Passions Watch Exchange

About This Watch

Vintage. No box or papers.

Developed in the late 1920′s, this aviator's watch was part of the standard equipment for Czech pilots during the mid-1930′s (several brands had been supplying pilot watches until 1935, when Longines took over that niche). Longines produced a modern remake of this called Heritage 1935 but even this has been discontinued.

Please click on this link for an in-depth history of our Longines. This puts our watch here to be from the 3rd and final series produced with just 3582 pieces made. We wonder how many survived the ravages of WW2 and the subsequent Cold War in the last 80yrs.

This model is becoming rarer by the day as military enthusiasts sought to keep them in permanent collection. Steel was a valuable material during pre-war years & manufacturing process was also unable to produce a good case design back then. Some manufacturers, notably Rolex, had lugs hinged onto the steel mid-case rather then soldered on. Therefore, many were made with softer alloys that are easier to machine and lower melting point such as gold, silver & brass.

If you study the case of this watch from the rear & within the case, you'll find that the case has a base alloy wrapped by a thin sheet of steel over it which is rather unusual but promotes a tougher case which it has stood up for harsh military use. The case has been carefully polished and brushed to as new condition. The back cover is engraved with "MAJETEK VOJENSKE SPRAVY" which means Czechoslovakian Army patrimony.

The frosted finish gold movement is in splendid condition and nearly mint as seen from our images. Dial is original with some ageing and the old radium over the numerals were lost while the original hands has newer lume replaced so it does glow in the dark now. The original pin-bars are welded onto the lugs as per military requirement so Nato styled straps can be fitted. The oversized steel crown appears to be original as per design and has sustained numerous marks over age.

This watch was huge for it's period & Longines produced some of the finest watches in the past. Many of her military watches are very collectible today with high values.

Czechoslovkia was created in 1919 after WWI from the Austro-Hungarian empire & was "protected" by the Allied forces. However, in 1938, the then powerful Nazi Germany threatened to invade & unite the Germans unless part of a strategic land "Sudetenland" was given to them to avoid war. Sadly, under circumstances, France, Britain & Italy (pro-Hitler) gave the land away without consulting the Czech government & Russia. On 1 Oct 1938, German forces marched into & occupied part of Czechoslovakia.