Longines Lindbergh 1987 Replica Review
Vintage

Longines Lindbergh 1987 Replica Review

By Bruno.M1 · May 17, 2013 · 9 replies
Bruno.M1
WPS member · Horological Meandering forum
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Bruno.M1 shares his excitement about acquiring a Longines Lindbergh 'replica' from 1987, a limited edition piece that faithfully recreates the original's 47mm size and manual-wind movement. His post delves into the nuances of this historical reissue, sparking a community discussion about its authenticity and technical details, particularly regarding the dial material and movement origins.

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This one was quite some time on my wishlist.

Today not my favorite brand but in the past the made some Jewels. Think about their sought after chronographs like the 13 ZN and 30 CH. A 30CH was something I found months ago , mission succeeded LOL. The other one on the wishlist was not a 13 ZN, a 30 CH was good enough. That doesn't mean I would not add a 13 ZN if I find the perfect watch for a good price smile

Enough about chronographs.

Another watch  (from Longines if you didn't know yet) is the 47 mm Weems or Lindbergh. Looking for one since years and saw a vintage from the 1930's - 1940's about 1 year ago. When I met Ubik ( together with Imran)  in London. His Weems was a great piece. But when I saw the prices  I gave up that watch.

Other possibilities were a more recent Weems or Lindbergh but it had to be a 47 mm and  ALL of them were using automatic ETA movements. Nice movements but I do prefer a manual wind and definitely for that watch. 70 Years ago they used a specific pocket watch movement ( inhouse Longines) and that is much cooler  LOL

Untill I discovered that limited edition they made in 1987. In 1927 the Lindbergh was invented and 60 years later they made that special edition .... WITH the same movement.  So not the vintage piece from 70 years ago but one from 1987 with a similar movement. Being 26 years old it's a semi vintage smile

So the hunt started... and finished today

 

Here are some pics

 

Know that the dial is white but because of reflections it seems to be blue

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is why I said in the title ' I bought a REPLICA'

 

wtf, couldn't they call it a homage ?  smile   I guess only 'fake' could have been worse  LOL

 

 

 

the movement  ... not that stupid automatic ETA  smile)))

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And now some questions ... if somebody has answer, please reply

 

1/ is the white part of the dial enamel ?

According John Goldberger his book ' Longines watches' this  LE from  1987 has an enamel dial. But I have doubts, I thought only these from the 1930's were in enamel

2/ That pocket watch movement ... is it old stock  they still had in 1987 or  is it a pocket movement which is - or still was - in production at that time ?

 

 

 

 

Key Points from the Discussion

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The Discussion
TI
Tim Jackson
May 17, 2013
I think that is quite a find, congrats...

Don't know much about this "Replica", at least they are accurate to use that...Seems to me to be a pretty accurate replica of the original. Although I'm sure the white section is not true enamel. Still lovely though! rep·li·ca [ rep -li-k uh ] Show IPA noun 1. a copy or reproduction of a work of art produced by the maker of the original or under his or her supervision. 2. any close or exact copy or reproduction. Origin: 1815–25; < Italian: reply, repetition, derivative of replicare to repeat

BR
Bruno.M1
May 18, 2013
"Although I'm sure the white section is not true enamel"

Well as said, I have doubts too But it does look like it is a lacquered dial ... or enamel ? This is what I found in the big Longines book ... but I'm still not sure, it wouldn't be the first mistake in a book

BR
Bruno.M1
May 18, 2013
a few extra macro's of the white part ... enamel ??

I don't know but it looks like it could be the way the numbers are painted it looks like enamel but please correct me if i'm wrong

TI
Tim Jackson
May 18, 2013
Without the benefit of personal inspection...

Hi Bruno, Thanks for the macro pics, these help, and if I had to wager without handling the watch in person, I'd still stick to it being a lacquer dial, rather than enamel. Looking at the reflections off the numbers in your great pics, is a strong indication to me that it is indeed lacquer. Given the huge costs of enamel dials, I'd really imagine they would have used a lacquer one. Nothing wrong with that, and it is a great looking watch, particularly with that lovely manual wind caliber. Still,

MA
Marcus Hanke
May 19, 2013
We would need different macro shots ...

fired enamel has tiny pores, which normally are absent on lacquered dials. Another indication would be a view from the side, of the edge where the white ring meets the metallic central disk. the enamel would be thicker than the lacquer, or rather there would be a sharp edge, since the center would have been sawed out from the white enamel disk after firing. Or even easier: Ask the manufacturer. Regards, Marcus

AN
AndrewD
May 17, 2013
Not the only replica ...

... but the best. Congratulations, Bruno on a nice find. It looks to me like this was the first of the Lindbergh re-editions for the 60th anniversary. And the most original, with the subsequent ones coming in different sizes and with various modern movements. It looks like there was a limited edition of 100 in YG at the same time and this was said to have a MOP dial. Let us know what else you find out. Regards Andrew

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