Rare & Important Longines Explorer's Pocket Watch, c.1895

Longines has a tradition of being an innovative watch company, keen to associate itself with all manner of world record breaking achievements. As such, Longines was often chosen by pioneering greats to assist in their endeavours. Whether it was on the railways, or far off Antarctic exploration, aerial conquest, ocean navigation... and the list goes on, Longines was always involved. However, one area of particular interest for the watch historian has been in the pursuit of military issue Longines watches - particularly in the diver's watch category where they do indeed hold a notable wartime intrigue. Yet their speciality waterproof watches can be traced right back to watches such as this extremely rare Longines' Explorer's Pocket Watch.

Dating to 1895, this Longines Explorer is for all intents, the missing link - an ancestor of the Special Forces diver's watches issued to the first Allied frogmen in WW2: Starting out as a waterproof silver pocket watch with the distinctive canteen screw down cover to seal the watch winder, the resulting dive-watches evolved by the mere addition of strap lugs to an improved watertight case.

This particular Longines watch is also identical to the Explorers' Watches designed for the the Royal Geographic Society in the late Victorian era. Many of these are documented by the RGS as having served on notable scientific and surveying expeditions, which add considerable worth to them.

The Longines Explorer's Watch being offered here, was made for the London firm of Searle & Co. It was made entirely at the Longines' factory at Saint Imier, a fact which can be confirmed by the presence of Longines serial numbers inside the watch case. Furthermore, this watch is presented in remarkably good condition, free from significant service wear, showing only signs of careful carry, with just one barely obvious hairline in the vicinity of the stylised Roman IIII. The early original leather seals are also still intact, which would have been packed with wax and grease to ensure a hermetic seal. The silver hallmarked case screws up very securely and houses the excellent Longines Lepine 'Adjusted' movement, jewelled to the centre and looking factory fresh. Working well and keeping good time, the watch shows no sign of any inappropriate meddling - nor has it been serviced. A truly beautiful sleeper that could be a special one of a kind, made by Longines on a commission.

Worthy of further research, this Longines Explorer's Watch would certainly be an important addition to a collection of early watertight timepieces and, being dent free and altogether in premium condition, will be next to impossible to improve upon.

Code: 50943