Introduction
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 brand’s early chronographs like what we have here, the Stop-Second Flyback Minute Recorder cal. 12.68Z. Powered by the manual-wind cal. 12.68Z, this monopusher flyback chronograph was launched in the late 1930s and powered by one of Longines’ most advanced movements ever at the time. Offered here is a large, for the time, 34.5mm stainless steel example of the esteemed Stop-Scond Flyback Minute Recorder that sports a beautifully luxurious silver dial with beautiful blued steel hands for its hours and minutes, and a steel hand for its minute recording function and a blued steel seconds hand for its flyback chronograph seconds. Finally, it contains a running seconds subdial at 6 o’clock, which is populated by a blued stee seconds hand. An intoxicating combination of hands, scales, and vintage appeal, this timepiece points to a time when chronographs were the epicentre of horological engineering, and the cal. 12.68Z was one of the finest examples of craftsmanship available at the time.
Loupe This Scorecard
Grade
V 8.5
Status
Vetted & Approved
Included
Watch Only
Est. value range
$3,000 – $5,000
The Details
Brand
Longines
Dimensions
34.5mm
Model
Stop-Second Flyback Minute Recorder
Movement
Manual-wind cal. 12.68Z
Reference
N/A
Bracelet
Leather strap
Year
Circa 1940
Condition
Excellent
Material
Stainless steel
Included
Watch only
Dial Color
Silver
THE DIAL
Housing a quintet of hands, the Stop-Second Flyback Minute Recorder's silver dial combines a running seconds hand at 6 o'clock and the usual hour and minute hand for time-telling with a set of central flyback minute and second hands which can be set and reset by pressing and hard-pressing its monopusher at 2 o'clock to create an intoxicating combination of functionality.
THE CONSTRUCTION
Perfectly in tune with today's sizing standards, the Stop-Second's 34.5mm stainless steel case makes for a wonderful watch to wear given how collectors are moving towards smaller cases, with its long lugs and single chronograph pusher combining to create a watch that is both vintage in its styling but surprisingly modern in its execution.
TIMING MACHINE READOUT
This reading was taken (crown down) with a ONEOF Accuracy Boutique Edition timing machine at time of cataloging. It is provided as a courtesy only, and shall not be construed as a warranty or guarantee of any kind. Please refer to our terms and conditions of sale for more information.
Condition
Watch is in overall excellent condition. The steel case shows surface scratches and marks as expected of a watch of this vintage, while the domed case back displays light surface scratches. The winding crown shows a couple of light dings. The dial shows surface marks and a couple of small chips, while the tachymeter and telemeter scales remain in excellent condition with crisp printing throughout. The blued hands remain generally excellent, while the central steel chronograph hand shows light scuffs. It is fitted with a vintage Longines strap and a steel pin buckle, both remaining in excellent condition.
Please note: The watch ticks at time of cataloging, but timekeeping is poor and a service is recommended.
Our Perspective
An incredibly impressive feat of horological engineering at the time, the cal. 12.68Z was as technically astute as anything else on the market at the time with its monopusher and combination of five hands on its dial.
Justin Gruenberg
Co-founder
