Longines Watch Value, and How to Sell
Longines watches hold their value best when they are mechanical, complete and in good order, and vintage Longines, from gold dress watches to early chronographs, has a loyal collectors' following. Quartz models and fashion lines are valued more modestly. What your own Longines is worth depends on the model, the movement, its condition and its box and papers. Send us photographs for a free valuation, with a reply within one working day, and you are paid the same day after inspection if you sell.
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Longines watches we have bought and sold, photographed by us.
Do Longines watches hold their value?
Longines has a long-established second-hand market, so a good watch always finds a buyer. Demand is steadiest for automatic HydroConquest divers, the Spirit and Legend Diver, the Master Collection with complications, and vintage Longines in original condition. Quartz HydroConquests, Conquests and DolceVitas are valued more modestly, and fashion pieces less still. Within any line, an automatic movement, a clean case and complete papers make the biggest difference.
What makes the difference within any line
- Referencewhich exact model it is
- Movementthe right calibre, and whether it runs
- Originalitydial, hands, bezel, unpolished case
- Conditionwear, dents and the crystal
- Box and papershelpful, never essential
How much is my Longines worth?
There is no single answer for a brand with so many collections, but every Longines valuation comes down to the same points:
- The model and reference
The reference, beginning with L, identifies the collection, size, dial and movement.
- The movement
Automatic and hand-wound watches sit above quartz models of the same line.
- Condition
Scratches to the bezel and crystal, the state of the bracelet, and whether the case has been polished.
- Box, papers and service history
The warranty card and a recent service record support a modern watch.
- For vintage Longines
the originality of the dial and hands, and whether the case is solid gold.
Send the reference and serial with photographs and we will give you a considered figure, free, within one working day.
- Photograph the dial and caseback
- Add the reference and serial
- A free valuation within one working day
Sell your Longines
Selling a Longines to us is straightforward: photographs first, a free valuation, then you choose whether to bring the watch to Mayfair or Braintree, post it, or have it collected free from your home. We inspect it, confirm the offer and pay by bank transfer or in cash the same day you accept. We buy Longines with or without the box and papers, working or not, modern or vintage.
- Send photographs
- A free valuation within one working day
- Mayfair, Braintree, post or free collection
- Paid the same day, by bank transfer or cash
Longines models we buy
- HydroConquest
The diver's watch, automatic and quartz, including GMT and chronograph versions and the bronze and ceramic models.
- Master Collection
Dress watches with day-date, moon phase, annual calendar and chronograph complications.
- Conquest and Conquest Classic
Sports and everyday watches, including the Conquest V.H.P. quartz.
- Spirit and Spirit Zulu Time
Pilot's watches with chronometer-certified movements.
- Legend Diver and the Heritage collection
Re-editions of historic Longines, including the Silver Arrow, Ultra-Chron and military-inspired models.
- DolceVita, PrimaLuna and ladies' Longines
- Vintage Longines
Gold dress watches, early chronographs, Flagship and Conquest models and pocket watches.
- HydroConquestIllustration
- Master CollectionIllustration
- SpiritIllustration
- DolceVitaIllustration
- Legend DiverIllustration
Longines watches we have handled
Vintage and antique Longines: what collectors look for
- Early chronographs
Watches powered by Longines' own chronograph calibres, such as the 13ZN, are among the most collected Longines.
- Pilot's and military watches
The Lindbergh Hour Angle and Weems navigation watches and wartime pieces.
- Gold dress watches
1940s to 1960s gold Longines, including the Flagship with its engraved caseback, Conquest and Admiral models.
- The Ultra-Chron
Longines' high-beat automatic of the late 1960s.
- Pocket watches
Gold and silver Longines pocket watches, many with their movement serials in good order.
On all of them, an original dial and an unpolished case matter most. The winged hourglass logo on the dial and movement is the Longines trademark, registered in 1889.
- 1832Longines begins in Saint-Imier
- 1889Winged hourglass registered
- 1931Lindbergh Hour Angle
- 1954Conquest
1234- 1Winged hourglass and signature
- 2Date window
- 3Chronograph register
- 4Crown and pusher
Our own Longines Conquest, made for the 1972 Munich Olympic Games.
Identifying and dating a Longines
- Modern Longines
The reference, beginning with L in the format L3.xxx.x.xx.x, appears on the caseback or the warranty card and identifies the collection, size, material, dial and bracelet. The serial is engraved on the caseback.
- Vintage Longines
The serial number stamped on the movement dates the watch, and the calibre number identifies the movement. The case number is separate.
- Archives
Longines can research a watch's original configuration and date of sale from its movement serial, which is worth having for an important vintage piece.
Do not date a vintage Longines from the case alone. Cases and movements were sometimes married during repairs.
Selling with or without box and papers
We buy Longines with or without the box and papers. The warranty card supports the date and identity of a modern watch, and on a vintage piece, a Longines archive record can do the same. Neither is required to sell.
With box and papers
- Serial on the papers matches the watch
- Date and place of sale
- Service records and work done
Without them
- A Longines archive record dates a vintage watch
- Movement correct for the reference
- Dial, hands and case checked against the reference
How we check a Longines is genuine
- The reference and serial, engraved cleanly and consistent with any papers.
- The movement and calibre, correct for the reference and signed Longines with the winged hourglass.
- The case, dial, hands and bracelet, against the reference, including the printing and applied logo.
- Box and papers, checked against the watch.
- Ownership. Photo ID and proof of address, and a check against a stolen watch register.
- ADial and printing
- BBezel
- CCrown
- DReference and serial, between the lugs on many models
- ECaseback: reference, serial and any hallmarks
- FBracelet, clasp and its codes
How to sell your Longines to us
- Step 1Send photographs
The dial straight on, the caseback, the bracelet and clasp, and the movement if the back has been opened, with the reference and serial and any papers.
- Step 2Free valuation
Our watch specialist identifies the model and movement and replies with an estimate, subject to inspection. You get a reply within one working day.
- Step 3Choose how we see it
Choose one of the four ways below.
- Step 4Paid same day after inspection
We inspect the watch, confirm the offer and, once you accept, pay by bank transfer or in cash that day. If you decline, it comes back to you at our cost.
- Mayfair, by appointment
Book an appointment at 47 Maddox Street, Mayfair, London W1S 2PG.
- Braintree office
Book an appointment at our Braintree office, Unit 20B Lakes Industrial Park, Braintree, Essex CM7 3RU.
- Royal Mail Special Delivery
Send it by Royal Mail Special Delivery; keep the receipt and we refund the postage.
- Free FedEx collection
Arrange a free FedEx collection from your home, anywhere in the UK.
Peace of mind: Insured up to £10,000 per parcel when you send to us.
Peace of mind, from photographs to payment
- Insured up to £10,000per parcel on its way to us
- Free FedEx collectionfrom your home, anywhere in the UK
- Royal Mail Special Deliverykeep the receipt and we refund the postage
- A reply within one working daywith an estimate
- Same-day paymentby bank transfer or cash, after inspection
- No obligationdecline and it comes back at our cost
- Mayfair (by appointment)and our Braintree office
- Google reviewsread what sellers say
What to photograph for an accurate Longines valuation
- The dial, straight on
In daylight, glass clean, no reflections across the hands.
- The caseback
With the reference, serial and any hallmarks readable.
- The side and the clasp
The crown side, the lugs and the clasp opened flat.
- Box, papers and receipts
Helpful, but we buy without them too.
Questions about selling Longines
Do Longines watches hold their value?
Longines holds value best in automatic models in good order with their papers, such as the HydroConquest, Spirit, Legend Diver and Master Collection, and in original vintage pieces. Quartz and fashion models are valued more modestly. Send yours for a free valuation and we will tell you where your model sits.
How much is my Longines watch worth?
It depends on the model and reference, whether the movement is automatic or quartz, the condition, and your box, papers and service history. For vintage Longines, an original dial and a solid gold case matter most. We do not publish prices. Send photographs for a free valuation, with a reply within one working day.
Do you buy the HydroConquest and Master Collection?
Yes, across the modern and vintage ranges: HydroConquest divers, automatic and quartz, Master Collection dress and complication models, Conquest, Spirit, Legend Diver, Heritage re-editions and DolceVita. Photograph the dial, caseback and bracelet, and include the L reference from the caseback or papers if you have it.
Can I sell a Longines with no box or papers?
Yes. We buy Longines with or without the box and papers. We check the watch itself: the reference and serial, the movement and calibre, the case, dial and bracelet. Papers support the value, and for vintage pieces a Longines archive record can do the same, but neither is required.
How do you know a Longines is genuine?
We check the reference and serial, the movement and calibre with its winged hourglass signature, and the case, dial, hands and bracelet against the model, with any box and papers. We also ask for photo ID and check the watch against a stolen watch register before buying.
How fast do I get paid?
You are paid the same day after inspection, once a price is agreed, by bank transfer or in cash. At a Mayfair or Braintree appointment that happens while you are with us. A watch posted or collected by FedEx is inspected on arrival and paid for that day. If you decline, we return it at our cost.
Do you buy vintage gold Longines?
Yes, including gold dress watches from the 1940s to the 1960s, Flagship and Conquest models, early chronographs and pocket watches, working or not. Photograph the dial, the inside of the caseback with its marks and the movement with its serial, so we can date the watch and confirm the gold case.
Does the Longines HydroConquest hold its value?
The automatic HydroConquest is one of the steadier Longines models on the second-hand market, especially with its box, papers and bracelet in good order. Quartz HydroConquests are valued more modestly. Send the reference and photographs for a free valuation and we will tell you where yours sits.
Who values your Longines
47 Maddox Street, London W1S 2PG. No shopfront, so please book before you come.
Unit 20B Lakes Industrial Park, Braintree, Essex CM7 3RU. By appointment, and the address for Special Delivery parcels.
Further reading
Other watches we buy
Longines watches for saleAll watch brandsWhat is your Longines worth?
Send a photograph of the dial and the caseback for a free, no-obligation valuation.