Vintage Longines Ultra-Chron Automatic Wristwatch 8442-4 1970s Serviced UK Warranty

SPECIFICATION Reference: 8442-4 Movement: calibre 6651 Age: Circa 1972–1974 Case Size: 39mm at its widest point Case Thickness: 12mm Lug to Lug: 38mm Lugs: 19mm Condition: Used Longines watch Box and Papers: No Case Material: Stainless steel Warranty: 12-Months mechanical UK Warranty POINTS TO MENTION In great pre-owned condition with light wear from use Case and bezel have some light scratches and marks Fully serviced high Beat 28800 bph automatic movement Matte blue dial Longines signed Crown Paired with an unworn distressed blue leather strap THE WATCH At first the case seems almost square; then your eye finds the perfectly round crystal set into its broad, brushed shoulders. That interplay gives this dark-blue Ultra-Chron its shape and makes it rather more interesting than a conventional round Longines. The dial keeps everything finely drawn, while the date sits at an angle, just enough to upset the symmetry in a good way. The Ultra-Chron belongs to a moment when Longines was pursuing greater mechanical precision without asking its designers to play safe. The collection grew out of the firm's work on high-frequency timekeeping, yet watches like this could look confidently contemporary rather than overtly technical. There's a lovely contrast between the seriousness of the engineering story and the ease of the design. A BIT OF TRIVIA Speed was only part of the challenge for the early Ultra-Chron movements. A very fast escapement also needs lubrication that stays where it belongs. For the original high-frequency calibre 431, Longines patented a dry-lubrication approach, helping address the risk of ordinary oil being dispersed from rapidly moving contact surfaces. It's the sort of less visible engineering that made a precision wristwatch possible outside the laboratory. OUR THOUGHTS We like that this one offers a different kind of vintage Longines. It still has the poise you expect from the name, but the softer corners, generous steel shoulders and rich blue make it feel distinctly of its era. There's character here for someone who enjoys a smart watch without wanting the usual dress-watch formula. That balance is what makes us want to give this one another chapter.