95th Auction
2017/5/6
Lot 578
Longines "Lindbergh - Hour Angle Watch", Movement No. 5527276, Ref. 20009, Cal. 12.68Z, 33 mm, circa 1937
An aviator's extremely rare, small "Hour Angle" navigation watch
Case: steel, push back, sterling silver turnable bezel with blue/black enamelled numerals for angle horaire. Dial: silvered, central rotating disc. Movm.: bridge movement, indirect centre seconds, screw compensation balance.
Lindbergh - Hour Angle Watch
In the early years of aviation between 1920 and 1930 the majority of aviators wore watches created by Longines. The main reason for this was Longines' advantage in innovation, their most notable piece at the time being the Hour Angle watch.
As Earth makes one rotation of 360 degrees, a 12-hour dial is a useful tool for dividing up that distance over time. With the inner rotating bezel the aviator could use the hands of the watch to pinpoint his location accurately.
For a discussion of the Lindbergh model and illustrations of similar examples, see Marozzi, D. & Toselli, G., Longines, pp. 75-79
An aviator's extremely rare, small "Hour Angle" navigation watch
Case: steel, push back, sterling silver turnable bezel with blue/black enamelled numerals for angle horaire. Dial: silvered, central rotating disc. Movm.: bridge movement, indirect centre seconds, screw compensation balance.
Lindbergh - Hour Angle Watch
In the early years of aviation between 1920 and 1930 the majority of aviators wore watches created by Longines. The main reason for this was Longines' advantage in innovation, their most notable piece at the time being the Hour Angle watch.
As Earth makes one rotation of 360 degrees, a 12-hour dial is a useful tool for dividing up that distance over time. With the inner rotating bezel the aviator could use the hands of the watch to pinpoint his location accurately.
For a discussion of the Lindbergh model and illustrations of similar examples, see Marozzi, D. & Toselli, G., Longines, pp. 75-79
Sold
estimated
3.500—5.000 €
Price realized
3.600 €