Longines - Admiral - No reserve price - 8294-1 - Men - 1960-1969

Available now on auction by Second Vintage The Longines Admiral Five-Star series represents a high-water mark in the brand's mid-century catalog, offering a perfect blend of robust daily wearability and refined dress watch elegance. This exceptional timepiece features a striking silver sunburst dial, a beautifully engineered in-house automatic movement, and a remarkably comfortable stainless steel mesh bracelet. It stands as a testament to Longines' legacy of producing sophisticated, high-performance watches during the golden age of mechanical watchmaking. Brand: Longines Model: Admiral Reference Number: 8294-1 Serial Number: 14888440 Movement: Automatic, Caliber 505, 17 Jewels Dial: Silver sunburst dial with applied indices, showing honest vintage patina and edge wear Case Size: 35 mm (excluding the crown) Case Material: Stainless Steel Production Year: 1960s Condition: Good vintage condition with authentic character Dial and Hands The silver sunburst dial features the distinguished five-star Admiral designation, paired with applied baton hour markers featuring precise black central inserts. The matching baton hands maintain their crisp geometry and legibility. The dial exhibits honest vintage character, with visible spotting, surface marks, and patina, particularly concentrated along the outer edge between the 6 and 9 o'clock positions. A sharply framed date window sits cleanly at the 3 o'clock position. The Longines winged hourglass logo is proudly applied below the 12 o'clock marker, complementing the elegant script typography. Case and Crystal The 35mm stainless steel case presents beautifully, retaining strong lines and sharp lug profiles that emphasize its classic mid-century proportions. The distinctive decagonal screw-down caseback is sharply engraved with the Longines Waterproof, Antimagnetic, and Shock-Absorber text, while the inner caseback correctly bears the 8294-1 reference number. The watch is fitted with a signed, fluted Longines crown that offers excellent grip. The acrylic crystal remains clear, offering an unobstructed view of the dial beneath, with only minor superficial wear consistent with careful vintage use. Movement Inside beats the in-house Longines Caliber 505 automatic movement, a 17-jewel mechanism renowned for its robust architecture and reliable winding system. The movement is beautifully finished with sweeping brush strokes on the rotor and is clearly stamped with the caliber number 505 and the serial number 14888440. Performing well within expected vintage tolerances; running strong and steady. The timegrapher result reads -25 to -30 seconds per day. Strap The watch is paired with a superb stainless steel mesh bracelet that complements the mid-century aesthetic perfectly. The sliding clasp is proudly stamped with the Longines winged hourglass logo, and the reverse is marked "SS". The endlinks are clearly stamped with the code 8181, confirming its originality to the era. The supple mesh design allows for an exceptionally comfortable fit on the wrist. Condition This Longines Admiral is in good vintage condition. The case remains well-defined with normal, honest signs of wear, while the dial displays clear, age-consistent patina and edge spotting that adds to its authentic vintage charm without compromising its overall handsome appearance. The movement is exceptionally clean and operational, and the original signed components, including the crown and bracelet clasp, are remarkably well-preserved. Dimensions Case Size: 35 mm (excluding the crown) Wrist Size: 19 cm Remarks The Longines Admiral line is celebrated for its enduring design and mechanical integrity. This specific example, complete with its signed mesh bracelet and the highly regarded Caliber 505, offers collectors a wonderful opportunity to acquire a distinguished piece of Longines history. The presence of the five stars on the dial remains a powerful symbol of the brand's commitment to excellence. History Introduced in the late 1950s and gaining immense prominence throughout the 1960s, the Longines Admiral line was positioned as a premium offering within the brand's portfolio, often denoted by the prestigious five-star applique. These watches were designed to be both highly accurate and resilient, appealing to professionals and enthusiasts who demanded reliability without sacrificing sophisticated style. The Admiral series remains a favorite among vintage collectors for its timeless aesthetic and the exceptional quality of its in-house movements. / Second Vintage SKU: LON-LAA-0002