A stainless steel, manual wind, Longines BuShips Unites States Navy issued wristwatch. This is a spectacular and quite rare example of a World War Two issued timepiece. The screw back case back of this watch, along with relevant serial numbers, has "USN BuShips" engraved into it. This was to signify that the watch was a special order piece for the United States Navy Bureau of Ships. Thus contracted by the Navy for use by its sailors.The US Navy’s Bureau of Ships was in operation from 1940 to 1966. This model watch was based off of the first ever waterproof watch to be imported into the U.S in 1928, known as the "All Proof" watch, and so important for this reason as well.
The Longines-Wittnauer watch company had a long and storied relationship with the US military. But, in particular with the U.S Navy. They made all kinds of time pieces for them. From torpedo clocks, marine chronometers, all the way down to these, no less important, wrist watches for Naval servicemen and women. Over one hundred different time pieces were developed for air and sea navigation at this time.
The dial is all original, which is quite rare for these watches. The majority have been re-finished over the years. There is some patina to it, but that only adds character to this rugged watch's aesthetic. The design is classic military; very clean, simple and easy to read. There is a full count of radium filled Arabic numerals, flanked by a simple, fine black printed minute track. The dial is marked "Swiss" at the base of the dial. The correct blued steel pencil hand set is present with original luminous material present which has aged into a beautiful deep cream colour, matching the numbers perfectly. The original, distinctive crown is also present. All parts that are often lost or replaced over the course of time. The case is presented in an unpolished, excellent condition. The case back has all of the relevant issue numbers, serial numbers, and the all important BuShips stampings.
The watch is powered by the Longines caliber 10L manually wound movement. This movement the 10.68N as it was known outside America represented a novel new approach to the centre seconds movement for Longines. "Like the 10.68Z, 8.68N, 25.17, 9.40, or 12.68Z, which had a [centre seconds] function, the 10.68N had an additional bridge to support the centre seconds which was screwed on to the bridges that assumed the contours of the gears in the winding mechanism, its gear-train bridge had been modified. This large bridge, which held the third wheel and the contrate wheel, was raised above the level of the barrel-bridge. This enabled the third wheel to engage directly with the pinion of the centre seconds. A bejeweled and polished steel plate which was screwed on to the gear-train bridge and blanked to assume its outline and held the pivot, thus ensuring a fine finish to the 10.68N. The transformation of this technical construction principle resulted in a structural shape that was totally new in the Longines catalogue of calibres, although it was a true derivative of the aesthetic lineage of movements made in St. Imier." It is in very good, condition, and as one would come to expect from a military issued watch, is exceptionally hard working and dependable.
The serial number stamped into the movement dates the watch to around 1944. Making this a conflict issued piece. These watches are really quite rare and hard to find today, especially in this condition. This is an opportunity to own a piece of second world war issued history.
