Repairing an old Longines watch

This is my uncle's Longines watch, which stopped working many years ago:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/496ajg59wc...0169.jpg?raw=1https://www.dropbox.com/s/52cyeslqlc...0170.jpg?raw=1
https://www.dropbox.com/s/0wgupogk05...0168.jpg?raw=1

I would like to try and get it working for him - he is very elderly, and I think it would mean a lot to him.

I don't know the model of the watch, and I can't find any serial number - perhaps it is on the case back inside, but I am reluctant to try and open it. I am not even sure how to open it - I guess it requires a friction grip ball to rotate it anti-clockwise?

The case is 28 mm x 35 mm and about 8 mm thick. The crown when pulled out still turns the hands, but there is a lot of slack in it - you have to rotate the crown at least once in either direction to turn the hands.

My uncle thinks the watch is mechanical, which I was surprised by given how slim it is. He thinks he bought it about twenty years ago, but his memory is not great and I believe it is probably older. He tried to get it repaired before, but he is hazy on the details. Possibly he went to an AD and they were not able to repair it because of the lack of spares; or possibly it went to Longines, with the same outcome.

Is there any hope for this watch? Even with a new movement? I suppose any repair is likely to cost a lot more than the watch is worth.

Can you see a seam for the caseback? My guess the inner case, crown, crystal and all drops out of the square case, it may even be a front loader where you get to the movement after taking the crystal and dial off. Very much doubt it’s a screw back.

I can’t see an obvious seam, but there is a gap in the square surround at the back, obviously to let the crown stem pass through - you can see this in my second picture above.

a Very repairable Watch.
You can send me a PM and I can give yoiu details of a specialist, who would sort that out for you.

Entirely up to you of course.

Jon

PM sent, thanks

To add to comments above:-

As TheFixer said, it should definitely be repairable. Hopefully his connections can sort you out. If not then there are others known here who can do it.

It's probably a manual wind.

Assuming your uncle bought it new then I reckon, looking at the style, it would probably be more than 20 years ago. I'd guess it's more likely to be a late 1970s or 1980s watch, so 40ish-plus years ago.

It looks likely to me that it's a press on case back. As JasonM said, there's probably a seam but it could be incredibly hard to see. There could be a tiny little lip or indentation to aid with opening. All that said, do not open it yourself unless you know exactly what you are doing as you are unlikely to be able to add to the story as far as getting it repaired is concerned.

Good luck with getting it repaired. I'm sure it will be worth it for your uncle. :-)

Olivier repaired my dad's old longines last year and it has become his daily again. I was very impressed, given the watches condition and that the watch had not worked for a very long time. Def worth giving him a call. T

https://onatelier.co.uk/about

As summer draws to a close I’m starting to take a few more jobs on, I’d be happy to sort this out.

The hand- setting fault is almost certainly caused by wear to the cannon pinion, usually that’s an easy fix and the pinion can be tightened (carefully!).

PM me if interested.

As recommended by TheFixer (many thanks), I had my uncles old Longine's watch repaired by Greg at Woodland Technical, and he has done a fantastic job:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/b8co7gyiyp...0177.jpg?raw=1

Apparently this is a calibre 847 mechanical movement (Longines own), solid gold so approximate value is £1,000. The style dates it to early 80s. Greg gave it a full service (there was some rust around the winding gears), new winding stem and a new winding crown, and it looks like the dial has been cleaned up. Cost was £175.

I am very pleased with the result, and I am sure my uncle will be too, as he had long given up on his favourite watch. Thanks everyone for your help.

Congratulations. It is a very elegant watch, and with some TLC has come up very well indeed.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Tatters

As recommended by TheFixer (many thanks), I had my uncles old Longine's watch repaired by Greg at Woodland Technical, and he has done a fantastic job:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/b8co7gyiyp...0177.jpg?raw=1

Apparently this is a calibre 847 mechanical movement (Longines own), solid gold so approximate value is £1,000. The style dates it to early 80s. Greg gave it a full service (there was some rust around the winding gears), new winding stem and a new winding crown, and it looks like the dial has been cleaned up. Cost was £175.

I am very pleased with the result, and I am sure my uncle will be too, as he had long given up on his favourite watch. Thanks everyone for your help.

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Really good job and excellent result. New life for the watch, will walk for many years. I really like this kind of stories with happy ending


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