Important Collectors’ Wristwatches, P...

Geneva, Nov 16, 2008

LOT 451

Lindbergh Hour-Angle, Second Generation Longines, "Lindbergh", movement No. 7298514, case No. 23472. Delivered to LonginesWittnauerWatch & Co., New York, on June 28th, 1948 . Fine, very rare and unusual, large, hour-angle, indirect center seconds, stainless steel aviator's wristwatch with two crowns.

CHF 12,000 - 14,000

USD 11,000 - 13,000 / EUR 7,500 - 9,000

Sold: CHF 26,400

C. Four-body, polished, revolving bezel with blue and black enameled 15 degree graduation, graduated band, the second crown activates the revolving central dial, hinged back. Hinged steel cuvette. D. White enamel with painted radial Roman numerals for the 12-hour indication, the 180 degrees in upright blue Arabic numerals, central revolving matte silver dial with painted black radial Arabic numerals for the 60 minutes and painted red radial Arabic numerals for the 15 degrees, outer minute track. Blued steel Breguet hands. M. Cal. 37.9, rhodium plated, 17 jewels, straight-line lever escapement, monometallic balance, steel Breguet balance-spring, index regulator. Dial, case and movement signed. Diam. 48 mm. Thickness 15 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3-01

Good

HANDS Original

Notes

The hour angle system was invented by Philippe Vanhorn Weems of the Annapolis Naval Academy, who trained Charles A. Lindbergh. The large ball-shaped winding-crown enables the watch to be wound by a pilot wearing gloves. It is practically impossible to build a commercial timepiece which will keep time to the exact second in a ship or an airplane. The inevitable variation from true time necessitated an extra calculation in navigation to compensate for this chronometer error. Weems knew that in an airplane it was dangerous to take extra time to calculate chronometer error.
Since the high gear ratio made it impractical to set the second hand to the dial,Weems chose to set the dial to the hands. The seconds dial in the center of the watch is rotated by depressing the small stem. For navigational purposes, Greenwich Mean time is indicated directly.