1967 Longines Automatic Ultra-Chron 7951-1
Ref: 7951-1

Specification

Points of Mention

This watch is sold as "Watch Only" and therefore comes with no original Longines box or paperwork. The watch comes paired with a well-suited black leather strap. The watch is from Circa. 1967 and is sold in worn, vintage condition, but overall fair honest condition as you can see. The watch comes with our 12-Months NON-Waterproof Warranty.

The Watch

Longines was founded in 1832 by Auguste Agassiz and is considered to be the oldest registered watch brand. Famously, Lindbergh, the aviator, and adventurer worked with Longines to create the Hour Angle watch in 1927. They are also the official timekeeper for the French Open.

The Longines Ultra -Chron was launched in 1967 to celebrate the 100 year anniversary of the company. At that time it was the world's most accurate watch. It was advertised within a “minute a month”. Hi-Beat movements started to be brought to market by the likes of Seiko in their Lord Marvel line Cal. 5740C. The faster oscillating balance was designed to be less vulnerable to shock, making it a better timekeeper. A pleasant side effect was the incredibly smooth seconds hand. Beating at 36,000 beats per hour, Longines developed a new lubricant “molybdenum disulphide” which proved to remain on the parts longer than traditional oil lubricants. The Ultra-Chron line ran for nine years. 

Our Longines Ultra-Chron dates from Circa. 1967 it has a 37.5mm round stainless steel case with tapered lugs. A lug to lug length of 42mm and a thickness of 10mm will ensure a comfortable fit on your wrist. On the right side, a signed crown. A polished bezel holds a domed crystal above a silver dial. Applied square indexes have facet surfaces that catch the light as you rotate your wrist. At 3 o’clock a framed date window. Slender baton hands have Tritium infill as well as a tapered sweeping centre seconds hand. At 12 o’clock an applied Longines logo and text print is finely executed. At 6 o’clock the applied Longines symbol for Ultra-Chron. On the reverse, a screw-down case back. Inside an Automatic Longines Cal. 431, 25 jewels, 36,000 beats per hour. The bi-directional rotor is mounted on ball bearings and has a heavy tungsten-carbide edge. The centre of the rotor is pieced with the flying hourglass symbol that acts as a shock absorber. The steel escape wheel has 21 teeth rather than the usual 15, to achieve the high beat rate. The watch comes fitted on an 18mm leather strap with a signed buckle.

Personal Note

Not only is the design fantastic on this watch, but the case size is also incredible for a 1960s timepiece at 37.5mm! It wears perfectly well on the wrist, the lugs slope beautifully and it still gives you all the charm of a vintage watch, whilst having the presence of something a little more modern. I wouldn't sleep on this piece, I suspect we will see these become harder to find and many will say to me "I wish I had purchased that when you had it..."