1970s Longines Ultra-Chron Automatic

Why This Watch Matters

This Ultra-Chron is not only a high-beat watch, it also comes with a dial reminiscent of Longines railroad pieces.

The Full Story

The Ultra-Chron was first released in 1967 to celebrate Longines' 100th Anniversary. Offering a high-beat caliber aimed at improving the precision, this watch was guaranteed to not go over 1 minute per month, which is a more stringent deviation than any chronometer certificate. The Ultra-Chron was only produced until the mid-1970s, and examples are therefore hard to come by. They are even rarer with a railroad dial (as you see here), showing the hours in an attractive mix of red and black numerals. And it makes total sense to have such a configuration, as railroad watches had to be as accurate as possible to avoid catastrophic collisions between trains. This is a desirable and practical vintage Longines with great style to boot.

The Fine Print

Maker: Longines
Model: Ultra-Chron Automatic
Reference: N/A
Year: 1970s
Case No: 330
Material: Stainless steel
Dimensions: 35mm diameter, 10mm thickness
Crystal: Plexiglass
Lume: N/A
Caliber: Automatic caliber 431
Bracelet/Strap: HODINKEE Distressed Beige Leather NATO Strap
Lug Width: 18mm
Box/Papers: No

What we Love and What You Should Know

The stainless-steel case of this Longines shows only minor scratches, while its railroad dial is in great condition. The thin black handset is correct for the reference, and so are the applied logos on the dial. The high-beat automatic caliber is working well, while the unsigned crown is likely not original to the watch. This exemplifies the very best of what Longines was making in the 1970s.