Longines - No reserve price - Men - 1900-1949

LONGINES VINTAGE 1947 – MANUAL WINDING – SMALL SECONDS – STEEL – CASE REF. 8338 1

Brand: Longines
Origin: Switzerland
Era: Approx. 1947
Movement number: 7,487,473
Case reference / internal case number: 8338 1
External case number: 718470
Movement: Manual-winding mechanical Longines
Case: Stainless steel
Dial: Silver / champagne
Seconds: Small seconds at 6 o'clock
Crystal: Plexiglass (domed)
Strap: Black leather, crocodile style
Manufacture: Swiss Made
Gender: Gents / vintage unisex
Condition: Vintage, with signs of use and aging

DESCRIPTION

Elegant vintage Longines manual-wind watch, dated approximately 1947, evidenced by the serial number 7,487,473 engraved directly on the movement.

This is an attractive mid-20th-century Swiss timepiece, with a classic three-hand layout with a small seconds subdial at 6, stainless steel case, light dial with applied Arabic numerals, and Longines mechanical movement.
A piece of particular interest for retaining numerous elements that allow for photographic documentation: signature on the dial, signed and numbered movement, exterior back numbered, and inner case back signed by Longines.
Its aesthetics perfectly represent men’s watchmaking from the late 1940s: restrained proportions, clean dial, small seconds, and a traditional mechanical movement.

DATING – CIRCA 1947

The movement is clearly signed:
LONGINES
7,487,473
This number is especially important for dating the watch.

Historical numbering records used by Longines place movements between approximately 7,309,000 and 7,510,999 in 1947, so the number 7,487,473 allows situating the movement’s manufacture around that year.

For prudence, it is offered as “circa 1947,” since the exact date of invoicing and original destination can only be confirmed through Longines’ historical archives.

DIAL

Beautiful dial with a silver/champagne tone, distinctly vintage aesthetics.

Features:
Signature: LONGINES – FAB. SUISSE
Applied numerals: 12, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10
Applied indices: intermediate positions
Perimeter minute track: simplified railroad style
Hands: gold-toned central hands for hours and minutes
Seconds: small seconds at 6 o’clock
The subdial is finished with a concentric pattern and a black scale.

The dial retains a lovely original vintage appearance, showing patina, small freckles, scratches, and aging signs visible in the photos. These signs have not been concealed and form part of the piece’s vintage character of almost eight decades.

LONGINES MECHANICAL MOVEMENT

Inside we find a manually-wound mechanical Longines movement, signed and numbered.

Manufacturer: Longines
Type: Mechanical
Winding: Manual
Movement number: 7,487,473
Seconds: Small seconds
Origin: Switzerland

The movement features a traditional bridge construction, visible jewels, and large winding wheels, characteristic of Swiss mechanical watchmaking of the period.
Movement photos are expressly included in the listing so buyers can assess its configuration and visual condition directly.

CASE – STAINLESS STEEL

One of the notable aspects of this specimen is its stainless-steel case, confirmed directly by the interior case-back inscriptions:
LONGINES
FAB. SUISSE
SWISS MADE
8338 1
ACIER INOX

“Acier Inox” translates to stainless steel.
The case features a classic mid-20th-century construction, with a round bezel and geometrically styled lugs that give the watch an especially elegant presence.
On the exterior back, the number 718470 appears, along with perimeter inscriptions relating to its features.

CONDITION

Overall: Vintage / used.
The watch shows signs of use and aging consistent with its age, visible in detail in the photos.
Case: The stainless-steel case retains a good overall appearance, though it shows scratches, small marks, and surface wear. The lugs retain their geometry, and the case looks attractive for a watch from roughly 1947.
Dial: The dial shows natural patina, small scratches, freckles, and age marks. It is not being presented as NOS or restored; macro photos clearly show its real condition.
Hands & numerals: The hands and numerals show aging and tonal variations typical of age.
Crystal: The domed crystal shows signs of use and small marks depending on lighting angle.
Movement: The movement shows a visually consistent state for its age. Some superficial oxidation spots/stains are visible on certain steel parts, particularly around the winding wheels.
Strap: Currently fitted with a black leather strap with a crocodile-style pattern, inner stamped “CUIR VERITABLE.” It is not guaranteed that the strap or buckle are original Longines.

HISTORY

Longines was founded in Saint-Imier, Switzerland, and is one of the most important historic Swiss watchmakers.
This piece belongs to a particularly interesting era: the second half of the 1940s, just after World War II.
Watches from this period were characterized by manually-wound mechanical movements, small seconds, relatively contained cases, and highly legible dials.
The configuration of this Longines—steel case, light dial, applied numerals, and small seconds—perfectly represents that transition toward the classic mid-20th-century wristwatch.

NUMBERS AND IDENTIFICATION
Movement: 7,487,473
Estimated movement date: circa 1947
Case interior: 8338 1
Case exterior back: 718470
Material: Acier Inox / stainless steel
Movement: Longines manual-wind mechanical
Origin: Swiss Made

The movement number is especially relevant, as for Longines of this era it is the movement number, not the exterior case number, that is used as a reference for a rough dating.

AUTHENTICITY AND DOCUMENTATION
The watch bears visible Longines signatures on the dial, movement, and inner case back, in addition to individually photographed numbers.
However, for a rigorous commercial description, these photographs do not replace an official authenticity certificate.

Longines maintains archives and currently offers an Extract from the Archives service, through which a watch can be researched using its serial number and photographs. This document can provide information about the original invoicing date, caliber, and intended recipient when records are available.

DIMENSIONS
Diameter: approx. 34–35 mm without crown
Thickness: approx. 10–11 mm
Lug-to-lug: approx. 41–43 mm
Narrowest width between lugs: approx. 18 mm

NOTES

Attractive vintage Longines mechanical watch from circa 1947, with stainless-steel case, small seconds, and a Longines signed movement with serial number 7,487,473.
A piece with authentic vintage character, preserving eight decades of history.
Particularly interesting for enthusiasts of Longines, vintage Swiss watchmaking, and historic mechanical movements.

The watch is delivered exactly as shown in the photos. The macro images are an integral part of the description and allow a detailed assessment of case, dial, movement, engravings, and overall condition.

IMPORTANT

Because this is a vintage watch, water resistance and hermeticity cannot be guaranteed.
Before regular use, a check by a watchmaker is recommended and, if there is no record of a recent service, a full movement overhaul.

The box, documentation, and original accessories are not included unless explicitly stated.
Vintage Longines – Swiss Made – circa 1947.

Photos are part of the description.