Maker: Longines

Model: Automatic reference 1042

Case Diameter: 33mm

Lug Width: 18mm

Movement: Longines caliber 19AS automatic movement

Complication: Hours, minutes, center-seconds, all working.

Year: 1957, based on movement serial number

A charming and beautifully preserved Longines Ref. 1042 dating to 1957, powered by the highly regarded Longines 19AS automatic movement.

This elegant mid-century Longines features a warm champagne/gold-toned dial with a finely textured outer section, applied Arabic numerals at 12, 3, 6 and 9, and contrasting baton hour markers. The classic dauphine-style hands and sweeping central seconds hand give the watch a distinctly 1950s character, while the understated Longines branding and cursive “Automatic” signature complete the period-correct design.

The dial has developed a beautiful natural patina over the decades, giving it the warm, aged appearance that makes vintage watches from this era so appealing. The case likewise shows honest signs of age and wear consistent with a watch that has been enjoyed and preserved for nearly seven decades. The domed crystal adds to its authentic mid-century aesthetic.

The watch is fitted with a distinctive yellow leather strap, which provides a striking contrast to the vintage dial and gives the piece a unique personality.

The case bears the S&W maker’s mark of Schwab & Wuischpard Case Co., a New York-based case manufacturer that produced cases for a number of prestigious Swiss watch brands, including Longines. The presence of an S&W case is characteristic of Longines watches prepared for the U.S. market during the mid-20th century, when Swiss movements were frequently paired with cases manufactured in America. This combination of a Swiss-made Longines 19AS movement and an American-made S&W case is an interesting reflection of the way high-grade Swiss watches were supplied to the United States during the 1950s.

A particularly appealing example for the Longines collector or enthusiast looking for an authentic 1950s automatic dress watch with plenty of period character. The combination of the 1957 production date, 19AS movement, warm patinated dial, and distinctive strap makes this an especially evocative vintage Longines.

The watch does not come with box and papers.

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