50s Vintage Diver: Longines Nautilus

Sep 10, 2011,14:05 PM
 

Hi,

I would like to share my latest aquisition.  As I was fishing for some rare vintage diving watches this summer and didn't succeed I came across this rare specimen: a Longines Nautilus.

The Longines Nautilus was produced between 1957 and 1959 and then replaced by the well known Super compressor two crown Longines diver.   

When I saw this one, full original, 40mm without crown, incredible patina, I took a deep breath and decided to dive! 

When I talk about incredible patina, here is what I mean: 



On the case back, there is this nice diver



So lets open the case back
 



 


The movement is the Calibre AS19 Automatic Longines and as you can see it is very nice. From the movement number this one would be from 1959.

 






Here is an old catalogue featuring the Nautilus that came either with a bracelet or with a tropic strap:
 



 

Here it is on a Tropic:
 


 

And here is a close up on the unusual hand:

 

 

Here it is fitted with a leather strap to match the indexes


 



And here it is next to another 3/6/9/12 dial from the same period, the Omega Seamaster 300





And here next to her 1959 sister a Rolex Submariner 6538



It is difficult to capture the beauty of the kind of tropical dial so I tried with the help of the sun
 


Here is a wristshhot to show the wrist presence
 



And finally sharing the flavor of the seasonal colors in Paris as the leaves start to Fall...
 


 

Thanks for watching, I hope you enjoyed.

Matt

This message has been edited by MattS on 2011-09-10 14:10:19 This message has been edited by MattS on 2011-09-10 14:11:56


More posts: nautilusSeamasterSeamaster 300

  login to reply

Comments: view entire thread

 

That is a great catch, I have to say.

 
 By: amanico : September 10th, 2011-15:08
I'm a bit jealous, since you found it before me. As the elder brother of the famous Longines diver Super Compressor, and as it is a watch which belongs to the category of the Divers from the Fifties, two families which passionate ma a lot. So, a sincere a... 

Longines Heritage Dpt

 
 By: MattS : September 17th, 2011-07:59
Contacting the Longines heritage department is indeed a good idea to learn more about the watch. in case you have their details, can you please mail them to me? thanks. Matt

Done, exceptionally, because it is you, eeh. ;) [nt]

 
 By: amanico : September 17th, 2011-08:05
No message body

merci mon ami! [nt]

 
 By: MattS : September 17th, 2011-08:14
No message body

Oh, my. This is . . .

 
 By: Dr No : September 10th, 2011-22:55
. . . quite an acquisition, Matt. I adore all of the vintage divers in your collection, but this one is very special. Congratulations on a truly great find. Cordially, Art

Thanks Art.

 
 By: MattS : September 12th, 2011-00:10
Yes, this is quite unusual and quite special! Matt

It is a great...

 
 By: mac_omega : September 11th, 2011-01:14
Hi Matt, It is a great catch to say the least - huge congrats! As the supercompressor is near to impossible to find (at a reasonable price) - tis is a nice alternative! enjoy Erich

Thanks Erich!

 
 By: MattS : September 11th, 2011-03:17
now when it comes to rarity, this is much rarer (only a few hundred produced) than the SC. The SC can be found, I came across a few in the last year, but I didn't find the dial that spoke to my heart! The Nautilus is also almost impossible to find complet... 

Modified lugs, incorrect bezel, polished caseback....

 
 By: BDLJ : September 12th, 2011-16:34
Sorry, Matt, but as far as I can see, that watch is a bitsa. The Super Compressor case has been heavily modified/butchered. The lugs have completely lost their chamfer, have been shortened and had a radius added to the tips. The bezel is incorrect. These ... 

Results of the research

 
 By: MattS : September 30th, 2011-13:02
Hi, I have carried some research and thanks to the help of some friends I have gathered the information I was looking for and that I can share today, The watch was a single owner watch before I aquired it so thanks to the merchant who personaly knows the ...  

Not a Super Compressor?

 
 By: BDLJ : October 2nd, 2011-15:33
Really? So the cross-hatched crown, the distinctive caseback, the wavy spring in the caseback, the distincive construction and shape....and it isn't a Super Compressor. So given the above, what is it? This is getting silly. As for the lugs. Compare and co...  

i remember the post well...

 
 By: G99 : October 3rd, 2011-01:48
i remember the post well Ben. it does clearly show the clean lines the lugs have before being overpolished. G

New info

 
 By: MattS : October 3rd, 2011-08:44
Hi Ben, My only goal is to try and document the watch as well as I can, and this is not easy as it is very rare. I have no interest in any kind of polemic, I am neither a watch maker, nor a dealer, just a simple enthusiast. I just received the below mail ...  

There is no malice

 
 By: BDLJ : October 3rd, 2011-15:51
..intended in my posts. My concern is, as yours, confirming what and what is not authentic. As I've written before, all the single crown SCs with bezels I've ever seen have been plastic. The response from Bernhard says nothing of construction but does men...  

case comparison

 
 By: MattS : October 4th, 2011-06:07
I got a scan from the case of the other Nautilus, below is a picture and a scan compared to mine. The cases seem identical to me, it is the other case that seems different!? What do you think? Matt...  

Both have been...

 
 By: BDLJ : October 4th, 2011-17:09
significantly polished, so are probably not the best examples. In terms of the lugs, please see the (bad) mark-up below. The other watch has preserved some of the ourboard lower lug edge (see vertical red line), whereas on your example, this is now a radi...  

thats a real cracker Matt. i look forward to seeing it in October

 
 By: G99 : September 11th, 2011-12:26
the case is very remeniscent of the thin bezel sm300 and the hour hand is much like the Tudor rangers. its in remarkable condition for its age and that patina is to die for. you are possibly one of the princes if not the king of the vintage diver. very ni... 

The case is a Super Compressor....

 
 By: BDLJ : September 11th, 2011-17:03
Just not one of the infuriating twin crown ones.

Thanks Graham

 
 By: MattS : September 12th, 2011-00:23
Yes, this is a special one, as I like them. I am a small player though in this ocean compared to some of the big sharks!.... but I don't take this game as a competition, I try to build something consistant that makes me happy and doesn't completely knock ... 

thats my ethos as well....

 
 By: G99 : September 12th, 2011-00:50
thats my ethos as well. i buy what i like for a price i can afford without breaking the bank and have still ended up with a collection of great pieces that i love. best G

Congrats, Matt!

 
 By: dxboon : September 11th, 2011-13:30
It's a beautiful piece of dive watch history that you've got there. I'm not that familiar with this model, having seen the first example only recently. You've got an enviable collection of divers, and great skill with the camera. We're lucky to have you a... 

Thanks for your kind words!

 
 By: MattS : September 12th, 2011-00:26
and thanks for your compliments on my photo skills. I am equally happy to have found this great Purists community where I feel good! Matt

Whoa..Thats an awesome vintage Longines...

 
 By: aboen : September 11th, 2011-20:24
Patina Heaven ! Congrats Matt! Drew

Superb acquisition Matt

 
 By: Hororgasm : September 12th, 2011-00:48
I never even heard of this watch. Seems very short production cycle of only 2-3 years. You even got the old advertisement for it!! Thumbs up Thks for sharing Horo

Congrats on a striking catch.

 
 By: Ubik : September 12th, 2011-06:45
The lume has aged to perfection.

Congratulations! Great looking watch. [nt]

 
 By: Davo : September 12th, 2011-13:27
No message body

a stunning acquisition

 
 By: playtime : September 12th, 2011-19:02
it is especially alluring with the leather strap thx for sharing this one! J

very unusual and great condition too

 
 By: georgeszaslavsky : September 16th, 2011-21:41
congrats on a very nice and rare diver lovely movement too.

Case back engraving question

 
 By: MattS : September 17th, 2011-08:13
Hi, I m trying to learn more about the watch. I found out the bezel is an early service bezel. Apparently the original bezels were made in some kind of plastic and broke easily, a little bit like the story of the Rolex 6542s. I have to say I am happy with...  

They indeed come from the watchmaker who serviced the watch.

 
 By: amanico : September 17th, 2011-08:17
You have the same engravings on many Vintage, Rolex, JLC, and so on. My guess is that it helps the watchmaker to trace the service made on the watch, when its owner brings it back to him. Best, Nicolas.

That's what I thought!

 
 By: MattS : September 18th, 2011-00:53
Thanks Nico, I knew about the pen markings that I've seen especially on Rolexes but to today's standards, engavings seem somehow unreal! Matt

A Service Bezel??

 
 By: BDLJ : September 18th, 2011-20:59
That bezel is unlike anything I've ever seen from EPSA. The insert fonts are strange to say the least, and the only external bezels I've seen on any EPSA case have been plastic or pressed aluminium. Not the 2-piece construction on your watch. I'm happy to... 

Great catch, Matt!

 
 By: blomman Mr Blue : September 18th, 2011-11:37
Your vintage Divers saga really continues in a strong and beautiful way! The watch looks to be in great shape and beautiful patina! Hope to see some of these marvels in Paris soon… Best Blomman PS. About the hand engravings on the inside case back, ... 

Fantastic photos

 
 By: vernon : October 3rd, 2011-16:12
Love the autumn colours both in the Paris trees and on the watch. Gorgeous.