Important Collectors Watches, Pocket ...
Geneva, Mar 29, 2009
LOT 19
Lindbergh Hour-Angle Longines, "Lindbergh", movement No. 5607052, case No. 19803. Sold to Bensadon, Longines Marocan Agent on November 23rd, 1944. Fine, very rare and unusual, large, hour-angle, indirect center seconds, ?Staybrite? stainless steel aviator's wristwatch with two crowns.
CHF 14,000 - 18,000
USD 12,000 - 15,000 / EUR 9,500 - 12,000
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 and cuvette, large ball-shaped winding crown. 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, gilt brass, 17 jewels, straight-line lever escapement, monometallic balance, blued steel Breguet balance spring, index regulator. Dial, case and movement signed. Diam. 48 mm. Thickness 15 mm.
| Grading System | |
|---|---|
Grade: AAA |
Excellent |
Case: 3-8 |
Good Slightly scratched |
Movement: 3 |
Good |
Dial: 3-01 |
Good HANDS Original |
Notes
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.