel hands and outer minute track. The dial is signed Longines above the centre

Calibre 12.68Z

Longines introduced the calibre 12.68Z in 1929 and re-introduced in 1938. The basic sub second variant is found in Longines watches up until the calibre was phased out in 1959/60. The 27mm movement was ideal for modification and some variants where made. The modifications where given an additional letter to set them apart, the exception being a mono pusher stop second variant. The pointer date is known as a 12.68ZQ. The centre second variant as a 12.68ZS. These movements have varying levels of decoration, according to when they where made and what market they where sold to. The 12.68Z balance also evolved from non-shock protected to fully shock protected during it’s long production run.