Here we have a very good example of a 1915 Longines silver cased trench watch. It has the open face configuration with the flawless white enamel dial with black signing, roman numerals and stand out red 12. The dial has the sub-seconds register and the time is indicated by the thermally blued spade & whip style hands. The case is well sized, measuring 35mm wide. It has the Longines patent swivel lugs which have the original hallmarking to them. To the right is the beautiful onion crown. The case back is double hinged, with hallmarking to the inside of each back, from London assay office, dating to 1915. The movement is the Longines calibre 13.34 which is manually wound with 15 jewels. It has been recently serviced and is in good condition, keeping accurate time.

The dial is the bright white enamel and is in excellent condition. It is a crisp white tone, with a railroad minute track around the exterior. The hour markers are large roman numerals with the clear red 12. There is the in-set sub-second register at 6 O’clock which has a matching railroad track. It has single second, 5 second and Arabic 10 second graduations, clearly marked. The dial is signed below 12 with the ‘Longines’ name. The hands are of the spade & whip style and have been thermally blued, developing a pleasing purple tone. The sub-second hand is the matching purple tone with a lollipop counterbalance.

The case measures 35mm x 35mm, with a lug-to-lug measurement of a whopping 43mm. Early Longines trench watches like this are known for their distinctive swinging lugs, at 12mm in width. The design was registered to Longines in 1907. A tube soldered to the watch case carries a bar, that the lugs (a loop of wire with widened ends), are attached to. This makes the watch a comfortable fit to the wrist, with the lugs angling down with the strap.

The bezel has the polished finish and snaps in place. To the right is the original silver onion style crown, which has aged handsomely. To the rear is the double hinged case back which has a good, polished finish with no engraving. Inside it is signed with hallmarking from London assay office, dating the watch to 1915. It has the ‘A.B’ makers mark for Arthur Baume, the UK distributor of Longines at the time. The serial number 1451345 is engraved too. The inner back also has the matching hallmarking and serial number.

Inside is the Longines calibre 13.34 which carries the marking for Baume & Co. It is manually wound and has a jewel count of 15. It has been recently serviced and is keeping accurate time.

This is a very good original example. We have had many Longines trench watches of this period with swivel lugs, but none with the lugs in such good condition. They swivel well with the clear hallmarking from London assay office. The uncracked enamel dial is also pleasing, as is the handsome silver onion crown.

*Credit to David Boettcher and his Vintage Watch Straps website for the above information on the Longines lug patent*

The watch is modelled on a 7” wrist circumference.
Full condition report below. Please see the images as these compliment and aid the description provided below.

Dial:
The dial is enamel and is original. It is in very good condition with no fractures or chips. The signing is clear. The Longines name is slightly worn to the ‘L’ and ‘O’.

Hands:
The hands are original and are of cathedral style. They are thermally blued and have a bright purple tone. They are free of bending.

Glass:
The glass is an acrylic replacement which is in good condition.

Crown:
The crown is original with coin edge finish and is in good antique condition. It functions as it should.

Case:
The case is formed of silver and has the snap-on front. The hinged lugs are good and original with clear hallmarking.

Caseback:
The snap on back is in good condition with the polished finish and light surface scratching. It seals tightly, as does the inner case back. The inner back has some scratching associated with age and opening.

Strap:
The watch comes on a Darlena leather strap which is glued in place for fixed lugs. It will fit up to a 19cm wrist diameter.

Movement:
The movement is a Longines cal 13.34. It is manually wound and has a jewel count of 15.

The movement has been recently serviced. It’s keeping time to +30 seconds a day, with an amplitude of 310 degrees and a beat error of 0.5m/s.

Case dimensions
Case width: 35mm
Case width with crown: 38.1mm
Case length: 37.3mm
Case length lug to lug: 43mm
Case depth: 11.9mm
Lug width: 12mm