Today best known for their competitively priced and well-built offerings, Longines’ history as one of horology’s most advanced watchmakers usually escapes most collectors. Built upon an extensive archive of incredible chronographs and dress watches, this reputation would be nothing compared to what it is now if it wasn’t for the the cal. 13ZN movement. Famously regarded as one of the finest chronograph movements ever produced, the manual-wind cal. 13ZN was launched in 1936 as one of Longines’ most advanced movements and the first flyback chronograph movement to be fitted within a wristwatch. Offered over several decades with different subvariants depending on dial layouts and the number of pushers used to operate it, the cal. 13ZN is perhaps one of watchmaking’s best-ever movements, and related to it is the cal. 30H that powers the example we have here. Launched 11 years after the cal. 13ZN, in 1947, and used until the 1970s, the cal. 30H was an upgraded version of the 13ZN. Powered by the cal. 30H, the model we have here is the “Cornes de Vache” chronograph, as it is known due to the flamboyant design of its lugs. Made in stainless steel and offered with a stunningly refined golden beige dial that has aged to take on a being color and boasts golden applied indices, this ref. 23505 is perhaps one of the most stunning mid-century Longines chronographs we have had in our possession so far.

A truly legendary timepiece powered by one of the movement calibers that solidified Longines' place as one of the finest chronograph manufacturers on the market, this is perhaps one of Longines' most important historic models.