Longines Watches for Sale in South Africa

With its long and illustrious history, Longines watches are backed by years of watchmaking experience, creativity, ingenuity and innovation. Regarded as one of the most luxurious watches you could lay your hands on, owning a Longines watch is something every serious horology enthusiast should aim for.

The Longines watchmaking company was founded in 1832 by Auguste Agassiz. Along with two partners, Agassiz made and sold pocket watches with a distinguishable crown-wheel escapement which had quite the similarity to those produced in Switzerland at this time.

Topwatch offers a range of new and pre-owned Longines watches for sale in South Africa.

By 1846, Agassiz had become the head of his company and began to create a name for himself in the USA, through the use of his family contacts. Once his watches had crossed the Atlantic, they were a huge hit and became one of the must have brands for those living in the US.

In the years leading up to the 1900’s, the company would grow quite rapidly with a lot of new, talented people coming on board to grow the product collection and improve the quality of the products that they sold. The company would also, during this period, manufacture its very first movement. This movement was a 20-line calibre which had pendant winding, setting mechanism, and anchor escarpment. In 1867, the movement won an award at the Paris Universal Exhibition.

The watchmaking company would go on to produce many innovative mechanisms and the watches would continue to take on different shapes and sizes. Longines would also win countless awards for their timekeeping pieces.

One of its most notable features to be displayed on their watches was the winged hourglass logo. It was registered in 1889 and to this date it is the oldest, completely unchanged active trademark. Much to the company’s dismay, there would be many attempts to produce counterfeits which made the trademarked design a necessity.

As the company had entered the 1900s, they not only registered its first chronograph movement but had also quickly earned a formidable reputation for producing high-quality, precise watches that could quite easily stand the test of time.

The ownership of Longines changed hands a few times. It’s most recent changes happened in 1983, when the then owner, ASUAG, merged with SSIH, which also owned Omega SA, which would later become SMH. SMH joined with the Swatch Group in 1988 and Longines continued to manufacture watches.

An interesting fact about Longines is that it is one of only seven other watch brands that has been given the lowest environmental rating which means the company is not exactly eco-friendly. This is something to keep in mind if you are keen on only supporting eco-conscious watch brands. We also buy Longines watches.

Longines Watch Collections

Currently the brand features 5 beautiful watch collections. The watch collections go by names which include Elegance, Classic, Heritage, Sport and Watchmaking Tradition.

In total, there are 17 watches manufactured by Longines and each of them are made with the very best materials and each is made to last a lifetime.

You can find well-maintained pre-owned Longines watches via our website. If you would like to sell your Longines watch, we would love to hear from you.

 Frequently Asked Questions

How much is the cheapest Longines?

The cheapest Longines watch starts from around R 5 500. These cheaper watches are generally also only found in the previously owned collections.

How much is a genuine Longines watch?

A genuine Longines watch will start from around R 5 500 but can go up to almost R 100 000. Second hand watches will normally be far cheaper than buying a brand new one.

Are Longines worth the money?

A Longines watch is worth the money, because these are luxury watches that are well known for holding onto their value really well.

What is the hardest Longines to get?

The hardest Longines watch to get your hands on will be any of the watches in the limited edition or vintage range. These watches are limited in circulation and they are generally very expensive, which makes them quite difficult to buy.

Which Longines should I buy?

The Longines watch that you buy should be the watch that meets your needs and your expectations when it comes to a wrist watch.

How long will a Longines last?

The Longines watch is made by a luxury brand and by the very best watch makers, which means that the watch you buy will last a lifetime.

How do I tell if my Longines is real?

There are a few simple ways to tell if your Longines is real:

–    Feel the weight and have a look at the price. A watch that is too light and too expensive (or too cheap), could be a fake.

–    Look for obvious signs of the watch being fake like peeling paints or easily dented metals.

–    Check for off balance numbers or for a logo that doesn’t quite look right.

–    Have a look at the serial number of the watch.

To avoid buying a fake piece, make sure that you only ever buy a watch from a trusted source.

Should I buy a new or used Longines?

The choice between a new or a used Longines watch will ultimately be decided on how much you have to spend. A brand new watch is going to come with that new watch price tag while the second hand watch while worn by someone else, will be cheaper.

What is the most wanted Longines?

The most wanted Longines watch is likely to be one of the watches in the vintage or limited edition ranges. Collectable Longines watches are always highly desirable but because they are not mass produced, they can be hard to find and quite expensive.

How much is Longines service cost?

The cost of a Longines service will vary depending on the type of watch you are taking in for the service, the person or company you take the watch to, and the amount of work that will need to be done.

How can I tell the year of my Longines?

There are a few easy ways to tell the year of your Longines watch. The easiest method is to check the paper work that the watch should come with, a year should be listed there. Another method would be to do a Google search for the watch make and model.

Do Longines watches need maintenance?

Yes, all Longines watches will need some maintenance from time to time. Usually giving the watch some maintenance once a year should be enough to keep it in a good condition.

Do Longines watches hold their value?

Since any Longines watch is a luxury piece, made from expensive metals, using impressive skills, the watch will easily hold its financial value for as long as you make sure the watch is properly taken care of.

Do Longines watches come with a certificate of authenticity?

All Longines watches should come with some sort of paper work or certificate that proves the watch is an authentic buy.