Vintage Watch Valuation: Is It Priceless?

Key Points from the Discussion

• The earliest Longines AA4 watches are extremely rare, with only 11 known to exist. They typically sell for $3,000 to $5,000 for all-numbers-matching examples, though repair costs often exceed their purchase price. The Longines museum holds #335, and a gold example, #300, is located in Japan.
• Lépine discovered Longines #183 in 2019, surpassing Japan's #300 as the oldest known Longines, which had held the title for a decade. This discovery followed several 'Oldest Longines' contests held internationally, though not in the USA.
• Another significant early Longines is the double-faced chronograph, produced before 1900. These watches, designed for early auto racing, are difficult to acquire due to their limited production for a very wealthy clientele.
• Lépine also highlights the 'Henrich Khan' Longines, a far rarer piece commissioned by Nicholas II, Czar of Russia, for the Imperial Russian Elite Guards, showcasing another facet of the brand's early bespoke commissions.
• A Longines watch with a mismatched case (#347) and movement (#3223) recently sold for $4,500, then resold for $3,200 after the initial buyer backed out due to publicized issues. This demonstrates the strong market for rare Longines, even with significant condition flaws.
• Lépine recounts a trip to the Longines headquarters in St. Imier, where he was hosted by Walter von Kaenel and presented with a Longines Equestrian L7 'Sweet Horse' watch, an example of the brand's special exhibition pieces given as lifetime achievement awards.